Briefing from the Prime Minister’s Official Spokesman on: Iraq and Bail.
Iraq
Questioned as to whether the Prime Minister believed that meeting peace protestors was more important than listening to a ‘major’ House of Commons debate on Iraq, the PMOS said he thought that was an unfair point to make given the Prime Minister had made a Statement to the House and taken questions from MPs on the issue yesterday and had answered questions about the subject at PMQs today. He had also been on the frontbench for the start of today’s debate. No doubt the Foreign Secretary, who was representing him, would report back on the rest of the day’s proceedings. Pressed further, the PMOS pointed out that it was very rare for a Prime Minister to sit through an all-day debate.
Bali
Questioned about the publication of the Government’s response today to the Intelligence and Security Committee’s Inquiry into Intelligence, Assessments and Advice prior to the terrorist bombings on Bali on 12 October 2002, the PMOS said that it was a serious piece of work. Asked if the changes to the UK’s security arrangements were an admission of failure, the PMOS said no. He pointed out that responding to changes in circumstances and reviewing what action should be taken was sensible Government policy, not an admission of failure. To characterise it in such terms was to reduce policy debate to simplicities.
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