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/6547299.stm
The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| No 10 denies sailors' story role | No 10 denies sailors' story role |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Downing Street has flatly denied any role in the decision to allow the navy crew freed by Iran to sell their stories to media. | Downing Street has flatly denied any role in the decision to allow the navy crew freed by Iran to sell their stories to media. |
| No 10 also denied helping them negotiate with media outlets interested in their stories. | No 10 also denied helping them negotiate with media outlets interested in their stories. |
| It follows accusations that the sailors had been used as pawns in an international propaganda war with Iran. | It follows accusations that the sailors had been used as pawns in an international propaganda war with Iran. |
| Conservative leader David Cameron had also called for Tony Blair to clarify what he knew about the sale. | Conservative leader David Cameron had also called for Tony Blair to clarify what he knew about the sale. |
| Defence Secretary Des Browne has taken responsibility for the navy's decision. He said he had not been "content" with it but believed he had no choice under the rules. | |
| "Clearly with hindsight... I could have made a different decision," Mr Browne said on Wednesday. | "Clearly with hindsight... I could have made a different decision," Mr Browne said on Wednesday. |
| The prime minister has said allowing the sailors to sell their story to the media had not been a "good idea" but that he had not been involved in the decision. | The prime minister has said allowing the sailors to sell their story to the media had not been a "good idea" but that he had not been involved in the decision. |
| I want everyone out there to know my story from my side, see what I went through Leading Seaman Faye Turney Captive 'felt like a traitor' Stories sale criticism grows Tories slam decision | I want everyone out there to know my story from my side, see what I went through Leading Seaman Faye Turney Captive 'felt like a traitor' Stories sale criticism grows Tories slam decision |
| But following continuing speculation on Thursday about Downing Street's role, a spokewoman said: "As has already been made clear, no one in Number 10 - either the press office or officials - had anything to do with decisions taken by the Navy regarding their personnel receiving payments for media interviews. | But following continuing speculation on Thursday about Downing Street's role, a spokewoman said: "As has already been made clear, no one in Number 10 - either the press office or officials - had anything to do with decisions taken by the Navy regarding their personnel receiving payments for media interviews. |
| "In addition, no one in Number 10 had any involvement in the negotiations around those interviews." | "In addition, no one in Number 10 had any involvement in the negotiations around those interviews." |
| Mr Cameron earlier accused Downing Street of being in "complete confusion" over the sale of the stories. | Mr Cameron earlier accused Downing Street of being in "complete confusion" over the sale of the stories. |
| "I think the prime minister has got to make absolutely clear when he knew about this whole issue but, to me, what matters for the defence secretary is he has to pass two tests. | "I think the prime minister has got to make absolutely clear when he knew about this whole issue but, to me, what matters for the defence secretary is he has to pass two tests. |
| "First, he has to show he still has the confidence of members of our armed services, who are working so hard for our country. | "First, he has to show he still has the confidence of members of our armed services, who are working so hard for our country. |
| "And secondly he has to give a full account of himself to the House of Commons on Monday. And I think it is very important he does that." | "And secondly he has to give a full account of himself to the House of Commons on Monday. And I think it is very important he does that." |
| 'Reputation damaged' | 'Reputation damaged' |
| Shadow foreign secretary William Hague earlier told BBC Radio 4's Today programme the affair had damaged the reputation of Britain's armed forces. | Shadow foreign secretary William Hague earlier told BBC Radio 4's Today programme the affair had damaged the reputation of Britain's armed forces. |
| And former Army public relations chief Lord Ramsbotham also told the BBC that in his experience, everything "of some magnitude like this" was referred to Number 10. | And former Army public relations chief Lord Ramsbotham also told the BBC that in his experience, everything "of some magnitude like this" was referred to Number 10. |
| I'm sorry, welcome home, but you signed on the dotted line like all the rest. I am appalled - have some dignity Message on Rum Ration website | I'm sorry, welcome home, but you signed on the dotted line like all the rest. I am appalled - have some dignity Message on Rum Ration website |
| Meanwhile, former navy officer Mike Critchley, of Warship World magazine, has started a petition on the Downing Street website calling for Mr Blair to "name and sack" the person responsible for the decision. | Meanwhile, former navy officer Mike Critchley, of Warship World magazine, has started a petition on the Downing Street website calling for Mr Blair to "name and sack" the person responsible for the decision. |
| 'Six-figure sum' | 'Six-figure sum' |
| Only two of the 15 captured navy personnel sold their stories. | Only two of the 15 captured navy personnel sold their stories. |
| Arthur Batchelor, 20, the youngest of the British sailors to be held captive, told the Daily Mirror about his "nightmare" at the hands of his captors. | Arthur Batchelor, 20, the youngest of the British sailors to be held captive, told the Daily Mirror about his "nightmare" at the hands of his captors. |
| And Leading Seaman Faye Turney sold her story to ITV1's Tonight with Trevor Macdonald and the Sun newspaper - reportedly for a six-figure sum, some of which will go to navy families. | And Leading Seaman Faye Turney sold her story to ITV1's Tonight with Trevor Macdonald and the Sun newspaper - reportedly for a six-figure sum, some of which will go to navy families. |
| There has been a mixed response to the decision on websites used by members of the armed forces, with some supporting the sailors' decision to sell their story and others condemning it. | There has been a mixed response to the decision on websites used by members of the armed forces, with some supporting the sailors' decision to sell their story and others condemning it. |
| One contributor to Rum Ration, an unofficial navy website, wrote: "It is simply shocking - get captured and you make five times the average sailor's salary in one story. I'm sorry, welcome home, but you signed on the dotted line like all the rest. I am appalled - have some dignity." | One contributor to Rum Ration, an unofficial navy website, wrote: "It is simply shocking - get captured and you make five times the average sailor's salary in one story. I'm sorry, welcome home, but you signed on the dotted line like all the rest. I am appalled - have some dignity." |
| The Royal Navy crew of sailors and marines were on patrol boats in the Gulf on 23 March when they were detained by Iran's Revolutionary Guard - the Iranians said they had strayed into its waters, which the British deny. | The Royal Navy crew of sailors and marines were on patrol boats in the Gulf on 23 March when they were detained by Iran's Revolutionary Guard - the Iranians said they had strayed into its waters, which the British deny. |