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Number 10 gets rid of PM's e-mail No 10 reject PM e-mail criticism
(about 20 hours later)
Downing Street has been criticised for ending a facility which allowed people to e-mail the prime minister. Downing Street has defended its move to halt the facility which allowed people to e-mail Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
The Number 10 website which Gordon Brown inherited from Tony Blair had an e-mail address where members of public could send messages to him. The Number 10 site currently offers a postal address and a fax number but has halted the "Email Number 10 service".
But now the site only offers a postal address and a fax number. It says it plans to relaunch the e-mail link soon once it has the "same high standards" as the rest of the site.
Shadow cabinet office minister Francis Maude criticised suspending the e-mail link despite the website having links to social networks like Twitter. The Tories criticised the decision to end the email link while money was being spent on the "latest digital gimmicks from Twitter to Flickr".
The beleaguered Prime Minister is literally retreating to his Downing Street bunker Shadow cabinet office minister Francis MaudeThe beleaguered Prime Minister is literally retreating to his Downing Street bunker Shadow cabinet office minister Francis Maude
A message on the Number 10 website says: "We have decided at this time that it is important to take another look at the Email Number 10 service to ensure that it meets the same high standards as the other content and communication measures that the website delivers." Shadow cabinet office minister Francis Maude said: "Gordon Brown is spending taxpayers' money on the latest digital gimmicks... but can't be bothered to give out a simple email address.
Mr Maude said: "Gordon Brown is spending taxpayers' money on the latest digital gimmicks, from Twitter to Flickr, but can't be bothered to give out a simple email address. "The beleaguered prime minister is literally retreating to his Downing Street bunker, cutting himself off from an angry and disillusioned electorate.
"The beleaguered Prime Minister is literally retreating to his Downing Street bunker, cutting himself off from an angry and disillusioned electorate.
"In the depths of a recession, it is a waste of taxpayers' cash to be hiring a £160,000 a year head of digital engagement.""In the depths of a recession, it is a waste of taxpayers' cash to be hiring a £160,000 a year head of digital engagement."
But Downing Street later said the e-mail facility had been temporarily withdrawn to facilitate security improvements and would be relaunched next week. But Downing Street insisted that the e-mail facility had only been temporarily withdrawn to facilitate security improvements and would be relaunched next week.
A message on the Number 10 website says: "We have decided at this time that it is important to take another look at the Email Number 10 service to ensure that it meets the same high standards as the other content and communication measures that the website delivers.
"Unfortunately, this means that we will be unable to replace the service as quickly as we had hoped, but we aim to have it up and running as soon as possible. Please accept our apologies for any inconvenience caused."