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?

» Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Afghanistan

Asked if there were any differences between the PM and Head of the Military on planned withdrawal dates and about expectations of President Obama’s speech, the PMS said, on the speech, we would not speculate in advance about the detail but it was widely expected that he would say something about US plans for troop […]

Greece

Asked for the PM’s reaction to the vote of confidence in the Greek government last night, the PMS said there wasn’t anything more to say about Greece beyond what the PM had said during yesterday’s press conference. original source.

Boris Johnson

Asked if Boris Johnson’s recent visit to Downing Street was an official visit or a private matter, the PMS responded that he was the Mayor of London and people would have to wait for the official logs to be published. original source.

» Monday, June 20, 2011

Sentencing

Asked if the recommendations on Sentencing had been finalised, the PMS said that the responses to the consultation were being considered. He added that when the time came he would expect the MoJ to publish a response to the green paper, and give an announcement in the House of Commons. original source.

Retirement age

Asked if the PM gave the accurate timeline for the equalisation of retirement ages for men and women at 66, the PMS confirmed that he did. He confirmed that equalisation to 66 would start from 2018 and be completed in 2020. The PMS also pointed out that this was still being discussed by Parliament and […]

Libya

Asked if the PM agreed with the Chief Secretary to the Treasury (CST) when he said that Libya costs would reach hundreds of millions, the PMS said that the next cost estimates would be presented to Parliament in the established way. Asked if the CST speaking out of turn or trying to soften up the […]

Greece

Asked what the UK’s potential liabilities were if Greece required a second bail-out, the Prime Minister’s Spokesman (PMS) told the assembled press that he would not get into speculating about another country’s finances. There had been a meeting of Eurozone ministers last night and they had made a statement after that meeting. Put that we […]

Pensions

Asked if the Prime Minister was sympathetic towards women who would have to work longer under the new pension proposals, the PMS replied that this was something that had come up in PMQs last week and the Prime Minister had made the point that all parties had supported the equalisation of the pension age between […]

Misc

Asked if there had been any movement on the Government’s position on strike laws, the PMS said that the positioned remained the same and they remained under review. Asked about Chris Huhne’s comments on Conservatives in the Government acting like ideological zealots’ over the deregulation of climate change laws, the PMS said that we were […]

» Thursday, June 16, 2011

Alan Milburn

Asked if the PM has confidence in Alan Milburn’s judgement, the Prime Minister’s Spokesman (PMS) responded that Alan Milburn has his personal opinions, but the Government thought that there was now widespread support for the Health Reforms. The PMS added that Alan Milburn was advising us on social mobility, not on health. original source.

Thameslink

In response to the suggestion that the Siemens High Speed Rail contract is not compatible with the PM’s appeal for the UK private sector to create jobs, the PMS said that these decisions are taken to get the best value for the tax payer. The PMS also pointed out that the recent employment figures showed […]

Procurement

Asked if the Government was getting to grips with procurement issues, the PMS responded that the Government is determined to do that. original source.

Sentencing reform

Asked if there had been any meetings with the PM on sentencing reform today, the PMS said that he had been in Lincoln and therefore there had not. The PMS declined to comment on timetable for sentencing reform, saying that the Government is considering the consultation and would make an announcement in due course. Asked […]

Greece

Asked the Government’s position on Germany’s comments that the Greece bail out be EU wide, rather than just Eurozone, the PMS responded that the arrangements in place do not involve the UK. 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.

» Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Afghanistan

Greece

Boris Johnson

» Monday, June 20, 2011

Sentencing

Retirement age

Libya

Greece

Pensions

Misc

» Thursday, June 16, 2011

Alan Milburn

Thameslink

Procurement

Sentencing reform

Greece

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