Transport Secretary Stephen Byers was last night attempting to safeguard his position after Downing Street forced his special adviser and director of communications to resign.
Byers, who has been told by Downing Street to get a grip on the feuding that has undermined his department, told Sky News: “My position is a matter for the prime minister. I have no indication that he does not have confidence in me.”
Byers also said the resignations of Jo Moore, his special adviser, and Martin Sixsmith, director of communications at the Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions, would leave the DTLR in a better position to deliver.
The Tories are continuing to call for the removal of Byers.
Financial Times 16/02/02 page 1,
Daily Telegraph 16/02/02 page 4,
The Times 16/02/02 page 1,
The Guardian 16/02/02 page 1,
The Independent 16/02/02 page 1
