Another Sunday media claim by David Blunkett about his alleged "experience" and dubious abilities being made use of by other Government departments, which, again, on the Monday, seems to be denied by the Number 10 Downing Street briefers.
The BBC reports:
"Last Updated: Monday, 8 August 2005, 11:18 GMT 12:18 UK
No 10 plays down Blunkett claim
"Downing Street has played down David Blunkett's suggestion he is helping John Prescott take key decisions while Tony Blair is on his annual holiday.
Work Secretary Mr Blunkett said he was helping to explain the government's proposed new laws to tackle extremism.
But Downing Street said: "The deputy prime minister is in charge while the prime minister is on holiday".
The spokesman added Mr Prescott had talked to colleagues like Jack Straw at the weekend but not to Mr Blunkett."
First the Home Office, and now the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.
How come David Blunkett has enough time to meddle in these other departments ? It is not as if the Department for Work and Pensions is running smoothly and efficiently, is it ?
Is this all some long term plot to keep himself in the public eye and in power under Gordon Brown ?
The Number 10 Downing Street daily press conference has this:
"Asked what David Blunkett's role was with respect to this area of policy, the PMS said that David Blunkett was the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions. The Deputy Prime Minister was fulfilling his usual role, which he had performed since 1997, of being in charge whilst the Prime Minister was away. While he was in charge, clearly he spoke to his Cabinet colleagues. This weekend he had spoken to four or five of them, some of whom were on holiday. Asked if David Blunkett's role was consultative, the PMS said that the Deputy Prime Minister spoke to his colleagues regularly, he had spoken to Jack Straw, Ian McCartney amongst others over the weekend and he would continue to do so. Put to her that David Blunkett seemed to be suggesting that he had a special overseeing role, the PMS underlined that the Deputy Prime Minister was in charge while the Prime Minister was on holiday. Asked if David Blunkett was among those the Deputy Prime Minister spoke to on the weekend, the PMS said no. Asked if therefore the Deputy Prime Minister might be having a word with David Blunkett in light of his comments, the PMS said that that was a matter for the Deputy Prime Minister. Asked of David Blunkett had been attending COBRA meetings, the PMS said not to her knowledge."
Blairwatch and Guido fawkes are also similarly unimpressed at this latest David Blunkett meglomaniac spin.
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