Press briefing: afternoon 4 September 2013
The Prime Minister鈥檚 spokesperson (PMS) answered questions on the Prime Minister鈥檚 appointments and Syria.
PM appointments
The Prime Minister鈥檚 spokesperson (PMS) outlined that Ivan Rogers, the Prime Minister鈥檚 adviser on Europe and global issues, had been appointed to be the UK鈥檚 Permanent Representative to the European Union. He would be replaced by Tom Scholar, the second Permanent Secretary at the Treasury.
Syria
Asked what the government hoped to achieve from the Foreign Secretary鈥檚 meeting with the Syrian opposition, The Syrian National Council, tomorrow, the PMS explained that it was part of the UK鈥檚 on-going work to get a political and diplomatic solution to the crisis.
Asked if Iran had replied to the PM鈥檚 letter to its new President last month, the PMS explained the PM had not yet received a letter in response. Asked if the UK鈥檚 future relationship with Iran would be based on the Iranian response to the 2011 attack on the British embassy, the PMS said the importance the PM attached to this was reflected in the fact he raised it in Prime Minister鈥檚 Questions in the House.
Asked if Danny Alexander鈥檚 Parliamentary Private Secretary, Lorely Burt MP, would lose her job for opposing the government motion on Syria, like Jesse Norman MP had, the PMS explained the decision regarding Mr Norman MP was a matter for the Conservative Party.