Government fully functioning, says Hague

Source - BBC News

 

The UK government is "fully functioning" in the midst of the eurozone crisis despite David Cameron and George Osborne being on holiday, William Hague has said.

 

The prime minister and chancellor have been criticised for both being on holiday as share prices fall amid concerns for the global economy.

 

But Foreign Secretary Mr Hague said the government was "operating 24/7".

 

Labour said the coalition needed to show more "leadership" on the economy.

 

Mr Cameron spoke by telephone to the Governor of the Bank of England, Sir Mervyn King, on Friday morning, the BBC has learned.

 

European stock markets have continued to fall, with investors worried about both the eurozone debt crisis and the weak US economy.

 

This comes as fears over the ability of governments to pay their debts - which have led to Greece, the Irish Republic and Portugal already being bailed out - have spread to Spain and Italy.

 

A Daily Mirror headline suggests Mr Cameron, Mr Osborne and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg - all abroad on holiday - have "gone AWOL" during the crisis.

 

I don't begrudge anyone a holiday, but I think it's extraordinary that they are all away on holiday at the same time”

 

 

Labour's former Deputy Prime Minister Lord Prescott has launched a Twitter campaign to urge senior government figures to return to the UK.

 

But Mr Hague, the most senior minister currently in the UK, said: "The government is operating 24 hours a day. We are not in the 18th Century. Of course everyone is constantly in touch...

 

"The government is fully functioning in response to this crisis and anything else that's happening in the world."

 

Mr Hague also said: "We're constantly monitoring the situation and we're in close touch with our European and American counterparts.

 

"The chancellor and and the prime minister are getting constant updates.

 

"The crucial thing now is for eurozone governments to deliver on what they promised a few weeks ago. The Spanish and Italian governments must show they have credible plans to deal with their debts and to make their economies competitive.

 

"Even though we're not immune from these international pressures we've shown in the UK that economic credibility can be earned by taking tough decisions."

 

For Labour, shadow Treasury minister Angela Eagle said: "What we need now is leadership from our politicians.

 

"I don't begrudge anyone a holiday, but I think it's extraordinary that the prime minister, the deputy prime minister and the chancellor are all away on holiday at the same time.

 

"I think they could have ensured that there was somebody who has the economy at the top of their job description actually on duty all the time throughout the summer."

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Now, here we have it... The PM, Deputy PM and the Chancellor all off abroad on their hols at the same time.... Errr, who's minding the store, exactly, when we have a crisis in the Eurozone and the US neck-deep in a "Debt" crisis too...? And here was me thinking that the DEPUTY PM should actually be in the country when the PM is on his hols... It's all very well for them to say "oh, but we're all still in touch", somehow I dont think you can navigate a country through these incredibly tricky times via e-mail or Twitter guys, I think at least ONE of you has to be here at any one time..... Most other organisations have STAGGERED breaks..... Like, duuuuuhhhhh

 

 

 

There's nothing saying the DPM should be in the country when the PM is on holiday. After all, we don't always have a deputy PM. Both Clegg and Cameron are in Europe so more or less in the same time zone. Gids is in the US where much of the action is.

 

What could they do from an office in Downing Street that they can't do on the phone? Politicians are just as entitled to a holiday as anyone else. Yes, it's unusual for the PM, Deputy PM and Chancellor all to be on holiday at the same time. However, it is also unusual for all three of them to have school-age children thus limiting the time when they can go away. This annual nonsense (in papers like the Scum and the Wail when Labour were in power, now taken on by the Mirror) is beyond tedious.

There's nothing saying the DPM should be in the country when the PM is on holiday. After all, we don't always have a deputy PM. Both Clegg and Cameron are in Europe so more or less in the same time zone. Gids is in the US where much of the action is.

 

What could they do from an office in Downing Street that they can't do on the phone? Politicians are just as entitled to a holiday as anyone else. Yes, it's unusual for the PM, Deputy PM and Chancellor all to be on holiday at the same time. However, it is also unusual for all three of them to have school-age children thus limiting the time when they can go away. This annual nonsense (in papers like the Scum and the Wail when Labour were in power, now taken on by the Mirror) is beyond tedious.

 

TBH, I find that excuse rather tedious.... yes, obviously Politicians are entitled to a holiday, blah, blah, whatever.... But, I see absolutely no reason why they couldn't stagger things... The school Summer Hols are something like, what, six weeks...? Gimme a break dude, they dont have to be out of the country ALL at the same time, I dont think it's too much to ask that ONE of the major players be in the country when the sort of serious sh"t that's been hitting the economy recently is going on.... Seriously, Suedehead, you're an intelligent guy, yet you persist in making excuses for these c'unts.....

 

I can't stand Cameron and Osborne any more than you can. However, that doesn't mean I'm going to criticise every single thing they do. No Cabinet Minister is now ever truly on holiday, least of all the PM.

 

I have no idea how they came to arrange holidays for the same time. Their dates may have been influenced by constituency events which they are almost obliged to attend.

I can't stand Cameron and Osborne any more than you can. However, that doesn't mean I'm going to criticise every single thing they do. No Cabinet Minister is now ever truly on holiday, least of all the PM.

 

I have no idea how they came to arrange holidays for the same time. Their dates may have been influenced by constituency events which they are almost obliged to attend.

 

Constituency Events and holidays are hardly as important as a full-on, EU-wide and Global economic melt-down... Frankly, they need to get their arses back from wherever they are.....

 

A total non-story. As Sky News pointed out today, the PM is in charge 24/7 and 365 days a year and in a real crisis like a terrorist attack he would fly home immediately, as would Clegg. Any excuse for Scott and some newspapers to have a dig at the Government. The Coalition imo is doing a great job and these guys deserve a holiday. Parliament's in recess so of course they're entitled to go away.

Edited August 5, 201113 yr by Common Sense

Constituency Events and holidays are hardly as important as a full-on, EU-wide and Global economic melt-down... Frankly, they need to get their arses back from wherever they are.....

You've missed the point. I was referring to decisions on holiday dates that were presumably taken some months ago.

 

Why? How can they undo nigh on thirty years of worldwide economic strategic planning that has led to this crisis? Besides I doubt any of them have the gumption to even suggest to the rest of the Eurozone members that they should hang the PIIGS out to dry…

A total non-story. As Sky News pointed out today, the PM is in charge 24/7 and 365 days a year and in a real crisis like a terrorist attack he would fly home immediately, as would Clegg. Any excuse for Scott and some newspapers to have a dig at the Government. The Coalition imo is doing a great job and these guys deserve a holiday. Parliament's in recess so of course they're entitled to go away.

 

You dont think a potential Eurozone economic melt-down with countries defaulting and going into economic free-fall, the fact that hundreds of millions are being wiped off of shares in the space of 24 hours, and the current situation in the US is a "real crisis"... Fukk off Chris and go back to bed, you know nothing about what's going on in the world, seriously dude, there's more to world affairs than "terrorist attacks", which can be dealt with relatively quickly compared to economic problems which have effects that last for years..... -_-

You've missed the point. I was referring to decisions on holiday dates that were presumably taken some months ago.

 

Dude, things change, and events take over. They should be back here because today that markets absolutely f/ucking tanked..... At the very least, Osborne should be back here....

 

You dont think a potential Eurozone economic melt-down with countries defaulting and going into economic free-fall, the fact that hundreds of millions are being wiped off of shares in the space of 24 hours, and the current situation in the US is a "real crisis"... Fukk off Chris and go back to bed, you know nothing about what's going on in the world, seriously dude, there's more to world affairs than "terrorist attacks", which can be dealt with relatively quickly compared to economic problems which have effects that last for years..... -_-

 

 

A POTENTIAL melt-down Scott. It hasn't happened yet and probably won't. I happen to watch Sky News for hours every day so do know what's going on in the world. ;) I prefer to believe their learned journalists rather than a layman like you Scott, who has an anti-Governemt aganda, and they said it's a non-story. End Of. If there was a real economic crisis of course Osborne and Cameron would fly back but there isn't at the moment.

Edited August 5, 201113 yr by Common Sense

Why on earth do you watch Sky over BBC? I'm not sure how anyone could consider the COLLAPSE of Europe's stock markets is a real non-story. Were they busy discussing Katie Price's latest book?

Why on earth do you watch Sky over BBC? I'm not sure how anyone could consider the COLLAPSE of Europe's stock markets is a real non-story. Were they busy discussing Katie Price's latest book?

 

Spot on...

 

Chris, Sky News is FULL OF SH"T... If you want the full story I suggest watching the guys who give you facts - Russia Today, and in particular Max Keiser, who's about the only one who's actually telling it straight... Sky News, are you kidding me...??

 

I dont actually have an "anti government agenda", i've got an "anti-lying b/astard agenda", it just so happens that ALL Governments seem to be lying b/astards..... Well, if they weren't lying b/astards, I wouldn't be against them..... Simples....

Why on earth do you watch Sky over BBC? I'm not sure how anyone could consider the COLLAPSE of Europe's stock markets is a real non-story. Were they busy discussing Katie Price's latest book?

 

I like Sky News.

They didn't say the collapse of stock markets was the non-story. You've misunderstood me. They said the Mirror story about all the top ministers being away was a non-story, with phone, email, pagers etc these days.

Edited August 5, 201113 yr by Common Sense

S

 

I dont actually have an "anti government agenda", i've got an "anti-lying b/astard agenda", it just so happens that ALL Governments seem to be lying b/astards..... Well, if they weren't lying b/astards, I wouldn't be against them..... Simples....

 

 

Hey we agree Scott. :cheer: All Governments are the same, lying bast*rds. Doubt it'll change in our lifetimes.

Hey we agree Scott. :cheer: All Governments are the same, lying bast*rds. Doubt it'll change in our lifetimes.

 

Now, you're just contradicting yourself, a few posts back you were praising Sca-Moron and the Coalition, now you're agreeing with me that they're liars...... :lol: :lol:

A POTENTIAL melt-down Scott. It hasn't happened yet and probably won't. I happen to watch Sky News for hours every day so do know what's going on in the world. ;) I prefer to believe their learned journalists rather than a layman like you Scott, who has an anti-Governemt aganda, and they said it's a non-story. End Of. If there was a real economic crisis of course Osborne and Cameron would fly back but there isn't at the moment.

That's like saying you know what's going on because you read the Daily Mail. Sky News is rubbish. The BBC News channel is far better.

Dude, things change, and events take over. They should be back here because today that markets absolutely f/ucking tanked..... At the very least, Osborne should be back here....

Your point was that constituency events were not as important as world events. That was in response to my point that constituency events might have played a part in ministers' holiday plans. Whether one or more of them should have cancelled their holiday is a separate matter. You still haven't explained what they could do from Downing Street that they can't do from their holiday base.