Downing Street Says » 2004

» Thursday, May 20, 2004

Middle East

Asked what the Prime Minister was doing publicly to condemn the actions of the Israelis in Rafah, the PMOS said that the UK had voted in favour of the motion at the UN last night which had underlined that all violence must stop, and had also condemned the killing of Palestinian civilians in the Rafah area. It had also called on Israel to respect its obligations under international law, in particular in not undertaking the demolition of houses. It had also called on both parties immediately to implement their obligations under the terms of the roadmap. Asked if the Prime Minister had used his influence with President Bush to ask him to use his lever over the Israelis to call a halt to the violence, the PMOS said that the President was fully aware of our view, as were the Israelis.

Briefing took place at 11:00 | Read whole briefing | Comments (0)

Parliamentary Security

Asked the Prime Minister's view this morning about the state of Parliamentary security, the PMOS said the Prime Minister believed that this was a matter for the House. Cabinet had been updated this morning by the Leader of the House on the progress of the ongoing security review. He had said it was gathering pace as a result of yesterday's incident.

Briefing took place at 11:00 | Read whole briefing | Comment (1)

Simon Stevens

Asked if the Prime Minister was disappointed that he was losing 'yet another' special adviser, the PMOS said that the Prime Minister valued Simon Stevens highly. The NHS Modernisation Board report had underlined the very real progress that had been made in the health service to deliver real improvements in care to people up and down the country. Many people had made a contribution to that, not least Simon Stevens, who had brought his knowledge of the NHS and his intellectual energy to his work in helping to shape those improvements. He would be replaced by Julian Le Grand.

Briefing took place at 11:00 | Read whole briefing | Comment (1)

» Wednesday, May 19, 2004

PMQs Incident

Asked the Prime Minister's reaction to the incident during PMQs today, the Prime Minister's Official Spokesman (PMOS) said that the first question he had asked on reaching his office in the Commons was how soon he would be able to return to the Chamber to continue PMQs. The Speaker had then explained that that was not going to be possible because the House had to be secured and properly searched. The Prime Minister had accepted that decision and had instead used to the time to prepare his remarks for the alcohol abuse seminar, which was due to be held tomorrow with representatives of the drinks industry. Asked if the Speaker had had a meeting with the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition to decide what course of action to take, the PMOS said no. The Speaker, together with a representative from the Leader of the Opposition, had come to the Prime Minister's office to explain why he thought it would be best not to resume PMQs. The Prime Minister had accepted that view. Asked precisely what the Prime Minister had said in reply to the Speaker's suggestion, the PMOS said that he couldn't remember. The Prime Minister had accepted the Speaker's decision and had decided to get on with business. Obviously he would have preferred to complete PMQs, but he had accepted that that would not be possible for reasons he completely understood.

Briefing took place at 15:45 | Read whole briefing | Comments (0)

Iraq

Asked if the Prime Minister had meant to say in PMQs that Iraqis should be given control over their oil and prisoners after the transfer of sovereignty, the PMOS said yes. As we had been underlining over the last few days, we wanted to see a visible change after 30 June, part of which was full indivisible sovereignty. He pointed out that a process was already underway through which ministries were taking control of their relevant subjects. That process would accelerate as we approached 30 June, although obviously the timescale for that would depend on capacity. Nevertheless, the intention was clear. The Iraqi people should be charge of as many of their affairs as soon as possible.

Briefing took place at 15:45 | Read whole briefing | Comments (0)

European Constitution

Asked for a reaction to today's Telegraph report suggesting that our red lines on the European Constitution had been crossed, the Prime Minister's Official Spokesman (PMOS) said that as he had told journalists yesterday, we were in a real negotiation. He drew their attention to the White Paper published last September which stated, "We will insist that unanimity remains for....key areas of criminal procedural law" (paragraph 66). Habeas corpus, trial by jury and the like were key areas of the criminal justice system and would not be changed. That was our bottom line. The particular route which the Constitution ultimately went down was a matter for negotiation.

Briefing took place at 11:00 | Read whole briefing | Comments (0)

European Commission

Asked if the Prime Minister had expressed a preference for whom he would like to see as the next European Commission President, the PMOS said that discussions were taking place about this matter, and no doubt would continue to do so right up until an announcement was made. Our preferences would be discussed with other Heads of Government in the EU, not out in the open.

Briefing took place at 11:00 | Read whole briefing | Comments (0)

Northern Ireland

Asked if the Prime Minister was concerned about the warning from Mitchel McLaughlin that Northern Ireland was facing a summer of discontent, the PMOS said that the Marching Season in Northern Ireland was always a sensitive time. We were hoping that community leaders on all sides would use their influence, as they had done successfully last year, to keep the streets relatively calm. We would also obviously do whatever we could to help the situation.

Briefing took place at 11:00 | Read whole briefing | Comments (0)

Iraq

Asked if the Government supported the Iraq Governing Council's request for the Interim Authority to be given control of Iraq's oil after the transfer of sovereignty on 30 June, the PMOS said that real sovereignty meant real sovereignty. Lakhdar Brahimi was currently examining how the Interim Authority should be structured and was due to present his report at the end of this month. The PMOS pointed out that the Coalition was already in the process of handing over ministries to the IGC. This was a trend which would accelerate as we approached 30 June.

Briefing took place at 11:00 | Read whole briefing | Comments (0)

Prime Minister/US Relations

Asked if he was aware of comments made by the Deputy Prime Minister in his interview with the Times on Saturday reportedly criticising the Prime Minister for his closeness to President Bush, which had then been removed after appearing in the first edition, the PMOS said that he was not aware of anything other than what had appeared in the paper. The Deputy Prime Minister had dealt with these matters at the weekend. He had nothing further to add. Asked why the comments had not made it into the second edition of the paper, the PMOS said that he was not an executive of the Times newspaper. Asked if there was a danger of the Government being condemned in the long term for its relationship with the US Administration, the PMOS said that the Prime Minister's position vis-\xE0-vis President Bush had been oft stated. Nothing had changed. Asked if the Prime Minister was embarrassed that his deputy had reportedly been casting aspersions on his relationship with President Bush, the PMOS said that he had no intention of commenting on reported remarks which the Times itself had appeared not to follow through. Asked if he was suggesting that the quotes had never been uttered in the first place, the PMOS said that he would leave it to the Deputy Prime Minister's Office to respond to issues relating to the Deputy Prime Minister.

Briefing took place at 11:00 | Read whole briefing | Comment (1)

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» Thursday, May 20, 2004

Middle East

Parliamentary Security

Simon Stevens

» Wednesday, May 19, 2004

PMQs Incident

Iraq

European Constitution

European Commission

Northern Ireland

Iraq

Prime Minister/US Relations

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