Treasury Spokesman: Malcolm Bruce
‘ROBINSON SHOULD HAVE RESIGNED LONG AGO’ (23rd December 1998). “Geoffrey Robinson should have resigned gone long ago. “With the resignation of Peter Mandelson earlier today his position had become untenable. “There is a stark contrast between the swift and honourable resignation of Peter Mandelson and the belated and grudging resignation of Geoffrey Robinson. “Geoffrey Robinson’s battle to cling to political office has done the Government significant damage. “Mr Robinson lost the last of his credibility at the Treasury months ago.”
BRUCE WELCOMES EARLY RESIGNATION OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY SECRETARY (23rd December 1998). Malcolm Bruce MP, Liberal Democrat Treasury Spokesman, commenting on the resignation of Peter Mandelson, said, “We welcome the resignation of the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry. “It is refreshing that, unlike the previous government, when a minister is compromised he has chosen to go rather than cling on by his finger nails. “Geoffrey Robinson should have gone earlier and should now follow suit. “It may turn out to be true that a conflict of interest has not occurred in Peter Mandelson’s case - but only he knows the truth at present - but public confidence requires that the question should not even appear to arise in peoples minds.”
BLAIR MUST ACT TO CLEAN UP MESS IN GOVERNMENT (22nd December 1998). Malcolm Bruce MP, Liberal Democrat Treasury Spokesman, commenting on the revelations about Mr. Mandelson and his financial affairs said : “ Tony Blair must act immediately to clean up the mess in his Government over the financial affairs of Mr. Mandelson and Mr. Robinson. “ Tony Blair should do three things immediately - firstly, insist that Mr. Mandelson apologises and comes clean about all the facts of this case. Secondly, sack Geoffrey Robinson who is now well past his sell by date. Thirdly, investigate the origin of this leak to discover whether it is a by-product of the extraordinary internal war between the Chancellor and the Trade Secretary. If the Chancellor’s press secretary is implicated, then he must go too. “ Peter Mandelson clearly acted wrongly by not declaring his loan from Mr. Robinson at the beginning of the DTI investigation. Instead of making excuses, Mr. Mandelson should now apologise for his misjudgement and make all the facts known. “ Mr. Blair should also stop dithering and bring to an end Mr. Robinson’s career as a Treasury Minister - he should put Mr. Robinson out of his misery after the endless stories reflecting badly on the Paymaster General’s judgement. “ Lastly Mr. Blair must get to the bottom of this leak about Mr. Mandelson. Given this was supposed to be a private financial arrangement between two Ministers, where on the earth did the leak of this come from? “ Some people will wonder whether this leak was inspired by the Treasury, who are thought to have been “at war” with Mr. Mandelson for some time. If any of the Chancellor’s aides were to be behind this leak, that would be a serious matter suggesting that the Government’s two main economic ministers cannot work together. That should set alarm bells ringing in 10 Downing Street. “ Mr. Blair should therefore hold an internal inquiry into this leak. If the Chancellor’s press officer is found to have been stirring up this matter then his position, too, would be untenable. You cannot have press officers paid for by the taxpayer spending their time destabilising Government ministers.”
|
