Briefing from the Prime Minister’s Official Spokesman on: Prime Minister and Quartet Envoy
Prime Minister
Asked for further information regarding the plans tomorrow, the Prime Minister’s Spokesman (PMOS) said that as he had indicated earlier, the Prime Minister would answer PMQs. He would then return to No10 to thank staff before travelling with Mrs. Blair to Buckingham Palace to speak to The Queen and to offer his resignation. After that, Gordon Brown would come into Buckingham Palace and be offered the job of Prime Minister.
Asked if they would be sharing a car, the PMOS said that they would not be.
Asked if the Prime Minister had any plans for tonight, or would he be packing, the PMOS replied that he would continue to work in Downing Street and would stay there tonight.
Asked if today’s press conference was the last people would hear of the Prime Minister, the PMOS said that the Prime Minister would speak at PMQs tomorrow, which was the right place for him to say his final words.
The Chair of the lobby at this point came in late and said that he wanted on behalf of all the lobby to thank the PMOS very much. Everyone applauded. The PMOS responded by thanking the Chair for his kind comments.
Quartet Envoy
Asked about the Prime Minister being involved in any further talks regarding the Quartet envoy position, the PMOS said that the Quartet meeting would go at its own pace, with its own agenda, and it would be totally wrong for him to start talking about possible outcomes from that meeting. People needed to respect the Quartet process, and that was what we would do at all times.
Asked if the Russians were objecting to the appointment, the PMOS said people should wait for an outcome, and then they could comment, rather than on speculation.
Asked what was the understanding about the situation in Jerusalem, as it looked like it was envoys meeting together, the PMOS replied that we in this country might be focused on one particular element of discussion, but this was a much broader discussion, given where we were in the Middle East at the moment. Therefore, people should not be surprised if a) this meeting did go into tomorrow, and b) that it would take some time, as the situation in the Middle East at the moment was serious, and the Quartet therefore needed to consider all its options seriously. It was a good thing that they took time to do so, because the Quartet was the "engine room" of where we might begin to see progress in the Middle East. It was important that they took the time to get it right.
Put that the indications at this stage was not to expect any comment or statement today, the PMOS said that his expectation all week had been that this would probably take two days running. The PMOS stressed that we were not there, and he did not in any way want to prejudge the outcome.
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