Afternoon Press briefing for 29 October 2007
Briefing from the Prime Minister's Spokesman on: World Cup, Saudi Arabia, Immigration and Misc
World Cup
The Prime Minister's Spokesman (PMS) began by referring journalists to a quote from the Prime Minister in reaction to FIFA's decision regarding the Football World Cup, opening the way for European countries to bid for the tournament in the year 2018:
"I am delighted that FIFA have opened the door for the World Cup to come back to England. By 2018, it will be 52 years since England hosted the World Cup. The nation which gave football to the world deserves to have the greatest tournament back on these shores.
"With the Olympics in 2012, possibly the Commonwealth Games in 2014, the Rugby World Cup in 2015 and the Cricket World Cup in 2019, a Football World Cup in 2018 would crown what I believe can be the greatest decade ever for British sport.
"If The FA decide to go ahead and bid for the tournament, they know they will have the full support of the Government behind them, and we will make it our mission to persuade other countries to back us in bringing the World Cup back to England."
Saudi Arabia
Asked if the Prime Minister would be calling off his meeting with the King of Saudi Arabia, the PMS said that the Prime Minister's meeting would go ahead as planned. As the PMS had said that morning, Saudi Arabia was one of the UK's important international partners and the Government saw the visit as being an opportunity to deepen and broaden that relationship. The Foreign Office had held their UK-Saudi Arabia Two Kingdoms dialogue today, where issues including peace and security in the Middle East and the countries shared determination to fight terrorism were raised.
Whilst the Government had raised concerns with Saudi Arabia, it was also necessary to recognize the developments that were underway in that country. Asked if the meeting was not called off, would the Prime Minister raise the issue of civil liberties and human rights abuses in Saudi Arabia, the PMS said that people would have to wait for the meeting to take place.
Immigration
Asked if it was a slightly unusual procedure for a statement to be released by the Labour Party under the name of the Immigration Minister, attacking David Cameron's speech on immigration and did the Government share the views expressed by the Labour Party, the PMS replied that she would not get into the Labour Party response. The PMS added that in the next ten minutes, Tony McNulty would respond as Government Minister at the Home Office.
Asked if Liam Byrne's response was not the Government's response, the PMS said that it was done in a party political capacity, but his response stood. However, people could expect a further response from Tony McNulty this afternoon.
Asked if it would be the same response or a different response the PMS pointed out that Tony McNulty had not given the response yet, so people would have to wait to hear what he had to say. Asked if he would disagree with the comments of Liam Byrne, the PMS said she couldn't see that being the case.
Asked if it was because Liam Byrne was doing the Borders Bill, the PMS replied that it was correct that he had been caught up on various things today.
Misc
Asked if the Prime Minister had had a chance to congratulate the Foreign Secretary yet, the PMS replied that the Prime Minister was aware of the Foreign Secretary's good news and would be passing on his good wishes.
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