Downing Street Says » 2004

» Friday, September 10, 2004

Alan Milburn

Asked why the taxpayer would be footing the bill for Alan Milburn's salary, the PMOS said that as the Cabinet Secretary had underlined last night, "Alan Milburn's position as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster covers co-ordination of Government policy and oversight of the Strategy Unit and Policy Directorate in the Cabinet Office. He is a member of the Cabinet and will also sit on a number of Cabinet Committees. These are Government functions and therefore rightly paid for by the Government". The PMOS took the opportunity to remind journalists of the sort of work carried out by the Strategy Unit. For example, it had recently published reports on managing offenders, the alcohol harm reduction strategy and the London project. All were clearly Government matters. Consequently, the role of overseeing and supervising strategic reviews and the development of policy in such major areas was clearly a Government function.

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

Northern Ireland

Asked if the Prime Minister and the Taoiseach would discuss options for a Plan B at their meeting today in the event of a failure of the talks at Leeds Castle next week, the PMOS said that the first priority today was Plan A - to address the items that had been on the agenda for two years, namely a complete end to paramilitarism, decommissioning, a clear commitment to an inclusive Government and resolving issues such as policing. These were things that were not going to change. Consequently, we believed that the ingredients were there for a deal at Leeds Castle. The main emphasis of today's meeting would be on working towards achieving an agreement. At the same time, the Prime Minister believed it was right to signal to the parties and the people of Northern Ireland that these were issues which could not be put off indefinitely. They had to be resolved. Therefore if Leeds castle did not work we would need to look at what the alternative was to keep the process going because, as the Prime Minister had been emphasising constantly, of the evident dangers of a political vacuum.

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

Fox Hunting

Asked the Prime Minister's reaction to the pro-fox hunting demonstration which had taken place outside his home in his constituency earlier today, the PMOS pointed out that the Prime Minister had met a delegation from the protest to discuss the issue this morning. He understood perfectly that this was a subject about which many people - on both sides - felt strongly. At the same time, it was a matter for a free vote in the House. In his opinion, people had every right to demonstrate their views, as long as it was done in a peaceful manner. He had been pleased to meet the delegation this morning and they, in turn, had told him that they wanted the demonstration to remain peaceful.

Briefing took place at 11:00 | Read whole briefing | Comments (44)

WMD

Asked for a reaction to a report in today's Guardian suggesting that the Iraq Survey Group (ISG) was due to publish a report shortly in which they would conclude that no WMD had been found in Iraq, the PMOS said he thought it would be best to wait until the report was actually published before commenting on any speculation about it. The timing of publication and the contents were all matters for Mr Charles Duelfer, the head of the ISG. We would not be passing comment until we had seen a published text. Asked if he was implying that the Prime Minister had not yet seen a copy of the report, the PMOS said that as he understood it, the report was still being drafted.

Briefing took place at 11:00 | Read whole briefing | Comments (14)

Chequers

Asked if it was the practice of the Prime Minister and Mrs Blair to make a private contribution when hosting private parties at Chequers, the PMOS said it went without saying that the normal procedures and rules were adhered to. He referred journalists to the Cabinet Office for further detail.

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

» Thursday, September 9, 2004

Reshuffle

The Prime Minister's Official Spokesman (PMOS) briefed journalists on the latest ministerial appointments following the reshuffle. Ruth Kelly, formerly Financial Secretary at the Treasury, had been appointed Minister for the Cabinet Office, moving from one Minister of State post to another. She would also work with Alan Milburn on policy matters. Stephen Timms, formerly Energy Minister at Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), had been appointed Financial Secretary in her place. There was a straight swap between two Peers - Baroness Ashton was moving from Department for Education and Skills (DfES) to Department for Constitutional Affairs (DCA). Lord Filkin was moving from DCA to DfES. Tony McNulty had been promoted from Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of State at Department for Transport (DfT). Charlotte Atkins, formerly a Whip, had been appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary at DfT. Douglas Alexander had been appointed Minister of State for Trade in both DTI and Foreign Office. Mike O'Brien, formerly Minister of State for Trade, had been appointed Minister of State in the DTI for E-Commerce, Energy and Competitiveness. Kim Howells, formerly Minister of State at the Department of Transport, was replacing Alan Johnson at DfES as Minister of State with responsibility for Further Education and Universities. Tom Watson had been appointed Assistant Government Whip (unpaid).

Briefing took place at 15:00 | Read whole briefing | Comment (1)

Reshuffle

The Prime Minister's Official Spokesman (PMOS) informed journalists that the Cabinet reshuffle had been completed last night. We hoped to be in a position to brief on Ministerial appointments at some point this afternoon once all the details had been finalised. Asked if journalists should expect a wide-ranging ministerial reshuffle, the PMOS said he thought the changes would be relatively small in number. Asked if the delay in announcing the new Ministerial appointments was because there was a row going on, the PMOS said no. He pointed out that the Prime Minister had a full diary today, in addition to which it was sometimes difficult to track down the people to whom he wished to speak. This was no great conspiracy. It was simply a matter of the usual conflict between media deadlines and the reality of life in Government.

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

PM

Asked for a reaction to a report in today's Times suggesting that the Prime Minister had considered pre-announcing in the summer that he would step down before the next election but had been stopped from doing so by the Chancellor, the PMOS said that as we had told journalists when the story had first emerged in July, we did not recognise it. That remained the case. He had nothing further to say about it. Put to him that the story had moved on since then inasmuch as it had been reported that the Chancellor had talked the Prime Minister out of his planned pre-announcement, the PMOS repeated that he did not recognise the story. Asked if he was referring to the July story or today's story, the PMOS said that there was a common thread linking the two which he did not recognise. Put to him that he had not denied today's story, the PMOS said that he had answered the question in his own way. He had nothing further to add.

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

Terrorist Attack/Jakarta

The PMOS took the opportunity to express the Government's utter condemnation of today's bomb attack on the Australian Embassy in Jakarta. It was a further demonstration that terrorists were prepared to use indiscriminate violence and show a complete disrespect for human life. Our condolences were with the Governments of Australia and Indonesia, as well as with the families of those who had been killed.

Briefing took place at 11:00 | Read whole briefing | Comments (7)

» Wednesday, September 8, 2004

Reshuffle

Asked again if the reshuffle would be taking place today, the Prime Minister's Official Spokesman (PMOS) said that the position on this issue had not changed since this morning. He pointed out that the Prime Minister had been quite busy today with a number of diary engagements, including PMQs, attending his weekly Parliamentary Committee meeting and hosting a meeting with the President of Romania in Downing Street. Once he had made up his mind and had decided he was ready to announce a reshuffle we would let people know. Questioned as to how long the Prime Minister had spent at the House today, the PMOS said that he hadn't timed him. He thought he had stayed the amount of time he usually stayed in the Commons after PMQs. Asked if the Prime Minister had any diary plans for this evening, the PMOS said that he had a social engagement. Asked if there was a desire for the reshuffle to be completed prior to tomorrow's Cabinet and Political Cabinet, the PMOS said that the reshuffle would happen when the Prime Minister was ready.

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

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.

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» Friday, September 10, 2004

Alan Milburn

Northern Ireland

Fox Hunting

WMD

Chequers

» Thursday, September 9, 2004

Reshuffle

Reshuffle

PM

Terrorist Attack/Jakarta

» Wednesday, September 8, 2004

Reshuffle

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