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» Thursday, February 26, 2004

Prime Minister’s press conference

[This is the transcript of one of the Prime Minister's occasional press conferences; these are the words of the Prime Minister giving a statement and answering the questions of journalists. Unlike the PMOS's briefings, this is a more-or-less verbatim transcript of the Prime Minister's words. Such press conferences happen about once a month, and occasionally more often.]

Briefing took place at 16:30 | Read whole briefing | Comments (7)

Clare Short/Katharine Gun

Asked if the Prime Minister was content to allow someone whom he regarded as 'reckless' and 'irresponsible' to continue as a Privy Counsellor, the Prime Minister's Official Spokesman (PMOS) said that the Prime Minister had expressed his view of Clare Short's behaviour this morning. His words spoke for themselves. The overriding point in this whole matter was not to put the operation of the security services at risk in any way. Asked if it was appropriate for a Privy Counsellor to put the operation of the security services in peril as she had done, the PMOS said that it was not appropriate behaviour for anyone to do such a thing. Asked to explain what Ms Short had done to put the security services at risk, the PMOS pointed out that the very act of levelling allegations meant that questions about the operation of the security services were inevitably brought into the public domain, thereby making it very difficult to address them.

Briefing took place at 15:45 | Read whole briefing | Comments (14)

Africa Commission

Questioned about the new Africa Commission which the Prime Minister had announced today, the PMOS said that this was something which the Prime Minister had always believed should be a high priority. It was a subject to which, quite unapologetically, he would return. The Commission was a way of focussing attention not just on individual crises, but on the whole issue of Africa. He was delighted that Bob Geldof and others had agreed to become involved.

Briefing took place at 15:45 | Read whole briefing | Comments (2)

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» Thursday, February 26, 2004

Prime Minister’s press conference

Clare Short/Katharine Gun

Africa Commission

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