Briefing from the Prime Minister’s Official Spokesman on: War on Terror/Death of DC Oake, Iraq, Fire Dispute, GICS Review and Europe.
War on Terror/Death of DC Oake
The Prime Minister’s Official Spokesman (PMOS) advised journalists that the Home Secretary would be putting out a Written Ministerial Statement later today to update on the tragic events in Manchester on Tuesday. Asked for further detail, the PMOS said that he had no intention of pre-empting the Written Statement. However, it followed the Home Secretary’s declaration in the House yesterday that he would continue to provide as much information as he could about the incident without prejudicing any inquiries or prosecutions.
Iraq
Asked how long the Cabinet’s discussion on Iraq had been this morning, the PMOS said around forty-five minutes. Questioned as to whether all Ministers had participated, the PMOS said that the majority of the Cabinet had contributed to it. Asked if the Prime Minister had taken the opportunity to get across a particular message on Iraq at the outset, the PMOS said that the Prime Minister had made some general remarks. He had told Ministers that he would be meeting Hans Blix at Chequers tomorrow and had added that Dr Blix’s report to the UN Security Council on 27 January was important inasmuch as it had been enshrined in Resolution 1441, although clearly the option remained open to the weapons inspectors to report back to the UN at any time. He had also underlined the point that the inspection team was now at full strength and was operating properly as a result. Alongside that, the military build-up was continuing. If there was one message that got through in Iraq it was that the threat of force was real and would be used if necessary. In concluding, he had emphasised again that we had embarked on this strategy by going down the UN route and we would see it through. Saddam would be disarmed.
Asked the purpose of the Prime Minister’s meeting with Hans Blix tomorrow, the PMOS said that Dr Blix was an important figure in the process. As the head of UNMOVIC, he had been mandated by the UN to take forward the weapons inspections programme. As one of the P5, the UK was an important member of the UN Security Council. Tomorrow’s meeting was therefore a chance for the Prime Minister to hear personally from Dr Blix about the progress he was making in Iraq and whether he had any concerns. The Prime Minister would also offer Dr Blix any continued assistance if it was needed. Asked if the Prime Minister would use the occasion to pass over additional intelligence information, the PMOS said it went without saying that there had been a huge amount of co-operation from the outset of the process. That would continue. However, tomorrow’s meeting was primarily a listening exercise for the Prime Minister.
Asked if the Cabinet had discussed the possibility that Saddam ‘might do a runner’ and seek asylum in another country, the PMOS said no. He said there was no point in attempting to write the next chapter before seeing how this one concluded. A number of scenarios could unfold. That said, the final outcome was already clear - Saddam Hussein would be disarmed. How that might happen was his choice and a matter for him.
Fire Dispute
Asked if the Cabinet had discussed contingency measures in the event of another fire strike, the PMOS said no. However, the Deputy Prime Minister had updated colleagues on the issue, briefly pointing to the talks this week at Acas between the employers and FBU and the possibility of further talks next Monday.
GICS Review
Asked to confirm reports of an impending investigation into the Government Information and Communication Service, the PMOS confirmed that a review was being set up. It followed the recommendation contained in the Public Administration Select Committee’s report published last Summer in the light of the Martin Sixsmith/Jo Moore events earlier in the year - a recommendation which the Government had accepted. Bob Phillis, Chief Executive of the Guardian Media Group, had agreed to chair the review, which would report to Douglas Alexander, the Cabinet Office Minister. Both Mr Alexander and Mr Phillis were currently approaching and appointing members of the review group which would comprise people from both inside and outside Government. A formal announcement regarding its membership and terms of reference would be made to the Select Committee in the usual way. The PMOS took the opportunity to point out that, contrary to erroneous reports in one of today’s papers, at no stage had Alastair Campbell considered chairing the review.
Europe
Asked if Cabinet had discussed the Franco-German plan for a twin EU Presidency, the PMOS said that Jack Straw had addressed the issue briefly. The Prime Minister welcomed France and Germany’s support for an elected head of the European Council which we had been proposing for some time. In our view, ending the six-monthly rotating Presidency would make the Council more efficient and give it real strategic direction. We hoped that the idea would continue to gather support as part of the Convention on the Future of Europe which was currently underway.
Questioned as to whether the Prime Minister supported the idea of the European Parliament electing the President of the Commission, the PMOS said that we had always given our support to any plans that would ensure a strong Commission because that was integral to the whole Future of Europe discussion. However, we would want to study the Franco-German proposal in more depth through the Convention. In answer to further questions, the PMOS said that choosing the President of the Commission had traditionally been the role of the European Parliament and European Council.
Nevertheless, we would study the Franco-German idea. On a wider point and contrary to some reports, the British Government felt very comfortable in the Future of Europe debate, particularly in terms of how we were helping to shape it. We were aware that discussions between France and Germany were taking place. This was only right given the close co-operation between these two countries was one of the essential building blocks of the EU. However, it was important to recognise that there were a huge number of other alliances and relationships within the EU which were also suggesting ideas and putting forward proposals.
Asked if the Prime Minister was concerned that the Franco-German partnership might become too powerful, the PMOS repeated that the Prime Minister felt perfectly comfortable in the strength of the relationships which he had with France and Germany - and indeed more widely within the EU. Put to him that, far from being too powerful, the France/Germany proposal was a recipe for European ‘ham-fisted impotence’, the PMOS pointed out that the EU was currently undergoing a process of enlargement which would result in an increased membership of twenty five countries. In order to ensure that the EU continued to function properly - and indeed more efficiently - it was therefore important to review some the institutional arrangements. We had been provided with a unique opportunity to reshape the workings of the EU through the Future of Europe Convention and forthcoming IGC at which, it was worth noting, proposals had to be agreed unanimously.
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