Downing Street Says » 2004 » June

» Monday, June 28, 2004

Guantanamo Bay

Asked for a reaction to reports that the US Supreme Court had ruled that the detainees at Guantanamo Bay should have access to US courts and how this would impact on the British detainees there, the Prime Minister's Spokesman (PMS) said that discussions between the UK and US were continuing.

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

Iraq

Asked what was going to happen to the 6,500 prisoners detained by the Coalition in Iraq in the light of the transfer of sovereignty today, the PMS said that her colleague, who was attending the NATO Summit in Istanbul today, was briefing journalists there on all Iraqi matters. It would not be helpful were she to try to duplicate what he was saying. She said later that the prisoners would either be released or reclassified as criminal detainees under the new criminal justice system or as security internees, and would continue to be held by Coalition forces.

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

Bichard Report/Humberside Police

Asked if the Prime Minister was backing the Home Secretary in his legal bid to remove the Chief Constable of Humberside Police from his post, the Prime Minister's Spokesman (PMS) said yes. She said that the Home Office was following the protocol, which had been agreed this month by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), the Association of Police Authorities (APA) and the Chief Police Officers Staff Association (CPOSA), as part of the Police Reform Act 2002. It had taken two years to agree this protocol, which the Home Secretary was following to the letter by going through this particular procedure. Asked again if he had the full backing of the Prime Minister, the PMS repeated that Mr Blunkett was following the protocol that had been agreed. Put to her that Mr Blunkett might be following procedures, but in the end he was the one who had made the decision that the Chief Constable of Humberside should go, the PMS pointed out that the Home Secretary had made a decision about the suspension process, not that the Chief Constable should leave his job. That was an important distinction to make. Asked if the Home Secretary was intending to make a Statement to the Commons about this issue, the PMS said not as far as she was aware. She reminded journalists that Mr Blunkett had made a Statement to the House following the publication of the Bichard Report and had made a further statement on Friday following the announcement by Humberside Police Authority.

Briefing took place at 11:00 | Read whole briefing | Comments (4)

Derek Scott

Asked by the Evening Standard if there was an 'orchestrated campaign' by Downing Street to discredit the Chancellor and the Treasury, the PMS said that she presumed she was being questioned about Derek Scott's book. Put to her that she was being asked if Downing Street agreed with the Chancellor's statement, the PMS said that the Chancellor's spokesman's statement had been referring to the contents of Mr Scott's book. She underlined that the book had been totally unauthorised and pointed out that such books were only written to make money and cause trouble and division. As far as we were concerned, however, Mr Scott's book would not cause any division. She would also caution journalists against believing everything they read. Asked if she was confirming that the book contained descriptions of clashes between the Prime Minister and the Chancellor, the PMS said no. She was simply responding to questions being asked about the issue. Put to her that she was questioning Mr Scott's motives in writing the book, the PMS said that people obviously wanted to stir things up, hence the questions at this morning's briefing. Put to her that the Chancellor's statement had been referring to more than just the book, the PMS said that she had read the statement and had taken it to refer to Mr Scott's book.

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

Downing Street meetings

Asked why the Prime Minister had met with the Deputy Prime Minister and Charles Clarke in Downing Street on Saturday morning, the PMS pointed out that the three met on a regular basis, and it wasn't completely unheard of to hold a meeting at the weekend. Some people had claimed that this was evidence of Government divisions. However, just because they had met on a Saturday did not automatically mean that they were arguing. On the contrary. This was clearly a busy time of year.

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

Iraq

Asked at whose request the transfer of sovereignty in Iraq had been brought forward, the PMS said that as she understood it, it had been done at the request and on the wishes of the Iraqis. She added that her colleague was briefing journalists in Istanbul about this matter and it would not be helpful to duplicate what he was saying. Asked if the British Government believed that such action would make the security situation in Iraq 'easier', the PMS said that the Prime Minister had answered that question this morning. His words spoke for themselves.

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

Guantanamo Bay

Asked if a deal on the remaining four British detainees at Guantanamo Bay was expected in the near future, the PMS said she was not aware of any imminent announcement. As she had told journalists on Friday, discussions were continuing about the issue.

Briefing took place at 11:00 | Read whole briefing | Comments (5)

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