All such discussions were conducted by the publishers, specifically in order to avoid any conflict of interest arising on my part,” Sir Christopher said.”I made the decision to take no money personally from the serialisation. In extracts published in two national newspapers he accused Tony Blair of being “seduced” by the power of the White House in the run-up to the war in Iraq.
His disclosures of confidential conversations, including pre-breakfast briefings with the former Prime Minister John Major in his underpants, sparked an extraordinary personal attack by Mr Prescott on Sir Christopher.Last night Sir Christopher, who is now chairman of the Press Complaints Commission, hit back in a letter to Mr Prescott saying: “I intend to continue to carry out my duties as I have sought to discharge them in the last two-and-three-quarter years: impartially, independently and effectively.”Sir Christopher said the scene with Sir John Major was first revealed in a book by Tony Blair’s wife. They need to take responsibility instead of casting around for someone to blame.”Department of Health officials indicated yesterday that they had secured an extra 400,000 doses of vaccine, on top of an emergency order for 200,000 doses revealed on Tuesday.. Sir Christopher Meyer – the man attacked as a “fop in red socks” by John Prescott – has rejected the calls led by the Deputy Prime Minister for him to resign as the watchdog for the press over his memoirs.

Sir Christopher, the former British ambassador to Washington, criticised Mr Prescott and other ministers in his memoirs, DC Confidential. We need to respond more quickly when events like this happen.”`The Liberal Democrats said that at least 437,000 full-time carers were likely to be eligible for the jab, leaving a contingency of about 400,000 doses.Steve Webb, the party’s health spokesman, said: “The reality is that they have under-provided for flu vaccine. It appeared at the end of October that contingency was not enough and that’s the reason they asked for more.”Figures from the Department of Health showed that 14 million doses of vaccine were originally ordered from suppliers to cater for 13.2 million people across Britain deemed at risk of flu and eligible for vaccination by the NHS.One Whitehall official said: “It was disastrous We really failed to get our act together. I would point out that, to be fair to the department and others who were planning this, that if it had gone to plan there would probably have been in the region of two million doses that weren’t necessary.Mr Blair also faced questions over his claim that the Government had built up a “very large contingency” supply of vaccine.He said: “It’s correct that as a result of the concern there has been, the demand for the doses has risen considerably But, as I say, they had built in a very large contingency. Supporters hope that 200 MPs may sign the motion, which would normally secure a Commons debate and vote on such an inquiry..

A furious Tony Blair was forced on the defensive over the flu vaccination crisis amid continuing anger over the Department of Health’s handling of the affair. Mr Blair distanced himself from the insistence by the Health Secretary, Patricia Hewitt, that doctors were responsible for ordering the vaccine.
He declined to blame doctors for over-prescribing winter flu jabs as he faced repeated claims that the Government was guilty of “inefficiency and incompetence” for allowing vaccine supplies to dry up.Ms Hewitt sparked irritation from GPs on Tuesday when she blamed doctors for failing to give priority to people who were at most risk of catching flu – mainly the over-65s.The Health Secretary apologised yesterday to patients who were unable to get their injections, but she said that she hoped all people at risk would get a vaccination before the end of the winter.She told the BBC: “I’m just sorry that some people who are in the priority category and want a vaccination are being put through this anxiety because their particular GP does not have the stocks.”A row erupted on Tuesday as it emerged that some government departments were offering private flu jabs to staff.But the Prime Minister’s official spokesman insisted that “there is no point in getting into the blame game” over the affair.However, Ms Hewitt’s handling of the issue has angered Mr Blair, who took a pounding at Prime Minister’s Questions from Michael Howard, the Conservative leader.Mr Howard claimed that the Department of Health had “bungled” the supply of seasonal flu vaccinations, claiming that the Government was “on the skids”.He said: “If the department can so comprehensively bungle the routine administration of the seasonal flu vaccine, what confidence can we have in their ability to cope with a pandemic of bird flu?”Mr Blair said: “What has happened is that an assessment was made as to the number of vaccines that would be necessary – and remember we’ve ensured with the manufacturers this year that more than 14 million were going to be available.”But as a result of more people demanding the vaccine, it appeared at the end of October that there was going to be a shortfall The department then ordered a further 200,000 of the jabs. The motion has been tabled by Douglas Hogg, a former Tory cabinet minister. As members of the Privy Council, they would be allowed access to the intelligence reports on Saddam Hussein’s weapons on which Mr Blair based his case for action. Tony Blair is under pressure to agree to a full-scale inquiry into the build-up to the Iraq war and the continuing problems in the country since the conflict. Senior MPs from all parties tabled a Commons motion yesterday, calling for a special committee of Privy Councillors to review the Government’s actions. It happened over two-and-a-half years ago, but I have only just begun to comprehend the reality.

I could have stood there and said that he died a hero, or in years to come I could tell people that at one time we were all about to die from a nuclear attack and that my big brother raced against time to save me and millions of other people he didn’t even know from a nuclear extinction.. A few weeks ago someone asked me about my family. I hesitated for a moment and then answered that I have just one sister. That is the problem.”He will unveil a shake-up of the CSA, probably in January, but told the committee: “I really don’t believe there is any magic wand that simultaneously sorts out the backlog of claims and the efficiency of the system and sorts everything out for the future.”. “I think we will continue to need a policy that supports the poorest pensioners,” he said.Promising to kick-start a national debate on the future of pensions, Mr Hutton added: “Now that the Turner report is imminent, we will need to step up a couple of gears in engaging the country with some of the tough choices we may need to face if we want to ensure our pension system remains viable and efficient.”Mr Hutton told the Work and Pensions Select Committee that the troubled Child Support Agency (CSA) may be given new powers to ensure absent parents make a proper financial contribution to the upkeep of their children.He said he had told the CSA to develop “a much stronger enforcement function”, adding: “People in this country have to obey the law and that means parents who are not living with their children should pay for their kids.”Mr Hutton said: “There are a lot of fathers out there who don’t want to pay maintenance for their kids and they will do anything to avoid paying it We shouldn’t pussyfoot around this.

Next spring, Mr Hutton plans to issue a White Paper setting out the Government’s proposals.He will tell the Institute of Public Policy Research think-tank today: ” The Government will approach this debate with a genuinely open mind. I hope everyone – [in] the pensions industry, business, unions, individuals or political parties – will do the same.”Mr Hutton will add: “If we are to achieve a lasting pensions settlement for the 21st century, I believe that ultimately our long-term package of measures has got to meet five key tests: does it promote personal responsibility, and is it fair, affordable, simple and sustainable?”He told MPs yesterday that the means-test approach, favoured by the Chancellor, Gordon Brown, was likely to remain a feature after the overhaul of the system.Since 1997, Labour has used means-testing to target cash at the poorest old people, with the pension credit guarantee providing them with up to £27 on top of the weekly £82 basic state pension. John Hutton, in his first major speech since becoming Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, will announce the five tests by which the Government will judge the pensions blueprint to be published next Wednesday by a commission chaired by Lord Turner of Ecchinswell, the former Confederation Britisg Industry director general.
Mr Hutton will say: “The primary responsibility for security in old age has to rest with the individual and their families.”An active welfare state must provide a floor below which no one should be allowed to fall, but its primary role must be to enable people to provide for themselves, giving everyone the opportunity to build a decent retirement income that meets their needs and expectations.”Although he will say the Government must ensure this long-term change, it will not rush to judgement on the Turner report, which is expected to recommend defusing the pensions timebomb by a combination of raising the retirement age from 65 to 67, ensuring people save more for their retirement and raising taxes. David Cameron would beat Tony Blair but lose to Gordon Brown if the public could elect their prime ministers directly, according to a new poll. The findings were a boost for the front-runner in the Tory leadership contest, who came under attack yesterday for being “superficial” and “timid”.