» Thursday, March 17, 2005
House of Commons
Asked what the prime minister's response was to being called a liar by both liam fox and a plaid cymru mp by implication, the prime minister's spokesman (pms) said that she did not have any comment to make.
Briefing took place at 15:45 | Read whole briefing | Comments (4)
Paul Wolfowitz
Asked for a reaction to the nomination of Paul Wolfowitz as President of the World Bank, the Prime Minister's Spokesman (PMS) said that it was for the Bank Board to take the decision on the appointment of the President of the Bank. We were not going to get into a running commentary on the selection process. We should wait and see whether there were any other candidates and wait for the outcome of this process. Obviously we would be involved in consultations with the US and others over this appointment. We would be looking forward to hearing Mr. Wolfowitz's views on a number off issues which concerned us, such as debt cancellation, free basic education and a number of other issues. Put to her that it was the convention that every other World Bank President had been appointed by the United States without objection, the PMS said she was not denying that but we were in the middle of a process, we should wait and see what happened.
Briefing took place at 11:00 | Read whole briefing | Comments (3)
» Wednesday, March 16, 2005
Budget
Asked if the Chancellor had spelt out any further details of the Budget, the PMOS said the Chancellor went through the main elements of the Budget as he always did on Budget Day.
Briefing took place at 11:00 | Read whole briefing | Comments (0)
Iraq
Asked what the Prime Minister's response was to Prime Minister Berlusconi's remarks last night about withdrawing Italian troops from Iraq, the PMOS said that what had become clear was that Prime Minister Berlusconi's remarks had been misinterpreted. What Mr Berlusconi had been saying was no different from what we had been saying, which was that the future of the multinational force would depend on the capability of the Iraqi forces, and any withdrawal would be as a consequence of that increasing capability. The pace and timing of that withdrawal would be determined by the increase in Iraqiisation.
Briefing took place at 11:00 | Read whole briefing | Comments (4)
Abortion
Put to the PMOS that various Muslim and Jewish leaders had intervened on the abortion issue, and asked whether the Prime Minister changed his mind about the need for a debate about timing, the PMOS said: no. As the PMOS had reflected yesterday, what the Prime Minister believed was that in the past, this had been handled as a matter of individual conscience and a free vote in the House, because there were different views across the House. Therefore, it was right that this should be handled in a non-Partisan way, and the Prime Minister believed that this would not be possible in a general election campaign.
Briefing took place at 11:00 | Read whole briefing | Comment (1)
General Election
Asked if the Prime Minister had decided what role to give Gordon Brown in the general election campaign, the PMOS said the question was one that was more appropriate for the Labour Party press office, and not him.
Briefing took place at 11:00 | Read whole briefing | Comments (0)
» Tuesday, March 15, 2005
Budget
Asked if the Prime Minister had held talks today with the Chancellor about the Budget, the Prime Minister's Official Spokesman (PMOS) said that as he had said yesterday, all the usual preliminary meetings had been taking place, and there was nothing out of the ordinary.
Briefing took place at 15:45 | Read whole briefing | Comments (0)
Robert McCartney murder
Asked what the Government's view was on Martin McGuiness' words about the McCartney family, and also how they were being treated by the Americans during their trip, the PMOS said the important thing all the way through this was how the family had chosen their own words to express themselves, and that they had remained an independent voice. It was important therefore, that we respected that, and to let their voice be heard, because what they were asking for was what any family was entitled to ask for, which was justice. We should listen to the McCartney family, as they had been very resilient and very strong in ensuring that their voice was heard, and that they were seen to speak for themselves.
Briefing took place at 15:45 | Read whole briefing | Comment (1)
Abortion
Asked if the Prime Minister felt there was no need to either change the law or to debate the current 24-week time limit on abortion, the PMOS reiterated the position he set out this morning. On 7th July 2004, the Prime Minister was asked a question during PMQs, and he said then that abortion had always been a matter for the individual conscience, and for a free vote in the House. The Prime Minister recognised that there would be a debate, including the issue mentioned, but he believed that debate should be carried out in a calm, rational and non-partisan way. This was why the Prime Minister believed it would be a pity if this matter did become a party political or general election issue. The Prime Minster felt that this country in the past had debated the matter in a mature and rational manner, and if people wanted a debate, then it would of course happen. It should not, however, happen in a party political or partisan way.
Briefing took place at 15:45 | Read whole briefing | Comments (0)
Abortion
Asked what the Prime Minister's view on abortion issues was, the Prime Minister's Official Spokesman (PMOS) said that the Prime Minister had said in the House last July and repeated in his interview with Cosmopolitan magazine seven weeks ago that this was a matter for a free vote and individual conscience on both sides of the House. He believed that it should be debated in a calm, rational and non-partisan way. Therefore he felt it would be a pity if this became a party political issue or indeed a General election issue. Asked if it might return to the agenda after the election, the PMOS said it was a matter for individual MPs rather than for Government. As the Prime Minister had said in the Cosmopolitan article, there were no plans to change the time limit at this stage. The Prime Minister recognised however that people would debate the issue. He believed that debate should be calm, rational and non-partisan and it would be a pity if it became a party-political or General Election issue.
Briefing took place at 11:00 | Read whole briefing | Comment (1)
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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