Number 10 Press Briefing - Morning From 10 November 2011
From the Prime Minister's spokesperson on: Eurozone, Remembrance Day poppies and fuel prices.
Eurozone
Put that talks were taking place in Europe on establishing a smaller core to the Eurozone, the Prime Minister’s Spokesperson (PMS) told the assembled media that a response to these claims had already been issued by both the French Finance Ministry and the spokesperson for Angela Merkel. The PMS said that both parties had said the reports were untrue.
Asked if it was in Britain’s national interest for the Eurozone to have 17 members, the PMS said that it was in Britain’s interest for there to be an end to the Eurozone debt crisis, adding that a package had been agreed and that it should be implemented.
Asked about the need for contingency planning, the PMS said that the Treasury worked on a number of contingency plans as a matter of course.
Asked if using the language of there being an ‘Armageddon’ was helpful, the PMS replied that different people use different words to describe the serious economic problems, adding that the Prime Minister had himself described the situation as ‘alarming’.
Asked what the Prime Minister meant by a ‘moment of truth’, the PMS said that the Eurozone was facing very serious economic challenges and that it needs to face up to and deal with them. The PMS said that if the Eurozone wanted to save it’s currency it would need to act and act now.
Remembrance Day poppies
Asked if the Prime Minister was happy with Fifa’s proposal for footballers to wear black armbands during fixtures at the weekend, the PMS said that it was a sensible way forwards.
Fuel prices
Asked if there were concerns about fuel prices, the PMS replied that clearly fuel costs had been going up and that had a real impact on many families that rely on their car. He added that changes within the last Budget had made petrol 6p cheaper than it would have been without Government reforms.
Asked if there would be tax changes in the Autumn Statement, the PMS replied that decisions on tax and duties were a matter for the Chancellor.