Briefing from the Prime Minister’s Official Spokesman on: Black Watch, Wreath and Ken Bigley Memorial Service.
Black Watch
Asked if the Prime Minister had saved the Black Watch regiment, the Prime Minster’s Official Spokesman (PMOS) replied that as we had briefed the previous night, no decision had been taken as yet. This would be based on recommendations from the military. The PMOS said that those who had not rushed into print earlier in the morning had been right to wait as o decisions had been made.
Asked if Sir Mike Jackson was unhappy with the solution that was put forward, the PMOS answered that this was not the case as the Army were the ones who would make a recommendation, and that they knew better than others the importance of tradition, history and effectiveness, and how to achieve the balance between them all. The Government was content to leave the Army to strike the right balance.
Asked why the original decision to merge the regiments was deemed more effective, the PMOS replied that there was a situation where regiments were not deployable because of problems moving personnel between them, for example. It was about increasing the effectiveness of the Army as a whole, which was an idea that came from the Army, and the Government wanted to help achieve that. The Government realised the Army wanted to address the various issues surrounding any regimental changes, and we have asked for patience whilst a decision is reached.
Asked if the Military was the Army Board, the PMOS replied that it was, and that going through the Army Board was the proper procedure to take when dealing with such decisions.
Asked if No10 thought there was a divergence between what the MOD thought was happening and what they thought was happening, the PMOS replied again that he was going to refuse to jump any fences before they had to be jumped. He stated that there was no divergence, but what had to happen was to follow proper procedure.
Asked if the Prime Minister was involved in the procedure, the PMOS answered that of course the Prime Minister was involved at the end of the procedure.
Asked about the timing of the decision, the PMOS replied that it would take as long as necessary. The Government was content to let the Military do it in their timescale.
Asked if the Prime Minister accepted that it was bad for the troops’ morale to be having such discussions about the future of the regiments whilst they were in the line of fire, the PMOS replied that the important thing was that the Military believed the discussions were to achieve the most effective use of the Army personnel. Therefore, of course it raised issues and concerns, but the goal was to produce a more effective and efficient Army at the end.
Asked if the decision was a political one in the end, the PMOS replied that again, the important thing was to end up with an Army that not only respected traditions, but that was organised in the most efficient way. He stressed again that the best thing to do was to be patient and to let the Military do their job.
Asked if there had been any recommendations from the Military, the PMOS again replied that the process was going through, but that he would not comment, as they were not at a point of decision.
Asked if the Black Watch would be home for Christmas, and also if there was going to be another regiment deployed in their place, the PMOS answered that the Black Watch would be home for Christmas, but there were no plans at this stage for other deployments. Those decisions were based on operational decisions from commanders in the field.
Wreath
Asked if No10 was involved in the wreath-laying decision by families of soldiers killed in the Iraq War, the PMOS answered that no, they were not. All they did was point out to the families that there was nowhere formally to lay a wreath in Downing Street. If they wished to bring a wreath into Downing Street and hand it at the door, that would be fine, but there is no memorial as such.
Asked again if the wreath-laying decision was a police one or a Downing Street one, the PMOS replied that he was not going to go into it again, as he had just explained the situation.
Asked if there was time in the Prime Minister’s diary to meet one of the mothers, who has said that she wanted a meeting with the Prime Minister, the PMOS said that it was difficult to rearrange the diary at such short notice, as everyone could imagine.
Asked if the reason behind the Prime Minister not meeting Rose Gentle, a mother of one of the soldiers killed in Iraq because she had "stormed" out of a previous meeting with the Deputy Prime Minister, the PMOS referred people to the Prime Minister’s comments on the subject during an earlier House of Commons statement.
Ken Bigley Memorial Service
Asked if the Prime Minister was going to attend Ken Bigley’s memorial service at the weekend, the PMOS replied that it depended entirely on the wishes of the Bigley family. The Prime Minister would do whatever they wanted him to do.
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