Press briefing from the Prime Minister’s Official Spokesman on: 28 Days, Queen’s Speech, Northern Ireland and Misc.
28 Days
Asked in light of the Chancellor’s speech today if there was to be any imminent amendment or removal of 28 days the PMOS said the Government stuck by its view that 90 days was preferable but had recognised the will of Parliament, and that view remained the Government’s firm conviction. He reiterated that there were no imminent plans to reopen the question and that remains the position. PMOS mentioned that others, such as the Home Affairs Select Committee, had moved into similar thinking as the Government. When asked if there could be something in the Queen’s Speech regarding 28 days and the Criminal Justice Bill the PMOS said he was not aware of any plans to reopen the question at the moment.
When asked about what the Chancellor had said about the approach to 28 days in his speech today the PMOS said that as at the time of the debate the evidence did point to more than 28 days and this had always been the Government’s position because of the complexity of cases, translation issues, globalisation of terror networks and that these issues were alive and these issues remained.
Queen’s Speech
Asked if it was correct to assume that security and terror will be at the heart of the Queen’s Speech and it would be a joint agenda the PMOS replied that the Queen’s Speech is an issue that is dealt with at the time by the appropriate people.
Northern Ireland
Asked about developments ahead of the talks this week the PMOS said as yesterday he could not overstate the importance of this week’s talks and by the end of the week it would be decided if a final settlement would be possible; but that the Government realised that there is any amount of detail could trip up talks. On the central issues of whether the Unionists are prepared to share power and whether Republicans will support policing the PMOS said that the Government believe it is a matter of how and when, not if. It was a matter of sequencing, not principle.
Asked about Dr. Paisley’s comments on Peter Hain, that the Unionists have been oversold the IMC Report the PMOS said that Dr. Paisley was of course entitled to express his view, but the PMOS reiterated that the IMC Report was an objective assessment of the situation on the ground and para 5 (ii) of the report clearly sets out the IMC’s view of the fundamental change in the IRA in the past three years, but there was nothing further to add at this time. When asked if Dr. Paisley was not accepting the report, if that was surely an obstacle to the talks reaching an agreement on Friday, the PMOS said that that is not what Dr. Paisley had said, but highlighted that the important thing is that the DUP said at the time the report was published, and have since not contradicted this, that they saw the IMC Report as marking progress and that they saw that progress as a of result of their position. The PMOS said he would not predict the outcome of the talks, but said that the Unionist now accept that it is a matter of how and when they will share power, not if. Republicans now accept it is a matter of how and when they support policing, not if. This was a fundamental change from where they were.
Asked about the when of the how and when, was there a deadline, the PMOS said if the journalist wanted to focus on the negative they could but progress had been made and suggested journalists wait for Friday afternoon’s conclusions. Asked if the Prime Minister had got Dr. Paisley a golden wedding present the PMOS suggested that any issues regarding gifts received should be left to Dr. and Lady Paisley to discuss.
Misc
Asked if there was a list of published Cabinet Committees the PMOS referred the journalist to the Cabinet Office website. Asked if the Prime Minister had been approached by the Metropolitan Police to speak about honours the PMOS replied that the situation remained the same. Asked why the PM had said that he hadn’t the faintest idea whether the police would wish to interview him about cash for honours, the PMOS replied that it was entirely a matter for the police, and that the police should be allowed to get on with any investigation without a running commentary from the Government. Asked about if a decision had been made about Dorneywood the PMOS replied no.
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