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/6340101.stm
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Goldsmith attacks party critics | Goldsmith attacks party critics |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Attorney General Lord Goldsmith has hit back at criticisms of his role by ministerial colleagues. | |
| He told MPs he "did not agree" with Constitutional Affairs minister Harriet Harman's call for his legal advice to be routinely published. | He told MPs he "did not agree" with Constitutional Affairs minister Harriet Harman's call for his legal advice to be routinely published. |
| He said the decision should be "up to the prime minister of the day". | He said the decision should be "up to the prime minister of the day". |
| He also rejected Lord Falconer's claim that the attorney general should no longer be a Cabinet role, saying it was vital for "accountability". | He also rejected Lord Falconer's claim that the attorney general should no longer be a Cabinet role, saying it was vital for "accountability". |
| Lord Goldsmith has come under pressure to publish his advice on the legality of the Iraq war and the decision to drop a fraud inquiry into a BAE arms deal with Saudi Arabia. | Lord Goldsmith has come under pressure to publish his advice on the legality of the Iraq war and the decision to drop a fraud inquiry into a BAE arms deal with Saudi Arabia. |
| My duty is to the law, not to party politics or party loyalties Lord Goldsmith | My duty is to the law, not to party politics or party loyalties Lord Goldsmith |
| Giving evidence to the constitutional affairs committee, he agreed to publish the section of the BAE advice "that relates to the decision not to prosecute". | Giving evidence to the constitutional affairs committee, he agreed to publish the section of the BAE advice "that relates to the decision not to prosecute". |
| But he rejected Ms Harman's call, in a speech last week, for all such advice to be made public, saying it should be up to "the prime minister of the day". | But he rejected Ms Harman's call, in a speech last week, for all such advice to be made public, saying it should be up to "the prime minister of the day". |
| He insisted there was no contradiction between his role as a member of the Labour government and an impartial law officer. | He insisted there was no contradiction between his role as a member of the Labour government and an impartial law officer. |
| 'Accountable' politician | 'Accountable' politician |
| He said there were occasions when he had to make decisions which were not covered by "collective Cabinet responsibility". | He said there were occasions when he had to make decisions which were not covered by "collective Cabinet responsibility". |
| And it was important that the attorney general remained a politician and not "some civil servant" so that he or she would be "accountable" to Parliament and be able to be cross-examined by MPs. | And it was important that the attorney general remained a politician and not "some civil servant" so that he or she would be "accountable" to Parliament and be able to be cross-examined by MPs. |
| He also hit back at claims public confidence in his role had been damaged by criticism over legal advice in the run up to the Iraq war, cash-for-honours inquiry and the BAE systems row. | He also hit back at claims public confidence in his role had been damaged by criticism over legal advice in the run up to the Iraq war, cash-for-honours inquiry and the BAE systems row. |
| He said he did not agree with comments by Lord Chancellor, Lord Falconer, who has said the role of the attorney general in government is not constitutionally sustainable. | He said he did not agree with comments by Lord Chancellor, Lord Falconer, who has said the role of the attorney general in government is not constitutionally sustainable. |
| Duty | Duty |
| He said he had taken decisions which colleagues had not agreed with and added: "My duty is to the law, not to party politics or party loyalties". | He said he had taken decisions which colleagues had not agreed with and added: "My duty is to the law, not to party politics or party loyalties". |
| On BAE Systems, he insisted the decision to drop the inquiry had been by the director of the Serious Fraud Office, who had been told it would harm national security. | On BAE Systems, he insisted the decision to drop the inquiry had been by the director of the Serious Fraud Office, who had been told it would harm national security. |
| He said he had reached the same conclusion after carrying out a national interest test. | He said he had reached the same conclusion after carrying out a national interest test. |
| But he also revealed a national interest test carried out a year earlier had focused on whether BAE would lose contracts if the investigation continued. | But he also revealed a national interest test carried out a year earlier had focused on whether BAE would lose contracts if the investigation continued. |
| It had ruled the investigation could not be dropped on those grounds without breaking the terms of an anti-corruption treaty Britain had signed up to. | It had ruled the investigation could not be dropped on those grounds without breaking the terms of an anti-corruption treaty Britain had signed up to. |
| "Which is why the investigation went on," said Lord Goldsmith. | "Which is why the investigation went on," said Lord Goldsmith. |
| And he confirmed International Development Secretary Hilary Benn had not been among the ministers consulted on the decision to drop the inquiry. | And he confirmed International Development Secretary Hilary Benn had not been among the ministers consulted on the decision to drop the inquiry. |
| Harman's criticism | Harman's criticism |
| "He could have told us that we have a commitment to fight corruption, but I know that and I know there was public interest in it," Lord Goldsmith said. | "He could have told us that we have a commitment to fight corruption, but I know that and I know there was public interest in it," Lord Goldsmith said. |
| Ms Harman, who is also campaigning to become Labour's deputy leader, called last week in a speech for "greater transparency'' from Lord Goldsmith and future holders of the office. | Ms Harman, who is also campaigning to become Labour's deputy leader, called last week in a speech for "greater transparency'' from Lord Goldsmith and future holders of the office. |
| "It is not enough for government ministers to say, 'We are advised that it is lawful' ,'' she said. | "It is not enough for government ministers to say, 'We are advised that it is lawful' ,'' she said. |
| "Backbenchers, let alone the wider public, want to see for themselves what the arguments are.'' | "Backbenchers, let alone the wider public, want to see for themselves what the arguments are.'' |