Downing Street Says » Polish President

» Tuesday, November 7, 2006

Polish President

Asked by the Times whether at the press conference today with the Polish President, did the Prime Minister demure when the President had said that the UK was the destination for the "feckless", the PMOS said that that was not what the Polish President had said. What the Polish President actually said was that he the Polish people who came here had an opportunity to learn English and other skills, and he welcomed that fact. What we all agreed was that in a Europe where migration was a fact of life, the important thing was that people did develop the skills to prosper. That we agreed with.

Asked again if the Prime Minister demurred when we were described as a "magnet for the feckless", the PMOS said that it was a very tabloid interpretation for the Times, and the PMOS said that he was surprised that it was coming from said journalist! The PMOS said that the quote was being yanked out of context by HM Times.

Asked if we disputed that interpretation somehow had been lost in translation, the PMOS said that given his deep knowledge of Polish, he was not in a position to dispute the translation. What he could do, however, was say what the Polish President said which was that he believed the people who came here were keen to learn English and new skills, and he had welcomed that fact. He also welcomed the fact that they would then return to Poland and apply those skills there. What the Polish President did not say was that feckless people would come here and continue to be feckless.

The BBC broke in at this point and said that the word "feckless" had not been used, but the point that the President was making was that there were lots of people who put themselves on the unemployment register in Poland, and then came over to the UK and did very well. The PMOS said that he wanted to break the habit of a lifetime and welcomed a running commentary! Even if it was from the BBC….that made it two habits!

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» Tuesday, November 7, 2006

Polish President

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