Fists of fury fly at feral media

By Tim Reid
Westminster reporter, BBC Scotland

Ding ding, round two. In the red corner this week, the PM. In the other, the FM.

There was plenty of ducking and diving at Westminster

The latter could stand, this time, either for the feral media or, just like last week, the first minister.

In fact, I reckon Tony Blair's punches went in equal measure to both - but as in any good championship bout, his opponents have fought back vigorously.

Having ducked and dived as the Libyan prisoner transfer row engulfed his government last week, Mr Blair came back in this round with an early hit.

Soon after the division bell had sounded on Monday, PM Blair landed a clunking fist of his own, blaming FM Salmond for failing to pick up the phone to someone, anyone, in Whitehall before running off to tell tales at Holyrood.

Many here reckon that's a bit rich really since Mr Blair has still not picked up the phone to the first minister to say well done on his election last month - and anyway, surely the onus should be on a government signing an agreement to inform the government that might be affected that a memo has been agreed.

The prime minister told MPs, indignantly: "Frankly all it would have required was an inquiry from the first minister's office and it would have been cleared up immediately."

Frankly, counter Mr Salmond's aides, all it would have required was a bit of consultation beforehand.

Suspected members of the alleged "feral media"

Incidentally, BBC Scotland discovered on Thursday that two weeks after that memorandum of understanding was signed with Colonel Gaddafi, and a week after the row erupted, MPs are still unable to see sight of even a copy of the official document.

The House of Commons Library - which can get its hands on most government paperwork - has been seeking it for MPs, but was referred first to the Foreign Office, then to Number 10, and from Downing Street to, rather bizarrely, the BBC website.

That's because although parliament might not be allowed to have it yet, the feral media were sent the details of the agreement to try to dampen down last week's storm.

But no doubt the feral beasts were to blame for fanning the flames of the Libyan story and so as a parting shot Mr Blair decided on Tuesday that he'd give them - or I suppose that's us - a left hook on his way out of Downing St.

And why not? After all, the media really is to blame for damaging Mr Blair's legacy.

Corruption and sleaze

He has been incessantly criticised in particular for the Iraq war over which the government lost so much trust, and similarly over cash for honours.

But wait. Is that the FM or the FM he's taken umbrage at?

The other FM, Mr Salmond, has spent much of his time here at Westminster over the past few years laying into Tony Blair on those two particular subjects as well.

So maybe that is why Mr Blair has refused, point blank, to pick up the phone to the SNP leader.

There has been, after 28 days, a tiny but important piece of written communication. Tony has invited Alex, however begrudgingly, to join the Privy Council - as befits a first minister.

But what infuriated him again this week was receiving a reply to his letter to Number 10 over the Libyan row from the Lord Chancellor, Lord Falconer, rather than Mr Blair himself.

Right on - Alex Salmond to be a Right Hon at the Privy Council

It seems the prime minister can't even bring himself to reply in person, never mind speak to the auld enemy.

In a second letter to Number 10, Mr Salmond notes that "no apology" was made "for the original lack of consultation" and concludes: "I regret that you did not choose to reply personally to my previous letter."

Mr Salmond hopes that the next one will be signed by Mr Blair. Some hope.

But the Labour MP Jim Devine on Friday defended Mr Blair's refusal to get in touch.

"The SNP, including the first minister, have made some very, very serious allegations about the prime minister over the past 18 months. Literally every week they have been suggesting he was corrupt, that he was involved in sleaze.

"I can understand why the prime minister finds it very, very difficult to pick up the phone and say congratulations to these people."

And so maybe that kind of thinking explains why the FM and the FM have both ended up in a fight to the bell with the PM.