Downing Street lobby briefing on Brexit dividend, NHS cash boost, cannabis oil and upskirting
3 min read
At a briefing for journalists today, a spokesman for the Prime Minister was asked about the so-called 'Brexit dividend', the NHS cash boost, the use of cannabis oil for medicinal purposes and the row over upskirting.
The spokesman refused to say if the PM used the words "Brexit dividend" at an emergency Cabinet meeting this morning, but he said: "Once we have left [the EU] we will not be sending those membership payments to the EU. We will be able to spend them on our domestic priorities in terms of a deal and the economy going forward. It’s proved to be far more resilient than many economists predicted and we are confident of securing a good Brexit deal that will allow the economy to grow strongly."
NHS BOOST
He added: "The PM set out the chancellor will be coming forward with further detail on funding arrangements later in the year."
Asked if other Cabinet ministers asked for funding boosts to their departments after the announcement about a major cash injection for the NHS, the spokesman said: "There was a full understanding that there would be a spending review and that funding of other government departments will form part of that process."
Asked if the Conservative government was bound by the 2017 manifesto when it came to funding public services through hikes to taxes, the spokesman said: "I think if you look at the manifesto, it sets out the intention to be a party that delivers on its fiscal rules and that is a party of low taxation while also understanding the importance of making investments in our public services and ensuring they are properly funded."
CANNABIS OIL
Asked if the Government was reviewing its position on Cannabis oil - as Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt claimed this morning - the spokesman said: "We have reviewed this individual case and the decision has been taken based on clinical advice. Beyond that I don’t have anything specific for you beyond saying we will continue to look at clinical evidence and take decisions on that basis."
UPSKIRTING
Asked what the Government was doing about upskirting after Tory MP Christopher Chope blocked legislation to make it a criminal offence in the Commons, the spokesman said: "Andrea Leadsom said [Lib Dem MP] Wera Hobhouse had championed legislation to address this issue and brought it before Parliament. She said the measure is one the Government supports and has received extensive support both within and outside of parliament so she was pleased to confirm we will adopt this as a government bill. The aim is to secure the second reading as soon as possible and before the summer recess."
The spokesman said Cabinet ministers did not discuss Mr Chope himself at their meeting this morning.
