Briefing from the Prime Minister’s Official Spokesman on: Margaret Hodge, Akhmed Zakaev and Iraq.
Margaret Hodge
Asked if any ‘developments’ relating to Margaret Hodge’s position were expected today, the PMOS said no. Asked if Mrs Hodge had been in touch with the Prime Minister today, the Prime Minister’s Official Spokesman (PMOS) said no, although she would be in Downing Street later this afternoon for a long-standing meeting with the heads of the five largest children’s charities - Barnado’s, National Children’s Bureau, National Children’s Homes, Save the Children and the NSPCC. They would be discussing the Children’s Green Paper which had been published earlier this year, the consultation period for which ran until the end of this month. Asked why the meeting was taking place in Downing Street, the PMOS said it was because the Prime Minister would be attending. In answer to further questions about the meeting and Mrs Hodge, the PMOS said he thought what he had said answered the question. It was clearly business as usual for the Minister and she was getting on with doing her job.
Asked if the Prime Minister was aware of any advice that had been given to Mrs Hodge regarding any legal action she might or might not be facing, the PMOS said that as far as we were concerned, she was getting on with carrying out her role as Children’s Minister. She had been in Birmingham this morning and would be in Downing Street this afternoon.
Asked how the Prime Minister rated Mrs Hodge’s performance as Children’s Minister, the PMOS said that she would not be doing the job unless the Prime Minister had confidence in her ability to do it. Asked if the Prime Minister had full confidence in Mrs Hodge, the PMOS said yes. Questioned as to whether the Prime Minister and Charles had discussed Mrs Hodge during their joint visit to Southwark today, the PMOS said he had no doubt that they would have discussed a whole range of issues. He had not had, nor sought, a readout.
Asked if Mrs Hodge had cleared her letter to the Chairman of the BBC with Downing Street, the PMOS said he had been asked that on Tuesday. As he had said, not every single piece of paper that emanated from Government Departments necessarily crossed every desk in Downing Street. Asked the Prime Minister’s thoughts on the letter, the PMOS said that the judgement for the Prime Minister was whether he had confidence in a Minister to carry out his or her responsibilities. The fact that he would be attending a meeting with Margaret Hodge this afternoon, showed that that was indeed the case.
Akhmed Zakaev
Asked if Downing Street was concerned that the decision not to extradite Akhmed Zakaev to Russia would undermine the Prime Minister’s relationship with President Putin, the PMOS said he was not sighted on the details of this case. That said, no doubt the usual procedures would have been followed. We enjoyed excellent relations with President Putin, and no doubt would continue to do so.
Iraq
Asked if additional British troops would be sent to Iraq, the PMOS said that if he was being asked about the Foreign Secretary’s comments today, Mr Straw had simply been making the point that this was something that was kept under constant review. He cautioned journalists against over-interpreting what Mr Straw had said. We were absolutely clear that we would see the job through. That determination and resolve was only strengthened when the Coalition and the Iraqi people were on the receiving end of atrocities such as the one that had taken place yesterday. Asked if Jack Straw had responded with a standard answer rather than indicating a specific review, the PMOS said yes.
delicious
digg
facebook
