Briefing from the Prime Minister’s Official Spokesman on: Northern Ireland, Ken Livingstone, BBC, John Reid and Health Services.
The Prime Minister’s Official Spokesman (PMOS) informed journalists that Baroness Symons had announced that she had asked the Prime Minister not to consider her for a ministerial post if the Government was returned at the next General Election. The Prime Minister replied:
"Liz Symons has done a terrific job as a Foreign, Defence and Trade minister, especially on the Middle East and in the House of Lords and I welcome her continued support."
Northern Ireland
Asked what the reaction was to Gerry Adams turning in names to the police ombudsman regarding the Robert McCartney case, the PMOS said what was important was not so much the reaction of either the British or Irish Governments, but rather the reaction of the family, who were the victims of this crime. What they had said was whilst they welcomed such a move, what they would judge it by in the end was whether justice had been done. The PMOS said that all along, it had been the family who had been the most eloquent people in the "whole sad affair", and it was their words that were most important. The PMOS drew journalists’ attention to the words of the Catholic Primate, Dr Sean Brady, who said yesterday that Catholics in Northern Ireland should set aside their historic suspicions of the police, and co-operate with the police service in Northern Ireland, particularly with reference to the murder of Robert McCartney, but not just in relation to that. The Government, clearly, would welcome such comments.
Asked if this was potentially a turning point, as there had not been anything similar before, the PMOS said he was wary of getting into predictions of turning points. What it did show, however, was that communities across Northern Ireland wanted to live in normal societies, where there were not paramilitaries who were carrying out paramilitary activities, or criminal activities. Therefore, the demand that such activities comes to an end was not just a demand that was being led by two governments, but rather one that was being led from the ground by the communities themselves. That applied on the Loyalist side as well as the Republican side.
Ken Livingstone
Asked if Downing Street agreed with Ken Livingstone that Arial Sharon was a war criminal, and that Israel was engaging in ethnic cleansing, the PMOS that Mr. Livingstone was speaking for himself and was not a member of the Government. The PMOS referred journalists to what the Prime Minister had said in recent weeks about recognising the courageous efforts of Arial Sharon in terms of moving the process forward. This he was doing by moving forward and carrying through amidst stiff opposition, at least within his own party, the disengagement plan. Of course, as in Northern Ireland, people had views about the past, but the important things was what people were doing in the present to try and move things forward.
Put to the PMOS that the Israeli Embassy was "furious" with Ken Livingstone, and was there any message that Downing Street had to send to the Embassy, the PMOS said both the Israeli Embassy and Government knew full well the view of the Prime Minister, not least because he had expressed that view side by side with Mr Sharon at a press conference in December.
Put to him that Ken Livingstone had argued that the Israeli Government was exaggerating the return of anti Semitism in Europe, and said that "Jewish groups and individuals in Europe did not suffer the worst of racist resurgents in Europe, it was obviously Muslims" and did the Government have a view on those words, the PMOS said he did not want to get into a dialogue with Mr Livingstone. The PMOS pointed out what the Prime Minister had said in his comments at the Holocaust Memorial, which was that persecution of any kind, and racism of any kind should not be tolerated. Therefore to get into talking about degrees of racism was not where the Prime Minister was coming from. Racism of any kind should not be tolerated.
BBC
Asked if the Prime Minister or the Government have a view about the BBC’s decision to pay license payers money to Brendan Fearon, the PMOS said there were rules and regulations surrounding such matters, and no doubt the BBC would ensure it observed them. It was a matter for the BBC.
John Reid
Asked if the Prime Minister was happy that John Reid was not going to visit Margaret Dixon, the PMOS replied that John Reid had set out his reasons yesterday and that belonged in the party political phase, which the PMOS would not get involved in. What people should focus on today, however, was what the Health Secretary would say in his speech later today. He would report to a conference of heart experts and patients that pre-mature deaths from heart-related disease had been reduced by 27% over the last six years. Similarly, 27,000 lives had been estimated to have been saved, and the proportion of people who had been treated with clot-busting drugs after a heart attack had risen to 54% from 24% as late as 2000. That was a jump of 34% in four years. That was where John Reid was putting his focus today.
Health services
Asked how much of the reduction was down to improved health lifestyles, and how much was down to clinical treatment, the PMOS said he was not a medical expert and he would direct the journalist to the DoH for that sort of detailed analysis. What was appropriate, however, was to recognise the impact that Government investment had had in terms of the health service itself; there were nearly 19,000 extra doctors, nearly 8000 extra consultants, and 67,000 extra nurses. Statistics such as those would have made a major impact in bringing about improvements.
Put to him that the Prime Minister had said on Wednesday that what had happened to Mrs Dixon was "inexcusable" yet since then, there had been many excuses, and was it "inexcusable", the PMOS said the Prime Minister believed everyone should receive their health treatment as quickly as possible. He also believed that the health service had suffered from lack of investment over the years, and therefore a switch could not be flicked and suddenly everything would be improved. What was the case, however, was that improvements had been happening, and were taking place in the hospital where Mrs Dixon was to have her operation. The historic problems could not be ignored, and they had to be put right. The Government had never pretended that it had put them all right yet.
Asked if it was inexcusable, but people might have to live with things like this, the PMOS said it was a fact of life that doctors and nurses did have to juggle priorities. It was also a fact of life that they had more resources now than they did have to juggle those priorities.
Put to him that although there had been more money put into the health service independently, the actual money going through to the frontline services was lower than it was before by about 2 ½%, and the rest of the other 7 ½% was going into other frontline costs, the PMOS said that he was not sure what the breakdown of the figures was. He reminded journalists that as well as the extra doctors, nurses and consultants, there were also 1000 extra cancer consultants, and 1000 extra beds over the past 2 years, which was the first rise in decades. 24 Major hospitals had opened, and 97% of A&E departments were being modernised, and nearly 2000 GP’s surgery had been refurbished or replaced. The NHS Helpline had taken over half a million calls per month, and there were 43 walk-in centres had opened, with another 22 more coming this year. The PMS said that struck him as all being "pretty frontline services" and a reflection of the investment that was getting through to the frontline. People could not be treated at the frontline if there was not proper equipment and facilities for the hospitals.
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