Briefing from the Prime Minister’s Spokesman on: David Blunkett/Budd Report.
David Blunkett/Budd Report
Asked if David Blunkett had been cleared by the Budd Report, the Prime Minister’s Spokesman (PMS) said that the Prime Minister was grateful to Sir Alan Budd for his detailed report.
Sir Alan Budd had made it clear that there was no cover up. David Blunkett took responsibility for any mistakes that were made and resigned last week. The report today brought this chapter to a close and enabled us to draw a line under the issue and move on.
The PMS also mentioned an interview that Sir Alan Budd had done in which he said he was not aware of any wrongdoing.
Asked if David Blunkett might therefore be reinstated to Cabinet at some point, the PMS said journalists might like to crystal ball gaze about reshuffles, but we did not. The fact was, David Blunkett resigned last week, and there was now a new Home Secretary who was getting on with the job.
Asked what the Prime Minister’s view was, and if he had now been exonerated, the PMS said that the Prime Minister’s position on the matter had not changed since last week, as he explained in his letter to David Blunkett.
Asked again if the Prime Minister thought David Blunkett had been exonerated, the PMS repeated that the Prime Minister had talked about David Blunkett’s integrity remaining intact, and that was still his view.
Asked if the Prime Minister thought a line could be draw under the issue, when the Budd Report appeared inconclusive, the PMS quoted from the report:
"I have not been able to determine whether Mr Blunkett gave any instructions in relation to the case, and if so, what they were."
She continued that later on in the report Sir Alan Budd explained in his report that
"I think that the events are fully consistent with the interpretation that this was an example of a general case, and not one raised as a special case. That could also explain why those involved could not recollect it."
Asked yet again if therefore Sir Alan Budd had exonerated David Blunkett in his report, the PMS repeated that the Prime Minister stood by David Blunkett and everything he had written in his letter to Mr Blunkett last week.
Asked if the Report had changed the Prime Minister’s view of David Blunkett, the PMS said it had not. David Blunkett had explained his reasons for resigning last week.
Asked if the Prime Minister now felt that David Blunkett made a mistake by resigning last week, the PMS replied that the former Home Secretary explained his reasons for resigning last week. He took responsibility for what had happened in his office.
Asked if the Prime Minister regretted not waiting for the outcome of the inquiry, the PMS said the former Home Secretary had explained his reasons for resigning to the Prime Minister.
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