Briefing from the Prime Minister’s Spokesman on: the Prime Minister in the US, Mrs Blair and the EU Constitution.
Prime Minister in the US
Asked if there was any guidance on what was happening in Washington DC, the PMS (Prime Minister’s Spokesman) said that she would not offer a running commentary from thousands of miles away especially when her colleagues out there were well able to brief on events and indeed there would be a press conference later this evening.
Mrs Blair
Asked why Her Majesty’s Ambassador to Washington DC introduced Mrs Blair at an event last night, the PMS said that her understanding was that this was normal procedure for the Ambassador to introduce or accompany any prominent British citizen visiting Washington DC. Asked why the Ambassador was there if, as they had been told last week, that this was an entirely private visit, the PMS said she did not think that changed it at all. Asked if there had been any thought given in Downing Street about the sensitivity of the timing, the PMS said that it was entirely coincidental the Prime Minister and Mrs Blair were in Washington at the same time. Asked if it was coincidental that the Prime Minister’s trip had been arranged as the same time as his wife’s, the PMS said that both the Prime Minister’s and the President’s diary were two very busy diaries and obviously this was the time when they could meet. Asked if this raised the question about whether the Prime Minister’s spouse should have stricter controls, the PMS said we had no comment to add to that media debate. Asked if it was correct that the embassy would be able to provide a list of prominent names of visitors the Ambassador had accompanied, the PMS suggested they spoke to the embassy in Washington, but his appearance had been normal procedure.
EU Constitution
Asked what the view was on how the Foreign Secretary’s statement had been received in Europe, the PMS that that next week there would be a meeting of all 25 EU countries where no doubt everyone would be able to express their view. We should wait for that meeting to see what happened. People made comments all the time, but the important thing was the EU Council next week where all the countries would be attending and able to raise issues in the appropriate manner.
Asked if the Prime Minister had a comment on the decline and prospects of the Euro, the PMS said that the journalist was probably better speaking to the Treasury about economic matters.
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