|
Short hits back over UN spy claim
Former cabinet minister Clare Short has denied putting the UK or its
security services at risk by claiming UN chief Kofi Annan's phone calls were
bugged.
After Tony Blair branded the claims "deeply irresponsible" Ms Short hit back
by accusing the prime minister of using "pompous" distraction tactics.
She told BBC Two's Newsnight there was no national interest that justified
spying on the UN secretary general.
The UN has said if the claims were true the UK had undermined Mr Annan's
work.
Chief spokesman Fred Eckhard said any bugging would be illegal and should be
stopped.
No comment
At his monthly news conference, the prime minister insisted the UK security
services acted in accordance with domestic and international law and in
their country's best interests.
Mr Blair did not directly deny the bugging operation took place, but did
say: "I'm not going to comment on the work of our security services - do not
take that as an indication that the allegations made by Clare Short are
true.
"I really do regard what Clare Short has said this morning as totally
irresponsible, and entirely consistent."
Asked whether she should be prosecuted or face Labour Party discipline Mr
Blair said he would "have to reflect upon" her comments.
Other Labour figures have also rallied against Ms Short.
Her former deputy, George Foulkes, said she had no evidence for her claims
and the fisheries minister, Ben Bradshaw, accused her of impugning Mr
Blair's integrity.
In Friday's Independent newspaper, ex-Foreign Secretary Robin Cook said he
would be "surprised" if Ms Short's claims were true.
But in her Newsnight interview she was defiant, and dismissed the prime
minister's attack on her as a distraction.
"What's he going to say? He either says 'yes, it's true' or he has to say
'no, it's not true', then he would be telling a lie. So he's got to say
something else, so he can have a go at me."
Transcripts seen
She said it was "pompous" of Mr Blair to claim she had threatened national
security or the security services.
"There is no national interest here, there is absolutely no threat to the
security services from me making this public," she said.
Ms Short says she saw transcripts of Mr Annan's phone conversations.
The UK in this time was also getting spies on Kofi Annan's office and
getting reports from him about what was going on
Clare Short
Listen to the full Today programme interview
Asked if it was possible the UN had taped the conversations itself, she
replied: "I don't think this matters. Someone is improperly distributing
transcripts."
The former minister also said she had seen no evidence of spying operations
against other UN diplomatic missions.
The British ambassador to the UN phoned Mr Annan about the claims on
Thursday.
But UN communications director, Edward Mortimer, said he did not think Mr
Annan had received assurances the bugging had not happened or would not
happen again.
'Dangerous situation'
Ms Short's comments came the day after the collapse of the trial of
Katharine Gun, a whistle-blower at the government surveillance and
communications organisation GCHQ.
She had been accused of leaking a secret e-mail from US spies apparently
requesting British help in bugging UN delegates ahead of the Iraq invasion.
The government says it will review whether changes are needed to the
Official Secrets Act in the wake of the case.
I have had conversations with Kofi in the run up to the war thinking 'oh
dear, there will be a transcript of this and people will see what he and I
are saying
Clare Short
Ex-Cabinet minister
There has been speculation ministers were worried about the disclosure of
secret documents during the trial, particularly the advice from Attorney
General Lord Goldsmith about the legality of war.
But Lord Goldsmith said told the House of Lords on Wednesday the decision
was "on solely legal grounds ... and free from any political interference".
Conservative leader Michael Howard said the situation was "a complete mess"
while Liberal Democrat Charles Kennedy urged Mr Blair to "come clean".
--
"We should not march into Baghdad. To occupy Iraq would
instantly shatter our coalition, turning the whole Arab
world against us and make a broken tyrant into a latter-
day Arab hero. Assigning young soldiers to a fruitless
hunt for a securely entrenched dictator and condemning
them to fight in what would be an unwinable urban guerilla
war, it could only plunge that part of the world into ever
greater instability."
-George H. W. Bush in his 1998
|
| |
| |
|
| |
| |
Short hits back over UN spy claim
Former cabinet minister Clare Short has denied putting the UK or its
security services at risk by claiming UN chief Kofi Annan's phone calls were
bugged.
After Tony Blair branded the claims "deeply irresponsible" Ms Short hit back
by accusing the prime minister of using "pompous" distraction tactics.
She told BBC Two's Newsnight there was no national interest that justified
spying on the UN secretary general.
The UN has said if the claims were true the UK had undermined Mr Annan's
work.
Chief spokesman Fred Eckhard said any bugging would be illegal and should be
stopped.
No comment
At his monthly news conference, the prime minister insisted the UK security
services acted in accordance with domestic and international law and in
their country's best interests.
Mr Blair did not directly deny the bugging operation took place, but did
say: "I'm not going to comment on the work of our security services - do not
take that as an indication that the allegations made by Clare Short are
true.
"I really do regard what Clare Short has said this morning as totally
irresponsible, and entirely consistent."
Asked whether she should be prosecuted or face Labour Party discipline Mr
Blair said he would "have to reflect upon" her comments.
Other Labour figures have also rallied against Ms Short.
Her former deputy, George Foulkes, said she had no evidence for her claims
and the fisheries minister, Ben Bradshaw, accused her of impugning Mr
Blair's integrity.
In Friday's Independent newspaper, ex-Foreign Secretary Robin Cook said he
would be "surprised" if Ms Short's claims were true.
But in her Newsnight interview she was defiant, and dismissed the prime
minister's attack on her as a distraction.
"What's he going to say? He either says 'yes, it's true' or he has to say
'no, it's not true', then he would be telling a lie. So he's got to say
something else, so he can have a go at me."
Transcripts seen
She said it was "pompous" of Mr Blair to claim she had threatened national
security or the security services.
"There is no national interest here, there is absolutely no threat to the
security services from me making this public," she said.
Ms Short says she saw transcripts of Mr Annan's phone conversations.
The UK in this time was also getting spies on Kofi Annan's office and
getting reports from him about what was going on
Clare Short
Listen to the full Today programme interview
Asked if it was possible the UN had taped the conversations itself, she
replied: "I don't think this matters. Someone is improperly distributing
transcripts."
The former minister also said she had seen no evidence of spying operations
against other UN diplomatic missions.
The British ambassador to the UN phoned Mr Annan about the claims on
Thursday.
But UN communications director, Edward Mortimer, said he did not think Mr
Annan had received assurances the bugging had not happened or would not
happen again.
'Dangerous situation'
Ms Short's comments came the day after the collapse of the trial of
Katharine Gun, a whistle-blower at the government surveillance and
communications organisation GCHQ.
She had been accused of leaking a secret e-mail from US spies apparently
requesting British help in bugging UN delegates ahead of the Iraq invasion.
The government says it will review whether changes are needed to the
Official Secrets Act in the wake of the case.
I have had conversations with Kofi in the run up to the war thinking 'oh
dear, there will be a transcript of this and people will see what he and I
are saying
Clare Short
Ex-Cabinet minister
There has been speculation ministers were worried about the disclosure of
secret documents during the trial, particularly the advice from Attorney
General Lord Goldsmith about the legality of war.
But Lord Goldsmith said told the House of Lords on Wednesday the decision
was "on solely legal grounds ... and free from any political interference".
Conservative leader Michael Howard said the situation was "a complete mess"
while Liberal Democrat Charles Kennedy urged Mr Blair to "come clean".
--
"We should not march into Baghdad. To occupy Iraq would
instantly shatter our coalition, turning the whole Arab
world against us and make a broken tyrant into a latter-
day Arab hero. Assigning young soldiers to a fruitless
hunt for a securely entrenched dictator and condemning
them to fight in what would be an unwinable urban guerilla
war, it could only plunge that part of the world into ever
greater instability."
-George H. W. Bush in his 1998
|
| |
| |
|
| |
| |
Short hits back over UN spy claim
Former cabinet minister Clare Short has denied putting the UK or its
security services at risk by claiming UN chief Kofi Annan's phone calls were
bugged.
After Tony Blair branded the claims "deeply irresponsible" Ms Short hit back
by accusing the prime minister of using "pompous" distraction tactics.
She told BBC Two's Newsnight there was no national interest that justified
spying on the UN secretary general.
The UN has said if the claims were true the UK had undermined Mr Annan's
work.
Chief spokesman Fred Eckhard said any bugging would be illegal and should be
stopped.
No comment
At his monthly news conference, the prime minister insisted the UK security
services acted in accordance with domestic and international law and in
their country's best interests.
Mr Blair did not directly deny the bugging operation took place, but did
say: "I'm not going to comment on the work of our security services - do not
take that as an indication that the allegations made by Clare Short are
true.
"I really do regard what Clare Short has said this morning as totally
irresponsible, and entirely consistent."
Asked whether she should be prosecuted or face Labour Party discipline Mr
Blair said he would "have to reflect upon" her comments.
Other Labour figures have also rallied against Ms Short.
Her former deputy, George Foulkes, said she had no evidence for her claims
and the fisheries minister, Ben Bradshaw, accused her of impugning Mr
Blair's integrity.
In Friday's Independent newspaper, ex-Foreign Secretary Robin Cook said he
would be "surprised" if Ms Short's claims were true.
But in her Newsnight interview she was defiant, and dismissed the prime
minister's attack on her as a distraction.
"What's he going to say? He either says 'yes, it's true' or he has to say
'no, it's not true', then he would be telling a lie. So he's got to say
something else, so he can have a go at me."
Transcripts seen
She said it was "pompous" of Mr Blair to claim she had threatened national
security or the security services.
"There is no national interest here, there is absolutely no threat to the
security services from me making this public," she said.
Ms Short says she saw transcripts of Mr Annan's phone conversations.
The UK in this time was also getting spies on Kofi Annan's office and
getting reports from him about what was going on
Clare Short
Listen to the full Today programme interview
Asked if it was possible the UN had taped the conversations itself, she
replied: "I don't think this matters. Someone is improperly distributing
transcripts."
The former minister also said she had seen no evidence of spying operations
against other UN diplomatic missions.
The British ambassador to the UN phoned Mr Annan about the claims on
Thursday.
But UN communications director, Edward Mortimer, said he did not think Mr
Annan had received assurances the bugging had not happened or would not
happen again.
'Dangerous situation'
Ms Short's comments came the day after the collapse of the trial of
Katharine Gun, a whistle-blower at the government surveillance and
communications organisation GCHQ.
She had been accused of leaking a secret e-mail from US spies apparently
requesting British help in bugging UN delegates ahead of the Iraq invasion.
The government says it will review whether changes are needed to the
Official Secrets Act in the wake of the case.
I have had conversations with Kofi in the run up to the war thinking 'oh
dear, there will be a transcript of this and people will see what he and I
are saying
Clare Short
Ex-Cabinet minister
There has been speculation ministers were worried about the disclosure of
secret documents during the trial, particularly the advice from Attorney
General Lord Goldsmith about the legality of war.
But Lord Goldsmith said told the House of Lords on Wednesday the decision
was "on solely legal grounds ... and free from any political interference".
Conservative leader Michael Howard said the situation was "a complete mess"
while Liberal Democrat Charles Kennedy urged Mr Blair to "come clean".
--
"We should not march into Baghdad. To occupy Iraq would
instantly shatter our coalition, turning the whole Arab
world against us and make a broken tyrant into a latter-
day Arab hero. Assigning young soldiers to a fruitless
hunt for a securely entrenched dictator and condemning
them to fight in what would be an unwinable urban guerilla
war, it could only plunge that part of the world into ever
greater instability."
-George H. W. Bush in his 1998
|
| |
| |
|
| |
| |
Short hits back over UN spy claim
Former cabinet minister Clare Short has denied putting the UK or its
security services at risk by claiming UN chief Kofi Annan's phone calls were
bugged.
After Tony Blair branded the claims "deeply irresponsible" Ms Short hit back
by accusing the prime minister of using "pompous" distraction tactics.
She told BBC Two's Newsnight there was no national interest that justified
spying on the UN secretary general.
The UN has said if the claims were true the UK had undermined Mr Annan's
work.
Chief spokesman Fred Eckhard said any bugging would be illegal and should be
stopped.
No comment
At his monthly news conference, the prime minister insisted the UK security
services acted in accordance with domestic and international law and in
their country's best interests.
Mr Blair did not directly deny the bugging operation took place, but did
say: "I'm not going to comment on the work of our security services - do not
take that as an indication that the allegations made by Clare Short are
true.
"I really do regard what Clare Short has said this morning as totally
irresponsible, and entirely consistent."
Asked whether she should be prosecuted or face Labour Party discipline Mr
Blair said he would "have to reflect upon" her comments.
Other Labour figures have also rallied against Ms Short.
Her former deputy, George Foulkes, said she had no evidence for her claims
and the fisheries minister, Ben Bradshaw, accused her of impugning Mr
Blair's integrity.
In Friday's Independent newspaper, ex-Foreign Secretary Robin Cook said he
would be "surprised" if Ms Short's claims were true.
But in her Newsnight interview she was defiant, and dismissed the prime
minister's attack on her as a distraction.
"What's he going to say? He either says 'yes, it's true' or he has to say
'no, it's not true', then he would be telling a lie. So he's got to say
something else, so he can have a go at me."
Transcripts seen
She said it was "pompous" of Mr Blair to claim she had threatened national
security or the security services.
"There is no national interest here, there is absolutely no threat to the
security services from me making this public," she said.
Ms Short says she saw transcripts of Mr Annan's phone conversations.
The UK in this time was also getting spies on Kofi Annan's office and
getting reports from him about what was going on
Clare Short
Listen to the full Today programme interview
Asked if it was possible the UN had taped the conversations itself, she
replied: "I don't think this matters. Someone is improperly distributing
transcripts."
The former minister also said she had seen no evidence of spying operations
against other UN diplomatic missions.
The British ambassador to the UN phoned Mr Annan about the claims on
Thursday.
But UN communications director, Edward Mortimer, said he did not think Mr
Annan had received assurances the bugging had not happened or would not
happen again.
'Dangerous situation'
Ms Short's comments came the day after the collapse of the trial of
Katharine Gun, a whistle-blower at the government surveillance and
communications organisation GCHQ.
She had been accused of leaking a secret e-mail from US spies apparently
requesting British help in bugging UN delegates ahead of the Iraq invasion.
The government says it will review whether changes are needed to the
Official Secrets Act in the wake of the case.
I have had conversations with Kofi in the run up to the war thinking 'oh
dear, there will be a transcript of this and people will see what he and I
are saying
Clare Short
Ex-Cabinet minister
There has been speculation ministers were worried about the disclosure of
secret documents during the trial, particularly the advice from Attorney
General Lord Goldsmith about the legality of war.
But Lord Goldsmith said told the House of Lords on Wednesday the decision
was "on solely legal grounds ... and free from any political interference".
Conservative leader Michael Howard said the situation was "a complete mess"
while Liberal Democrat Charles Kennedy urged Mr Blair to "come clean".
--
"We should not march into Baghdad. To occupy Iraq would
instantly shatter our coalition, turning the whole Arab
world against us and make a broken tyrant into a latter-
day Arab hero. Assigning young soldiers to a fruitless
hunt for a securely entrenched dictator and condemning
them to fight in what would be an unwinable urban guerilla
war, it could only plunge that part of the world into ever
greater instability."
-George H. W. Bush in his 1998
|
| |
| |
|
| |
| |
Short hits back over UN spy claim
Former cabinet minister Clare Short has denied putting the UK or its
security services at risk by claiming UN chief Kofi Annan's phone calls were
bugged.
After Tony Blair branded the claims "deeply irresponsible" Ms Short hit back
by accusing the prime minister of using "pompous" distraction tactics.
She told BBC Two's Newsnight there was no national interest that justified
spying on the UN secretary general.
The UN has said if the claims were true the UK had undermined Mr Annan's
work.
Chief spokesman Fred Eckhard said any bugging would be illegal and should be
stopped.
No comment
At his monthly news conference, the prime minister insisted the UK security
services acted in accordance with domestic and international law and in
their country's best interests.
Mr Blair did not directly deny the bugging operation took place, but did
say: "I'm not going to comment on the work of our security services - do not
take that as an indication that the allegations made by Clare Short are
true.
"I really do regard what Clare Short has said this morning as totally
irresponsible, and entirely consistent."
Asked whether she should be prosecuted or face Labour Party discipline Mr
Blair said he would "have to reflect upon" her comments.
Other Labour figures have also rallied against Ms Short.
Her former deputy, George Foulkes, said she had no evidence for her claims
and the fisheries minister, Ben Bradshaw, accused her of impugning Mr
Blair's integrity.
In Friday's Independent newspaper, ex-Foreign Secretary Robin Cook said he
would be "surprised" if Ms Short's claims were true.
But in her Newsnight interview she was defiant, and dismissed the prime
minister's attack on her as a distraction.
"What's he going to say? He either says 'yes, it's true' or he has to say
'no, it's not true', then he would be telling a lie. So he's got to say
something else, so he can have a go at me."
Transcripts seen
She said it was "pompous" of Mr Blair to claim she had threatened national
security or the security services.
"There is no national interest here, there is absolutely no threat to the
security services from me making this public," she said.
Ms Short says she saw transcripts of Mr Annan's phone conversations.
The UK in this time was also getting spies on Kofi Annan's office and
getting reports from him about what was going on
Clare Short
Listen to the full Today programme interview
Asked if it was possible the UN had taped the conversations itself, she
replied: "I don't think this matters. Someone is improperly distributing
transcripts."
The former minister also said she had seen no evidence of spying operations
against other UN diplomatic missions.
The British ambassador to the UN phoned Mr Annan about the claims on
Thursday.
But UN communications director, Edward Mortimer, said he did not think Mr
Annan had received assurances the bugging had not happened or would not
happen again.
'Dangerous situation'
Ms Short's comments came the day after the collapse of the trial of
Katharine Gun, a whistle-blower at the government surveillance and
communications organisation GCHQ.
She had been accused of leaking a secret e-mail from US spies apparently
requesting British help in bugging UN delegates ahead of the Iraq invasion.
The government says it will review whether changes are needed to the
Official Secrets Act in the wake of the case.
I have had conversations with Kofi in the run up to the war thinking 'oh
dear, there will be a transcript of this and people will see what he and I
are saying
Clare Short
Ex-Cabinet minister
There has been speculation ministers were worried about the disclosure of
secret documents during the trial, particularly the advice from Attorney
General Lord Goldsmith about the legality of war.
But Lord Goldsmith said told the House of Lords on Wednesday the decision
was "on solely legal grounds ... and free from any political interference".
Conservative leader Michael Howard said the situation was "a complete mess"
while Liberal Democrat Charles Kennedy urged Mr Blair to "come clean".
--
"We should not march into Baghdad. To occupy Iraq would
instantly shatter our coalition, turning the whole Arab
world against us and make a broken tyrant into a latter-
day Arab hero. Assigning young soldiers to a fruitless
hunt for a securely entrenched dictator and condemning
them to fight in what would be an unwinable urban guerilla
war, it could only plunge that part of the world into ever
greater instability."
-George H. W. Bush in his 1998
|
| |
| |
|
| |
| |
Short hits back over UN spy claim
Former cabinet minister Clare Short has denied putting the UK or its
security services at risk by claiming UN chief Kofi Annan's phone calls were
bugged.
After Tony Blair branded the claims "deeply irresponsible" Ms Short hit back
by accusing the prime minister of using "pompous" distraction tactics.
She told BBC Two's Newsnight there was no national interest that justified
spying on the UN secretary general.
The UN has said if the claims were true the UK had undermined Mr Annan's
work.
Chief spokesman Fred Eckhard said any bugging would be illegal and should be
stopped.
No comment
At his monthly news conference, the prime minister insisted the UK security
services acted in accordance with domestic and international law and in
their country's best interests.
Mr Blair did not directly deny the bugging operation took place, but did
say: "I'm not going to comment on the work of our security services - do not
take that as an indication that the allegations made by Clare Short are
true.
"I really do regard what Clare Short has said this morning as totally
irresponsible, and entirely consistent."
Asked whether she should be prosecuted or face Labour Party discipline Mr
Blair said he would "have to reflect upon" her comments.
Other Labour figures have also rallied against Ms Short.
Her former deputy, George Foulkes, said she had no evidence for her claims
and the fisheries minister, Ben Bradshaw, accused her of impugning Mr
Blair's integrity.
In Friday's Independent newspaper, ex-Foreign Secretary Robin Cook said he
would be "surprised" if Ms Short's claims were true.
But in her Newsnight interview she was defiant, and dismissed the prime
minister's attack on her as a distraction.
"What's he going to say? He either says 'yes, it's true' or he has to say
'no, it's not true', then he would be telling a lie. So he's got to say
something else, so he can have a go at me."
Transcripts seen
She said it was "pompous" of Mr Blair to claim she had threatened national
security or the security services.
"There is no national interest here, there is absolutely no threat to the
security services from me making this public," she said.
Ms Short says she saw transcripts of Mr Annan's phone conversations.
The UK in this time was also getting spies on Kofi Annan's office and
getting reports from him about what was going on
Clare Short
Listen to the full Today programme interview
Asked if it was possible the UN had taped the conversations itself, she
replied: "I don't think this matters. Someone is improperly distributing
transcripts."
The former minister also said she had seen no evidence of spying operations
against other UN diplomatic missions.
The British ambassador to the UN phoned Mr Annan about the claims on
Thursday.
But UN communications director, Edward Mortimer, said he did not think Mr
Annan had received assurances the bugging had not happened or would not
happen again.
'Dangerous situation'
Ms Short's comments came the day after the collapse of the trial of
Katharine Gun, a whistle-blower at the government surveillance and
communications organisation GCHQ.
She had been accused of leaking a secret e-mail from US spies apparently
requesting British help in bugging UN delegates ahead of the Iraq invasion.
The government says it will review whether changes are needed to the
Official Secrets Act in the wake of the case.
I have had conversations with Kofi in the run up to the war thinking 'oh
dear, there will be a transcript of this and people will see what he and I
are saying
Clare Short
Ex-Cabinet minister
There has been speculation ministers were worried about the disclosure of
secret documents during the trial, particularly the advice from Attorney
General Lord Goldsmith about the legality of war.
But Lord Goldsmith said told the House of Lords on Wednesday the decision
was "on solely legal grounds ... and free from any political interference".
Conservative leader Michael Howard said the situation was "a complete mess"
while Liberal Democrat Charles Kennedy urged Mr Blair to "come clean".
--
"We should not march into Baghdad. To occupy Iraq would
instantly shatter our coalition, turning the whole Arab
world against us and make a broken tyrant into a latter-
day Arab hero. Assigning young soldiers to a fruitless
hunt for a securely entrenched dictator and condemning
them to fight in what would be an unwinable urban guerilla
war, it could only plunge that part of the world into ever
greater instability."
-George H. W. Bush in his 1998
|
| |
| |
|
| |
| |
Short hits back over UN spy claim
Former cabinet minister Clare Short has denied putting the UK or its
security services at risk by claiming UN chief Kofi Annan's phone calls were
bugged.
After Tony Blair branded the claims "deeply irresponsible" Ms Short hit back
by accusing the prime minister of using "pompous" distraction tactics.
She told BBC Two's Newsnight there was no national interest that justified
spying on the UN secretary general.
The UN has said if the claims were true the UK had undermined Mr Annan's
work.
Chief spokesman Fred Eckhard said any bugging would be illegal and should be
stopped.
No comment
At his monthly news conference, the prime minister insisted the UK security
services acted in accordance with domestic and international law and in
their country's best interests.
Mr Blair did not directly deny the bugging operation took place, but did
say: "I'm not going to comment on the work of our security services - do not
take that as an indication that the allegations made by Clare Short are
true.
"I really do regard what Clare Short has said this morning as totally
irresponsible, and entirely consistent."
Asked whether she should be prosecuted or face Labour Party discipline Mr
Blair said he would "have to reflect upon" her comments.
Other Labour figures have also rallied against Ms Short.
Her former deputy, George Foulkes, said she had no evidence for her claims
and the fisheries minister, Ben Bradshaw, accused her of impugning Mr
Blair's integrity.
In Friday's Independent newspaper, ex-Foreign Secretary Robin Cook said he
would be "surprised" if Ms Short's claims were true.
But in her Newsnight interview she was defiant, and dismissed the prime
minister's attack on her as a distraction.
"What's he going to say? He either says 'yes, it's true' or he has to say
'no, it's not true', then he would be telling a lie. So he's got to say
something else, so he can have a go at me."
Transcripts seen
She said it was "pompous" of Mr Blair to claim she had threatened national
security or the security services.
"There is no national interest here, there is absolutely no threat to the
security services from me making this public," she said.
Ms Short says she saw transcripts of Mr Annan's phone conversations.
The UK in this time was also getting spies on Kofi Annan's office and
getting reports from him about what was going on
Clare Short
Listen to the full Today programme interview
Asked if it was possible the UN had taped the conversations itself, she
replied: "I don't think this matters. Someone is improperly distributing
transcripts."
The former minister also said she had seen no evidence of spying operations
against other UN diplomatic missions.
The British ambassador to the UN phoned Mr Annan about the claims on
Thursday.
But UN communications director, Edward Mortimer, said he did not think Mr
Annan had received assurances the bugging had not happened or would not
happen again.
'Dangerous situation'
Ms Short's comments came the day after the collapse of the trial of
Katharine Gun, a whistle-blower at the government surveillance and
communications organisation GCHQ.
She had been accused of leaking a secret e-mail from US spies apparently
requesting British help in bugging UN delegates ahead of the Iraq invasion.
The government says it will review whether changes are needed to the
Official Secrets Act in the wake of the case.
I have had conversations with Kofi in the run up to the war thinking 'oh
dear, there will be a transcript of this and people will see what he and I
are saying
Clare Short
Ex-Cabinet minister
There has been speculation ministers were worried about the disclosure of
secret documents during the trial, particularly the advice from Attorney
General Lord Goldsmith about the legality of war.
But Lord Goldsmith said told the House of Lords on Wednesday the decision
was "on solely legal grounds ... and free from any political interference".
Conservative leader Michael Howard said the situation was "a complete mess"
while Liberal Democrat Charles Kennedy urged Mr Blair to "come clean".
--
"We should not march into Baghdad. To occupy Iraq would
instantly shatter our coalition, turning the whole Arab
world against us and make a broken tyrant into a latter-
day Arab hero. Assigning young soldiers to a fruitless
hunt for a securely entrenched dictator and condemning
them to fight in what would be an unwinable urban guerilla
war, it could only plunge that part of the world into ever
greater instability."
-George H. W. Bush in his 1998
|
| |
| |
peter wrote:
Did you used to torture small animals when you were a child Vox?Its
just I read an interesting article in a medical journal the other
day,and it made me think of you.
Are spineless obsequious Bu$h sucking Brits classified
as "small animals" these days ...?
|
| |
| |
Sod off you Moronican twat.
|
| |
| |
|
| |
| |
Short hits back over UN spy claim
Former cabinet minister Clare Short has denied putting the UK or its
security services at risk by claiming UN chief Kofi Annan's phone calls were
bugged.
After Tony Blair branded the claims "deeply irresponsible" Ms Short hit back
by accusing the prime minister of using "pompous" distraction tactics.
She told BBC Two's Newsnight there was no national interest that justified
spying on the UN secretary general.
The UN has said if the claims were true the UK had undermined Mr Annan's
work.
Chief spokesman Fred Eckhard said any bugging would be illegal and should be
stopped.
No comment
At his monthly news conference, the prime minister insisted the UK security
services acted in accordance with domestic and international law and in
their country's best interests.
Mr Blair did not directly deny the bugging operation took place, but did
say: "I'm not going to comment on the work of our security services - do not
take that as an indication that the allegations made by Clare Short are
true.
"I really do regard what Clare Short has said this morning as totally
irresponsible, and entirely consistent."
Asked whether she should be prosecuted or face Labour Party discipline Mr
Blair said he would "have to reflect upon" her comments.
Other Labour figures have also rallied against Ms Short.
Her former deputy, George Foulkes, said she had no evidence for her claims
and the fisheries minister, Ben Bradshaw, accused her of impugning Mr
Blair's integrity.
In Friday's Independent newspaper, ex-Foreign Secretary Robin Cook said he
would be "surprised" if Ms Short's claims were true.
But in her Newsnight interview she was defiant, and dismissed the prime
minister's attack on her as a distraction.
"What's he going to say? He either says 'yes, it's true' or he has to say
'no, it's not true', then he would be telling a lie. So he's got to say
something else, so he can have a go at me."
Transcripts seen
She said it was "pompous" of Mr Blair to claim she had threatened national
security or the security services.
"There is no national interest here, there is absolutely no threat to the
security services from me making this public," she said.
Ms Short says she saw transcripts of Mr Annan's phone conversations.
The UK in this time was also getting spies on Kofi Annan's office and
getting reports from him about what was going on
Clare Short
Listen to the full Today programme interview
Asked if it was possible the UN had taped the conversations itself, she
replied: "I don't think this matters. Someone is improperly distributing
transcripts."
The former minister also said she had seen no evidence of spying operations
against other UN diplomatic missions.
The British ambassador to the UN phoned Mr Annan about the claims on
Thursday.
But UN communications director, Edward Mortimer, said he did not think Mr
Annan had received assurances the bugging had not happened or would not
happen again.
'Dangerous situation'
Ms Short's comments came the day after the collapse of the trial of
Katharine Gun, a whistle-blower at the government surveillance and
communications organisation GCHQ.
She had been accused of leaking a secret e-mail from US spies apparently
requesting British help in bugging UN delegates ahead of the Iraq invasion.
The government says it will review whether changes are needed to the
Official Secrets Act in the wake of the case.
I have had conversations with Kofi in the run up to the war thinking 'oh
dear, there will be a transcript of this and people will see what he and I
are saying
Clare Short
Ex-Cabinet minister
There has been speculation ministers were worried about the disclosure of
secret documents during the trial, particularly the advice from Attorney
General Lord Goldsmith about the legality of war.
But Lord Goldsmith said told the House of Lords on Wednesday the decision
was "on solely legal grounds ... and free from any political interference".
Conservative leader Michael Howard said the situation was "a complete mess"
while Liberal Democrat Charles Kennedy urged Mr Blair to "come clean".
--
"We should not march into Baghdad. To occupy Iraq would
instantly shatter our coalition, turning the whole Arab
world against us and make a broken tyrant into a latter-
day Arab hero. Assigning young soldiers to a fruitless
hunt for a securely entrenched dictator and condemning
them to fight in what would be an unwinable urban guerilla
war, it could only plunge that part of the world into ever
greater instability."
-George H. W. Bush in his 1998
|
| |
| |
|
| |
| |
Short hits back over UN spy claim
Former cabinet minister Clare Short has denied putting the UK or its
security services at risk by claiming UN chief Kofi Annan's phone calls were
bugged.
After Tony Blair branded the claims "deeply irresponsible" Ms Short hit back
by accusing the prime minister of using "pompous" distraction tactics.
She told BBC Two's Newsnight there was no national interest that justified
spying on the UN secretary general.
The UN has said if the claims were true the UK had undermined Mr Annan's
work.
Chief spokesman Fred Eckhard said any bugging would be illegal and should be
stopped.
No comment
At his monthly news conference, the prime minister insisted the UK security
services acted in accordance with domestic and international law and in
their country's best interests.
Mr Blair did not directly deny the bugging operation took place, but did
say: "I'm not going to comment on the work of our security services - do not
take that as an indication that the allegations made by Clare Short are
true.
"I really do regard what Clare Short has said this morning as totally
irresponsible, and entirely consistent."
Asked whether she should be prosecuted or face Labour Party discipline Mr
Blair said he would "have to reflect upon" her comments.
Other Labour figures have also rallied against Ms Short.
Her former deputy, George Foulkes, said she had no evidence for her claims
and the fisheries minister, Ben Bradshaw, accused her of impugning Mr
Blair's integrity.
In Friday's Independent newspaper, ex-Foreign Secretary Robin Cook said he
would be "surprised" if Ms Short's claims were true.
But in her Newsnight interview she was defiant, and dismissed the prime
minister's attack on her as a distraction.
"What's he going to say? He either says 'yes, it's true' or he has to say
'no, it's not true', then he would be telling a lie. So he's got to say
something else, so he can have a go at me."
Transcripts seen
She said it was "pompous" of Mr Blair to claim she had threatened national
security or the security services.
"There is no national interest here, there is absolutely no threat to the
security services from me making this public," she said.
Ms Short says she saw transcripts of Mr Annan's phone conversations.
The UK in this time was also getting spies on Kofi Annan's office and
getting reports from him about what was going on
Clare Short
Listen to the full Today programme interview
Asked if it was possible the UN had taped the conversations itself, she
replied: "I don't think this matters. Someone is improperly distributing
transcripts."
The former minister also said she had seen no evidence of spying operations
against other UN diplomatic missions.
The British ambassador to the UN phoned Mr Annan about the claims on
Thursday.
But UN communications director, Edward Mortimer, said he did not think Mr
Annan had received assurances the bugging had not happened or would not
happen again.
'Dangerous situation'
Ms Short's comments came the day after the collapse of the trial of
Katharine Gun, a whistle-blower at the government surveillance and
communications organisation GCHQ.
She had been accused of leaking a secret e-mail from US spies apparently
requesting British help in bugging UN delegates ahead of the Iraq invasion.
The government says it will review whether changes are needed to the
Official Secrets Act in the wake of the case.
I have had conversations with Kofi in the run up to the war thinking 'oh
dear, there will be a transcript of this and people will see what he and I
are saying
Clare Short
Ex-Cabinet minister
There has been speculation ministers were worried about the disclosure of
secret documents during the trial, particularly the advice from Attorney
General Lord Goldsmith about the legality of war.
But Lord Goldsmith said told the House of Lords on Wednesday the decision
was "on solely legal grounds ... and free from any political interference".
Conservative leader Michael Howard said the situation was "a complete mess"
while Liberal Democrat Charles Kennedy urged Mr Blair to "come clean".
--
"We should not march into Baghdad. To occupy Iraq would
instantly shatter our coalition, turning the whole Arab
world against us and make a broken tyrant into a latter-
day Arab hero. Assigning young soldiers to a fruitless
hunt for a securely entrenched dictator and condemning
them to fight in what would be an unwinable urban guerilla
war, it could only plunge that part of the world into ever
greater instability."
-George H. W. Bush in his 1998
|
| |
| |
|
