Press briefing from the Prime Minister’s Official Spokesman on: Prime Minister’s Written Ministerial Statement, Cabinet, Trident, Olympics and Police Inquiry
Prime Minister’s Written Ministerial Statement
The Prime Minister’s Official Spokesmen (PMOS) told journalists that the Prime Minister’s statement on party funding would say:
"I have today laid before both Houses the report by Sir Hayden Phillips entitled Strengthening Democracy: Fair and Sustainable Funding of Political Parties. Copies of the report have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
I welcome Sir Hayden’s report. He has negotiated his report with skill and dedication, and for this I am very grateful. I am sure that the other political parties share my gratitude.
The report shows very clearly that there is now the basis for a new agreement on the funding and expenditure of political parties. There are a number of detailed questions which need to be taken forward, through a process of further discussion between the political parties. I hope that following these negotiations, consensus can be reached. I have asked Sir Hayden to chair these further discussions. I believe that they should begin soon and conclude before the summer recess, in order to build a platform for legislation in the next Parliamentary session.
The time has come for us to find a new settlement on party funding and expenditure. I have asked my Rt. hon. Friend the Leader of the House of Commons (Jack Straw) to lead these negotiations for the Labour Party. I hope that the Leaders of the other main parties will also nominate delegations to join the talks".
Cabinet
Asked what had been discussed in Cabinet, the Prime Minister’s Official Spokesman (PMOS) said that Cabinet was a preview of Sir Hayden Phillips’ report, as well as a policy review discussion, following on from last week. This week, it was on crime and security issues.
Put that given Sir Hayden Philipps’ conclusions stood at odds with Labour Party policy, did the Prime Minister see a way forward, the PMOS replied that what was better was for Sir Hayden to do his press conference, and then Jack Straw would address the matter in his statement later this afternoon. The PMOS also said that he would not get involved in party business.
Trident
Asked if there had been any reflections following on from the Trident vote last night, the PMOS said there had not been.
Asked if there was any sense in which the Prime Minister’s authority had been dented, the PMOS replied that what was important was that the policy, which had always been a difficult issue, had been thought through, presented to the House, and passed by a sizeable majority. The Prime Minister said at PMQs that he had always recognised that there were difficult issues, such as Trident, that had to be addressed. The important thing was that a decision had been made.
Asked by Channel Four’s political editor if the Prime Minister had sent any message of thanks to the Leader of the Opposition for helping get the vote through, the PMOS replied that the question did qualify as a "Gibbon-esque" question, but the PMOS added that he was not aware of any message!
Put that a majority of Scottish MPs had voted against the Government, and that some SNP MPs had asked for some subs to be moved from the Clyde, and what were the thoughts on this, the PMOS said that he did not want to get involved in party matters in Scotland. There was, however, one defence policy for the entire UK.
Asked if there would be a reshuffle, the PMOS said that he was not aware of any news on that at all.
Olympics
Asked if there would any guidance from the Prime Minister regarding the Olympics Bill statement, the PMOS said that the Prime Minister had set out his view in his visit this morning to the Westway. What was important was that this would give us a chance to regenerate one of the most deprived areas of the UK. It would also showcase Britain to a global audience, and it would give sport a massive boost. The PMOS said that it was not just about the festival of sport during the period of the Olympics; rather, it was also about a legacy that would last for decades. If people looked at the costs, they must remember that it would fund the biggest regeneration programme since the Second World War. It would be the biggest catalyst for regeneration for the Thames Gateway, and the 250 hectares of brownfield land would be transformed into the largest new urban park in Europe for 150 years.
The PMOS said that the 3850 homes created from the Athletes Village would be part of the 9000 new homes in the Olympic Park after the games. There would be a significant upgrade in public transport in East London, and there would be up to 12,000 jobs as a result of the legacy developed from the Olympic Park. That should give people a good idea of the approach we were taking, and that was part of the bid process that stressed the legacy in terms of sport, but also in terms of the country as a whole.
Put that the Prime Minister had said today that the regeneration would benefit the whole of the UK, but how would it benefit those not living in London, the PMOS replied that if one part of the UK was improved, it did effect the country as a whole. Also, in terms of where events would take place, that would effect the country, as well as what it would do for sport. In terms of the investment that was going into helping athletics both for Beijing and for 2012, that would also benefit the UK as a whole. People had to look at the popularity of the Olympics throughout the UK to see that the country recognised that.
Asked if the Prime Minister had a specific reaction to the fact that the bill appeared to be rising, the PMOS said that he did not want to pre-empt Tessa Jowell later this afternoon.
Police Inquiry
Asked if Jonathan Powell had been seen by the police, the PMOS replied that he did not talk about civil servants, and Jonathan Powell was a civil servant.
Asked the police question, the PMOS said: no.
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