Examination of Witness (Questions 280-288)
6 JULY 2004
RT HON
TONY BLAIR
MP
Q280 Mr Leigh: It would have been even
more heavy handed in Fallujah but for you, would it?
Mr Blair: I think we have had
a very great deal of influence, Edward, but I do not think it
is very sensible when you are talking about a partnership you
have with a country to end up saying: "Look, this is what
they have given us here, and they have not given us this there",
that is not how I regard it.
Q281 Mr Leigh: You see, you always tell
us this so we have no idea.
Mr Blair: You do have an idea.
Q282 Mr Leigh: No, we do not know. Surely
we—the country—have a right to know when we have gone
to war, when you have put yourself shoulder to shoulder with the
Americans—as the French did not do, the Germans did not
do—what we are getting in return. You say: "I am not
prepared to talk about this, these are private discussions".
Mr Blair: I am not saying I am
not prepared to talk about it. What I am saying to you is what
we get from the American relationship is more than a trade off
between little bits here, you get thrown something there, you
do not get something there, that is not my view of it. To put
it in those terms to people I think is wrong, I think it is counter-productive
and I really would say this to you. You mentioned France and Germany,
we have a good relationship, believe it or not, with France and
Germany but I am not going to have the relationship with the United
States of America subordinated to the interests of any other country.
I believe it is in our interest to have this strong relationship
with the United States of America and if you really want to know
I think most countries around the world would give their eye teeth
to have that relationship. It is a shame that here it is seen
somehow as a sign of mockery that we have the closeness of that
relationship. Does that mean I am going to say "I told him
this then" and "I persuaded him that", that is
pathetic to do that. We have a strong relationship.
Q283 Mr Leigh: We do not think you persuaded
him.
Mr Blair: You and I have to disagree
about that.
Q284 Chairman: Robert Key.
Mr Blair: Robert, what else do
you want me to do apart from nuclear power in Salisbury?
Q285 Mr Key: That is an easy one! Prime
Minister, I know that you are very proud of the achievements of
HM forces. I would like to ask you how you could even contemplate
defence cuts announced in the Public Spending Review next Monday
but you would tell me that I had better wait and see. So, instead,
could you share with us your thinking on why defence cuts could
be justified in 2005 and whether any arguments have crossed your
mind that there might be a case for an increase in defence spending
in view of Britain's commitments around the world?
Mr Blair: First of all, without
giving anything away from the Spending Review next Monday, I would
be extremely surprised—let us say I doubt I will be—to
find there are defence cuts. I do not think we will be cutting
defence spending at all.
Q286 Mr Key: That is very good news indeed.
We can assume, therefore, that the Chancellor of the Exchequer
has not had his way on this occasion?
Mr Blair: No, you can assume that
the Chancellor of the Exchequer is equally and firmly resolved
to making sure that after many years of defence cuts—let
me say delicately under a different administration—it is
now rising in real terms.
Q287 Mr Key: My constituents will be
very pleased to hear that Prime Minister.
Mr Blair: Good.
Mr Key: I await Monday.
Q288 Chairman: I think that is a suitable
place for us to finish. Thank you again, Prime Minister. It has
been a fascinating exchange.
Mr Blair: It has.
Chairman: There has been a degree of
disagreement which I think is encouraging. I think we will cut
down on your tea and the amount of sugar and you will cut down
in your replies. Can I say we will look forward to the document
you have promised us in September on the relationships between
the Select Committees and the Government. Thank you very much
again.
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