Briefing from the Prime Minister’s Official Spokesman on: US Elections, Parliament Square Protests and Hunting Bill.
US Elections
Asked if the Prime Minister had spoken to any President this morning the Prime Minister’s Official Spokesman (PMOS) said that we did not brief on conversations with Presidents. Asked if the Prime Minister would say anything on the US election today assuming there was a result the PMOS said given that events were still unfolding he was sure that journalists would understand that we would not be saying anything until things became clear for however long that took.
Asked what the Prime Minister did overnight the PMOS said that as he had a busy day ahead today he did get some sleep. Asked if he was woken during the night the PMOS said that he wasn’t.
Asked how often the Prime Minister had spoken to President Bush recently the PMOS said that they spoke regularly by videoconference as had been said before. In answer to further questions the PMOS said they spoke on a very regular basis.
Asked whatever the result whether it was convention for the Prime Minister to phone the winner and the loser the PMOS said he was not aware of any specific convention but that it was best to await a result was known before briefing on such things.
Parliament Square Protests
Asked what the Government’s position was ahead of the Commons debate on protestors in Parliament Square the PMOS said that the best course of action was to wait for Peter Hain’s remarks this afternoon. We obviously recognised the right to freedom of speech and that there were certain views in the House. That said it was still best to wait till the afternoon for the debate to take place.
Hunting Bill
Asked what the option was for the Hunting Bill and if the Prime Minister knew how many cabinet colleagues shared his view the PMOS said that as he had stated repeatedly the Prime Minister had supported the Alun Michael compromise but it was still a free vote and the cabinet like every other MP was entitled to exercise their free vote.
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