The BBC political editor Nick Robinson reports apparently dirty verbal tricks at the Downing Street crossroads ahead of tomorrow’s crunch vote on the Education Bill:
One reporter asked the prime minister about Guantanamo Bay and also this question: ‘Do you think it is sustainable for you to remain in office when a piece of flagship legislation is passed with the help of an opposition party?’
The official transcript of Mr Blair's reply reads: 'I think I have said what I have said on Guantanamo. And on the first part, you know if you look at the school system at the moment...' before he goes on to talk about the school reforms.
What Tony Blair actually said - we've checked the tape - was:
'Look as you say I am hopeful we will get the vast majority of Labour MPs behind us, in fact I am absolutely sure we will get the vast majority. The question is whether we manage to get enough to get it through with Labour votes alone. But in a sense the issue is doing the right thing for the country, it's what the country expects and of course I want to do it with Labour MPs in full support. Look I think this is a very, very critical issue for the Labour Party for its instincts, for what it's about, for what it is trying to do.'
I'm sure it was just a typing error and that Number 10 will be happy to put it straight.
