News agency has got Sir Leon taped

Date: 26/10/1995

Evidence has reached Entre Nous that you can, after all, believe what you read in the press.

During an interview with a financial news agency, Trade Commissioner Sir Leon Brittan was asked whether the Maastricht Treaty criteria on inflation, budgets et cetera should be applied flexibly or strictly.

“There is room to exercise judgement. There is an element of discretion that must be honestly applied,” Brittan replied.

The story duly appeared with Sir Leon described as having rejected German insistence that there should be no flexibility in applying the rules.

Later, when a newspaper following up the story spoke to the Brittan Cabinet, its reporter was told the tale was untrue.

However, the agency in question not only prints stories, it also provides a service for listening to them on tape.

Confronted with the undeniable evidence, Brittan's team remained unperturbed.

It may be what he said, observed one of his officials, but it certainly is not what he thinks.