Tony Blair broke the law today at the TUC conference. Privileged release to Ministers for briefing purposes Market sensitive – You are reminded that these are market sensitive National Statistics to which you have privileged access in advance of release. Attempting to profit from this information, or encouraging others to do so, could constitute market abuse and lead to criminal prosecution. Any accidental or wrongful release should be reported immediately and may lead to an inquiry. Wrongful release includes indications of the content, including descriptions such as “favourable” or “unfavourable”. Please prevent inappropriate use by treating this information as strictly personal and confidential.
He hinted very strongly that the official figures released tomorrow would show that unemployment is falling.
The markets and everyone else will receive the figures tomorrow. Ministers received them today, on a privileged basis. That is, they are instructed to keep them strictly confidential. That expressly means no hints, which constitute 'wrongful release'.
This is what the NSO Code of Practice says to ministers:
Page 27:
Page 4:
National Statistics will be released separately from statements by Ministers about the figures.
Ministerial statements will not be released before the statistics
Timing will not be influenced by the content of the release or set in such a way as to create a presumed advantage to any particular group or individual
Presumably, the Prime Minister, now that's he's got nothing to lose, feels he can afford to break a few (more) rules with impunity?
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7 comments:
When was a Prime Minister last impeached in the Lords? Did he make the statement under parliamentary privilege? Does it extend that far?
By the way, I understand why the verification is back but does it have to be 8, repeat 8 letters long?!
I've sent the following to info@statistics.gov.uk. (address, tel, and name removed. They're needed.)
The National Statistician Office of National Statistics
13 September 2006
Breach of National Statistics Code of Practice
Dear Sir,
Yesterday, 12 September 2006, in his address to the Trades Union Conference, The Prime Minister referred to the as yet unpublished Unemployment Statistics as ‘favourable’.
This appears to be in direct contravention of the National Statistics Code of Practice Protocol on Release Practices, Section 5.11 (c).
In accordance with Section 5.11 (b) of the above Protocol, I am reporting this breach to you.
Yours faithfully
Good. Keep us posted!
Will do. (keep you posted) No reason why anyone else shouldn't report the breach. In, fact, many reasons why lots of people should do it. According to the Protocol, it is everyone's duty to do so.
(b) Any accidental or wrongful release must be reported to the
National Statistician immediately it is noted, so that appropriate
action to limit loss of confidence is taken quickly.
On the other hand, is there any confidence left to lose?
This story has since moved on, in hilarious fashion...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/5340948.stm
Hilarious indeed.
So what the pff did he think was so welcome?
The fact is that what he knew and illictly stated gave him a chance to pause and get the The Brothers to hurl one less insult at him.
He really doesn't care any more, does he?
Go, Knacker!
I received a response from the Nat Stats office pointing me here - http://www.statistics.gov.uk/about/other_letters/default.asp
(first 2 letters).
Typical b*ll*cks from the Cabinet Secretary. "colleagues in the Prime Minister's office .... are fully seized of the importance of complying ...."
But those poor buggers in the office did nothing wrong. If they had, it could have been a sacking offence.
With one bound, our [insert epithet of your choice]was free.
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