Clare Short: counting on the Foreign Secretary's support

Short Defends Handling of Montserrat Crisis

The action group has met for the first time at the Foreign Office in London to discuss how to implement the Government's plan speedily.

Downing Street had already rejected suggestions that Foreign Secretary Robin Cook had effectively taken charge of the Montserrat crisis and sidelined Ms Short.

Cook: rumours that he has taken charge of the crisis

After the group's first meeting, Mr Cook put out a statement expressing his support for Ms Short.

Mr Cook said: "I and my other Cabinet colleagues fully support the plan put together by my colleague Clare Short to ensure that the people of Montserrat have choices."

"The Montserrat Action Group this morning agreed an implementation strategy to make it possible for Montserratians to exercise those choices," he explained. "Those who wish to leave can do so and make new lives for themselves either in the UK or elsewhere in the region."

He added: "Those who continue to stay on Montserrat can stay and we will continue to work to ensure that the necessary infrastructure is there."

Ms Short was contemptuous of the suggestion that she had been sidelined by the involvement of other Government departments in the Montserrat crisis.

Asked by reporters whether she felt she had been snubbed, Ms Short replied: "No I don't."

Ms Short had made her in The Times newspaper, in which she said it was time for everything to calm down. The arguments between parties and across the Atlantic, she stated, were only causing more distress and uncertainty.

In recent days, there has been controversy surrounding the issue of the evacuation of Montserrat prompted by Ms Short's criticism of senior Montserratian politicians. She accused them of seeking "golden elephants" as compensation for their plight - a remark for which she later apologised.

Related Stories

Short's Deputy to Visit Montserrat
Cautious Welcome for British "Action Group"