Downing Street Says ... Every day the Prime Minister’s Spokesman meets a small coterie of political journalists known as ‘the lobby’ for a topical chat, or ‘briefing’.

Every day the Prime Minister's Spokesman meets a small coterie of political journalists known as 'the lobby' for a topical chat, or 'briefing'.

Downing Street Says... is an unofficial site that lets you read summaries of these briefings and add your own comments. Want to know more?

» Monday, August 1, 2011

Afghanistan

Asked if it was important to protect interpreters working in Afghanistan, the PMS replied that the circumstances in Afghanistan and Iraq differ, that troops would be on the ground until 2015 and working to strengthen governance. The PMS said that the strategy in Afghanistan should lead to securing a more peaceful life for its citizens. […]

Prime Minister’s holiday

Asked about arrangements in London while the PM was on holiday, the PMS said that the PM was always in charge but that the Foreign Secretary was the Senior Cabinet Minister and would attend any daily routine meetings. The PMS confirmed that the DPM was on holiday. Asked if the PM would have daily contact […]

» Monday, July 25, 2011

Morning press briefing for 25 July 2011

Monday 25 July 2011 Press briefing from the Prime Minister’s spokesperson on: Norway Attacks, Economy and Phone Hacking. original source.

Norway Attacks

The Prime Minister’s Spokesman (PMS) began by saying that the National Security Council had met this morning. The PMS said that they had discussed the tragic events in Norway last week and took stock of the UK’s ability to respond to threats from terrorism and extremism. The meeting agreed that the UK was well prepared […]

Economy

Asked if the Bank of England should engage in more quantitative easing, the PMS replied that it was a matter for the Bank of England. On whether Vince Cable was right to suggest that the Bank of England should do that, the PMS advised journalists that what Vince Cable had said was that it was […]

Phone Hacking

Asked about the impartiality of Lord Leveson following reports that he had attended two parties at the house of Rupert Murdoch in the past year, the PMS said that the Prime Minister and the Lord Chief Justice were made aware of the events being referred to. The PMS said that we had been given one […]

» Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Morning press briefing for 19 July 2011

Tuesday 19 July 2011 Press briefing from the Prime Minister’s spokesperson on: Public Sector Pensions, Phone Hacking, Special Advisors and David Laws. original source.

Public Sector Pensions

Asked for more information about the Chief Secretary of the Treasury’s announcement, the PMDS (Prime Minister’s Deputy Spokesperson) referred to his statement. Asked whether a top level agreement had been reached between the TUC and Government to move to scheme level discussions, the PMDS said central discussions were continuing and suggested people spoke to the […]

Phone Hacking

Asked whether we had published an updated list of meetings, the PMDS said we had and that it had gone up on the website yesterday. Asked if this was the final list, the PMDS said it was as final as final could be. She added that the key point here was that the information had […]

Special Advisors

Asked whether the WMS on special advisors was a routine list, the PMDS said it was a list of special advisors in post as of today. original source.

David Laws

Asked whether the PM welcomed the return of David Laws MP to a more prominent role in parliamentary life, the PMDS said he hadn’t made any particular comments on this but she would check. original source.

» Monday, July 18, 2011

Afternoon press briefing for 18 July 2011

Monday 18 July 2011 Press briefing from the Prime Minister’s spokesperson on: Phone Hacking. original source.

Phone Hacking

Asked if there was any truth in the suggestion that the PM’s trip to Africa would be cut short, the Prime Minister’s Deputy Spokesperson (PMDS) said the PM had another country to visit after South Africa and he would be back on Wednesday as planned. Asked if an amended list had been published, the PMDS […]

Morning press briefing for 18 July 2011

Monday 18 July 2011 Press briefing from the Prime Minister’s spokesperson on: Africa Trip, Sir Paul Stephenson and Metropolitan Police, Phone Hacking and Reserve Forces. original source.

Original PMOS briefings are © Crown Copyright. Crown Copyright material is reproduced with the permission of the Controller of HMSO and the Queen's Printer for Scotland. Click-use licence number C02W0004089. Material is reproduced from the original 10 Downing Street source, but may not be the most up-to-date version of the briefings, which might be revised at the original source. Users should check with the original source in case of revisions. Comments are © Copyright contributors. Everything else is © Copyright Downing Street Says.

» Monday, August 1, 2011

Afghanistan

Prime Minister’s holiday

» Monday, July 25, 2011

Morning press briefing for 25 July 2011

Norway Attacks

Economy

Phone Hacking

» Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Morning press briefing for 19 July 2011

Public Sector Pensions

Phone Hacking

Special Advisors

David Laws

» Monday, July 18, 2011

Afternoon press briefing for 18 July 2011

Phone Hacking

Morning press briefing for 18 July 2011

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