Briefing from the Prime Minister’s Spokesman on: Bichard Report/Humberside Police, Derek Scott, Downing Street meetings, Iraq and Guantanamo Bay.
Bichard Report/Humberside Police
Asked if the Prime Minister was backing the Home Secretary in his legal bid to remove the Chief Constable of Humberside Police from his post, the Prime Minister’s Spokesman (PMS) said yes. She said that the Home Office was following the protocol, which had been agreed this month by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), the Association of Police Authorities (APA) and the Chief Police Officers Staff Association (CPOSA), as part of the Police Reform Act 2002. It had taken two years to agree this protocol, which the Home Secretary was following to the letter by going through this particular procedure. Asked again if he had the full backing of the Prime Minister, the PMS repeated that Mr Blunkett was following the protocol that had been agreed. Put to her that Mr Blunkett might be following procedures, but in the end he was the one who had made the decision that the Chief Constable of Humberside should go, the PMS pointed out that the Home Secretary had made a decision about the suspension process, not that the Chief Constable should leave his job. That was an important distinction to make. Asked if the Home Secretary was intending to make a Statement to the Commons about this issue, the PMS said not as far as she was aware. She reminded journalists that Mr Blunkett had made a Statement to the House following the publication of the Bichard Report and had made a further statement on Friday following the announcement by Humberside Police Authority.
Put to her that the Bichard Report had also been critical of the Home Office, the PMS said the Bichard Report had made it clear that there was a difference between failures in the past and the changes to be made in the future. However, if journalists read the report, they would see that it had also been clear about the position of the Chief Constable and Humberside Police. Put to her that Sir Michael Bichard had not called for the Chief Constable’s suspension or sacking, the PMS acknowledged that that was the case. However, it was important for people to recognise that the Home Secretary was following the protocol which had been agreed by ACPO, APA and CPOSA.
Derek Scott
Asked by the Evening Standard if there was an ‘orchestrated campaign’ by Downing Street to discredit the Chancellor and the Treasury, the PMS said that she presumed she was being questioned about Derek Scott’s book. Put to her that she was being asked if Downing Street agreed with the Chancellor’s statement, the PMS said that the Chancellor’s spokesman’s statement had been referring to the contents of Mr Scott’s book. She underlined that the book had been totally unauthorised and pointed out that such books were only written to make money and cause trouble and division. As far as we were concerned, however, Mr Scott’s book would not cause any division. She would also caution journalists against believing everything they read. Asked if she was confirming that the book contained descriptions of clashes between the Prime Minister and the Chancellor, the PMS said no. She was simply responding to questions being asked about the issue. Put to her that she was questioning Mr Scott’s motives in writing the book, the PMS said that people obviously wanted to stir things up, hence the questions at this morning’s briefing. Put to her that the Chancellor’s statement had been referring to more than just the book, the PMS said that she had read the statement and had taken it to refer to Mr Scott’s book.
Asked what this whole issue said about the Prime Minister’s judgement in choosing members of his staff, the PMS repeated that Mr Scott’s book had not been authorised by Downing Street. We had not known anything about it until recently when it had been put before the Cabinet Secretary, Sir Andrew Turnbull, for clearance. Asked if she was suggesting that history had to be authorised before it was considered true, the PMS said she was simply making the point that just because someone had written something did not necessarily mean that it was true. Asked if Robin Cook’s book had been presented to the Cabinet Secretary for clearance, the PMS said yes. Any book written by Ministers, officials or advisers had to go through a process involving the Cabinet Secretary. Mr Scott’s book was being looked at under the confidentiality agreement which was signed by advisers on their appointment and on leaving their post. Asked the Prime Minister’s feelings about Mr Scott in the light of his book, the PMS said that she had no intention of providing further comment on the issue which might then be used as some form of publicity when the book was published.
Asked if Downing Street believed it would be able to stop the book being published, the PMS said that the book was currently being looked as by the Cabinet Secretary. Asked if we would rather it wasn’t published, the PMS said that she had no intention of providing any further comment on the matter which could give the book more publicity further down the road. Asked what action Downing Street would take were Mr Scott to be unwilling to make any changes to his book, the PMS declined to get drawn into a discussion about hypothetical scenarios. The Cabinet Secretary was currently looking at the book. That was the position at the moment. In answer to further questions, the PMS referred journalists to the Cabinet Office for more detail about the process of publishing books written by Ministers, officials and advisers.
Downing Street Meetings
Asked why the Prime Minister had met with the Deputy Prime Minister and Charles Clarke in Downing Street on Saturday morning, the PMS pointed out that the three met on a regular basis, and it wasn’t completely unheard of to hold a meeting at the weekend. Some people had claimed that this was evidence of Government divisions. However, just because they had met on a Saturday did not automatically mean that they were arguing. On the contrary. This was clearly a busy time of year.
Iraq
Asked at whose request the transfer of sovereignty in Iraq had been brought forward, the PMS said that as she understood it, it had been done at the request and on the wishes of the Iraqis. She added that her colleague was briefing journalists in Istanbul about this matter and it would not be helpful to duplicate what he was saying. Asked if the British Government believed that such action would make the security situation in Iraq ‘easier’, the PMS said that the Prime Minister had answered that question this morning. His words spoke for themselves.
Guantanamo Bay
Asked if a deal on the remaining four British detainees at Guantanamo Bay was expected in the near future, the PMS said she was not aware of any imminent announcement. As she had told journalists on Friday, discussions were continuing about the issue.
delicious
digg
facebook
