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?

» Friday, December 14, 2012

Equal marriage

Asked if Maria Miller had warned the Church of England that the Government was going to do something it didn’t want, the PMS said it was not true to say we had not properly discussed proposals with the Church. This was part of the consultation process. Before the proposals were finalised, government officials had met […]

Mid-term Review

Asked about the timing and content of the Coalition’s Mid-term Review, the PMS said there would be an announcement in the New Year. The Coalition would be taking on fresh challenges including pensions, transport and others. The PM believed the fixed-term parliament was having a beneficial effect because it meant that in the middle years […]

» Thursday, December 13, 2012

Press briefing morning 13 December 2012

Thursday 13 December 2012 The Prime Minister’s Spokesperson answered questions on the EU banking union, Rebekah Brooks’ payout, fracking and Maria Miller in this press briefing

Brooks payout

Asked if the Prime Minister (PM) felt the severance payment for Rebekah Brooks was overly generous, the Prime Minister’s Spokesperson (PMS) said the PM would not routinely comment on severance payments for people working in commercial companies. It was a matter for the individual and employer.

EU banking union

Asked if the banking union deal gave the UK enough protection, the PMS referred to the Chancellor’s statement of that morning which the PM echoed. The UK wanted to make sure the single market was protected and countries that weren’t going to join the banking union, like the UK, were protected. That had been achieved. […]

Fracking

Asked whether fracking would bring down energy prices in the long term, the PMS said there was potential for prices to come down. The PM set out his views on energy at the Liaison Committee earlier that week where he said the Government wanted to be part of the revolution taking place. Today’s decision meant […]

Maria Miller

Asked about new allegations about Maria Miller’s expenses and whether the PM still had full confidence in her, the PMS said yes he did. Asked if special advisers would receive new guidance on conversations they had with the media, the PMS said there was already a code of conduct.    

» Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Press Briefing afternoon 12 December 2012

Wednesday 12 December 2012 The Prime Minister’s Spokesperson (PMS) answered questions on Maria Miller and Finucane Review

Maria Miller

Asked whether Maria Miller should recuse herself from overseeing Leveson implementation, the PMS said no. It was important to remember what Leveson had proposed: independent regulation of the press and a body to be set up by the media. That was the principle the government had accepted. Work was underway and the Prime Minister had […]

Finucane

Asked whether the PM was disappointed with the family’s reaction, the PMS said the government had considered the issue carefully. It was the government’s position that it didn’t want to have lots of long, expensive public inquiries. The PMS said the government thought the Finucane Review was thorough and had been given all the access […]

Press Briefing morning 12 December 2012

Wednesday 12 December 2012 The Prime Minister’s Spokesperson (PMS) answered questions on Adam Posen comments and Maria Miller’s adviser

Adam Posen comments

Asked to comment on the critical views of Adam Posen regarding the Government’s economic policy, the PMS said that the Government believed it had the right economic policies in place and evidence of progress could be seen in the unemployment statistics released that morning.

Maria Miller Adviser

Questioned on the comments of Maria Miller’s Special Adviser in relation to a newspaper’s investigation into the Culture Secretary’s expenses, the PMS said that the adviser was raising legitimate concerns about the way the investigation had been handled. The adviser had made it clear that Maria Miller was in contact with the newspaper editor in […]

» Monday, December 10, 2012

Press Briefing afternoon 10 December 2012

Monday 10 December 2012 The Prime Minister’s Spokesperson (PMS) answered questions on the PM’s day, Nobel Peace Prize, Equal marriage, television debates and EU membership

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.

» Friday, December 14, 2012

Equal marriage

Mid-term Review

» Thursday, December 13, 2012

Press briefing morning 13 December 2012

Brooks payout

EU banking union

Fracking

Maria Miller

» Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Press Briefing afternoon 12 December 2012

Maria Miller

Finucane

Press Briefing morning 12 December 2012

Adam Posen comments

Maria Miller Adviser

» Monday, December 10, 2012

Press Briefing afternoon 10 December 2012

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