Press briefing from the Prime Minister’s Spokesman on: Iraq, Super-casino, PM’s Resignation, Sudan, Sellafield
Iraq
Asked if the estimate of the death toll in Iraq and the bombs today suggested that the surge was not working, the Prime Minister’s Official Spokesman (PMOS) said the evidence on the ground in Baghdad is that progress is being made but there are also determined efforts being made to counter that progress and that was also expected at this period. The reality in fact, in Iraq, is that there is a democratically elected Government and there are people trying to thwart the will of that democratically elected government. The PMOS added what the Prime Minister believes is that we should support the government as it tries to take control of the country, as it is doing in Maysan today.
Super-casino
Asked, when the Prime Minister had said that it was a pity that Blackpool did not get the super casino or the consequential regeneration, if that suggested that there may be another casino planned for Blackpool, the PMOS said that the Prime Minister also said was that there was a review of what should happen next but there was a commitment in terms of when the legislation was going through that only one super casino would be announced in this Parliament. In terms of what happens next we have to wait for the outcome of the review.
PM’s resignation
Asked that when the Prime Minister said that he would comment on a successor when he made his announcement to step down was that a clear statement of an endorsement at the same time, the PMOS said that the reporter was right to note the significance of what the Prime Minister said but he would rather not give a commentary on it.
Sudan
Asked what the Prime Minister would be saying on Darfur this afternoon, the PMOS said that the base would be what the Prime Minister said in Berlin which was his very firm view was that President Bashir was playing the international community. President Bashir appeared to agree to what the international community has said should happen and then when attention moves elsewhere he goes back on what he has said. That is what has happened and the Prime Minister believes that this is precisely the time when the pressure should be maintained and that if necessary the Prime Minister’s personal view is that should include a no fly zone. But what the Prime Minister is conscious of s that it needs international agreement to move forward. The Prime Minister is of the firm view, which is echoed by others, that President Bashir is not complying with what he had previously agreed.Â
Asked if there were any indications of how to get the Chinese on board and the Security Council, the PMOS said that the Security Council was obviously where the situation moved to next, but it would be better to wait for the Prime Minister’s words and then let the UN deliberate.Â
Sellafield
Asked if, following on from what the Secretary of State for Trade had said in the House of Commons this afternoon, that last Friday had been the first time the Government was aware that body parts from the post mortems of Sellafield employees had retained, the PMOS said that he was not going to speak for the departments as he had not checked but he was not aware of anything that suggested anything other than that.Â
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