This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/7529406.stm
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| I'm minding the shop, says Harman | I'm minding the shop, says Harman |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Harriet Harman has sought to end the questions over who is in charge while Gordon Brown is on holiday by saying: "I'm minding the shop this week." | Harriet Harman has sought to end the questions over who is in charge while Gordon Brown is on holiday by saying: "I'm minding the shop this week." |
| Downing Street had earlier said that Ms Harman was just one of "a number of senior ministers in London to deal with the day to day business of government". | Downing Street had earlier said that Ms Harman was just one of "a number of senior ministers in London to deal with the day to day business of government". |
| The spokesman said "the prime minister remains in charge while on holiday". | The spokesman said "the prime minister remains in charge while on holiday". |
| But, after her comments, he said "she is the minister who is co-ordinating government business this week". | But, after her comments, he said "she is the minister who is co-ordinating government business this week". |
| When Tony Blair used to holiday abroad it became an annual tradition that John Prescott would act as stand-in prime minister during August. | When Tony Blair used to holiday abroad it became an annual tradition that John Prescott would act as stand-in prime minister during August. |
| But the prime minister's official spokesman had declined to say that Ms Harman was in charge when he was asked repeatedly about it at Monday morning briefing for lobby journalists. | But the prime minister's official spokesman had declined to say that Ms Harman was in charge when he was asked repeatedly about it at Monday morning briefing for lobby journalists. |
| He said she was just one of the senior ministers doing their bit - and stressed that Mr Brown was still in charge during his bucket-and-spade English beach holiday. | He said she was just one of the senior ministers doing their bit - and stressed that Mr Brown was still in charge during his bucket-and-spade English beach holiday. |
| He did admit that Ms Harman, who appeared on BBC1's Andrew Marr programme on Sunday and GMTV on Monday, "has held meetings in Downing Street this morning". | He did admit that Ms Harman, who appeared on BBC1's Andrew Marr programme on Sunday and GMTV on Monday, "has held meetings in Downing Street this morning". |
| Later on Monday Ms Harman was asked what her role was by the BBC's Carole Walker, which is when she said she was "minding the shop while the proprietor is on holiday". | |
| It was in response to those comments from Ms Harman that No 10 admitted that she was the person co-ordinating the government's work "this week". | It was in response to those comments from Ms Harman that No 10 admitted that she was the person co-ordinating the government's work "this week". |
| It has been reported that different senior ministers will take on the coordination role in the next two weeks. | It has been reported that different senior ministers will take on the coordination role in the next two weeks. |