Press briefing from the Prime Minister’s Official Spokesman on: Afghanistan, Deputy Prime Minister and CBI
Afghanistan
Asked why Des Browne was not able to give the Statement to the House of Commons, the Prime Minister’s Official Spokesman (PMOS) said that his understanding was that Des Browne was in his constituency in Scotland, but they should check with his office. It was important to bear in mind that there was a process where the military commanders on the ground assessed the situation and then reported back to their superiors in London. Then the Secretary for State for Defence and Prime Minister were given the appropriate advice. People needed to take into account that process rather than jump ahead of that process. Without giving a running commentary the PMOS suggested that journalists were in danger of jumping ahead of the process.
Put that the Defence Secretary should be back from his constituency by now, the PMOS said journalists could speak to the MOD about Des Browne’s schedule. Nobody, more so than the government, regretted the deaths of the two British soldiers but it was important that we spoke to Parliament when there was something new to say rather than simply on the back of the tragic loss of two of our soldiers even though they were deeply regrettable. It was important that we took the proper decision making processes and announced those results at the right time.
Asked if we were saying that there had been no request for additional troops from commanders on the ground, the PMOS said that he was saying that there was a process to be followed. He would not be giving a running commentary of that process but people should be wary of jumping ahead of it.
Put that both the MOD and No10 had been suggesting that Des Browne would be making the statement, the PMOS said that he was not sure who "No10" was, but we had not been aware that there would be a statement until after the morning press briefing. Asked whether we were saying it was a logistical problem or that the statement was not important enough for it to be the Secretary of State, the PMOS said they should talk to the MOD for precise details, but in terms of the statement he did not anticipate it making any significant new announcements.
Deputy Prime Minister
Asked what the Prime Minister thought of the Deputy Prime Minister enjoying junket at the home of the new Dome owner who hoped to turn it into a casino, the PMOS said that there were a number of assumptions in that question/statement which had already been challenged by the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office. The PMOS read out the statement released on the weekend by the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office:
"It is not true to suggest that I had any involvement whatsoever in the sale of the Dome.
"I played no role with any planning decision relating to the Dome, or in any negotiations for the sale of the Dome.
"My contact with Philip Anshutz relates solely to the use of the Dome, post-sale, in terms of regeneration of the area, and Mr Anshutz’s interest in William Wilberforce, former Hull MP and abolitionist, about whom Mr Anshutz is making a film, as I am personally involved in the 2007 Abolition Bicentenary."
CBI
Asked if there was a response to the new head of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), Richard Lambert’s comments, the PMOS said that those comments should be viewed against the context of the DTI announcement on the value added scoreboard. This measured the wealth created by the top 800 British and top 700 European companies. It showed that the top UK companies were out performing the rest of Europe. UK wealth creation by large companies had increased by 10% on last year, which was more than France and Germany. The UK had more companies in the top league, 197 out of 700, than any of its European counterparts. UK companies had a higher wealth creation efficiency, adding even more value at less cost, than their comparators.
Put that the comments did not bode well for relations between the Prime Minister and Richard Lambert, the PMOS said that it was important that we had a robust dialogue with the CBI, as we had in the past, where they felt free to express their view and we felt free to express our view. That type of dialogue had not harmed either side.
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