James Forsyth James Forsyth

Who does the PM side with in the Brown-Miliband dispute?

The Conservatives have jumped on the confusion in the government’s foreign policy revealed by Nick Brown’s outburst on Comment is Freee (see Fraser’s post), with William Hague asking the Prime Minister to clarify who speaks for the government on foreign policy—the Foreign Secretary or the Deputy Chief Whip? 

Gordon Brown has to get a grip. He needs to tell his attacks dogs—who are by all accounts straining at the leash—that foreign policy is off limits. British foreign policy can’t be turned into a battleground for the Labour party’s factional fighting.

The full letter from Hague to the PM after the jump:

 Dear Prime Minister,

I am sure you will agree that in responding to the crisis in Georgia it is imperative that Britain should speak with a united and clear voice.

It is therefore extraordinary that Nick Brown, your Deputy Chief Whip, has written for the Guardian today that he does not favour NATO membership for Georgia, and he “doesn’t know anyone who does”.

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