Press briefing from the Prime Minister’s Official Spokesman on: Budget, Peerages Investigation, David Cameron meeting and Jack Straw statement-terrorism
Budget
The Prime Minister’s Official Spokesman briefed journalists about the Chancellor’s Budget. The PMOS said that the Chancellor had given a Budget presentation to the Cabinet this morning. The Chancellor had set out how the UK economy was enjoying its longest period of uninterrupted economic growth, with 2.4 million more jobs than in 1997. However, the presentation had made clear that with global competition growing - especially from India and China - the Government could not afford to be complacent, or for there to be any relaxation of fiscal discipline.
This afternoon’s Budget, therefore, would set out detailed measures to lock in Britain’s economic stability, and to make the most of the opportunities of globalisation, including making further essential investments, particularly by investing in science, skills and measures to protect the environment.
Asked if there were any words from the Prime Minister on the Budget, the PMOS said no.
Put that this was a snub, the PMOS replied that if it was, it had been a snub for the past few years, in that case!
Put that it was therefore a long-running snub, the PMOS said that he pleaded guilty, m’lud!!
Asked when did the longest period of uninterrupted growth go back to, the PMOS said people should speak to the Treasury for further details.
Put that it was the same figure every year, the PMOS replied that he wanted it noted that he had disassociated himself from the cynicism in the lobby room!
Peerages Investigation
Asked if there had been any contact between No10 and the Met Police regarding their investigation into cash for peerages, the PMOS replied not that he was aware of.
David Cameron meeting
Asked if there were any dates for a meeting between the Prime Minister and David Cameron, the PMOS replied that the offices were in contact.
Jack Straw statement-terrorism
Asked about Jack Straw’s comments during his statement yesterday regarding British nationals being caught up overseas in terrorist attacks and the financial support offered to them, and was he disagreeing with the Prime Minister about it not being an everyday occurrence, the PMOS said that unfortunately, terrorism was a fact of life in the modern world. In terms of incidents directly affecting British people abroad, the Foreign Secretary was correct, and fortunately, it was not an everyday occurrence. That did not mean, however, that when it did happen to those individuals, it did not have a devastating impact, as it did, and the Foreign Secretary had acknowledged that fact. As the Prime Minister pointed out yesterday, terrorism affected some 30 to 40 other countries as well, therefore nothing that the Foreign Secretary had said cut across what the Prime Minister had said.
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