Downing Street removes Labour Party link

Link removed, no explanation offered

By John Oates • Get more from this author

Posted in Government, 15th April 2008 12:37 GMT

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Downing Street gave its website a quick makeover yesterday after coming under fire for including a link straight to the front page of the Labour Party website calling for support in the local elections.

Following a tip from a reader, the Reg rang Downing Street and was told the link was not in breach of political impartiality regulations and simply offered a place to find the political speeches of Gordon Brown. A spin doctor promised to get back to us with the official line on why the link was there.

Blogger Shane Greer revealed the link late last week and fellow bloggers made complaints to Downing Street.

This morning the link had disappeared, but we're still waiting for an explanation from the Prime Minister's office.

The section of the website devoted to our leader's speeches included archives from 2007 and 2008, Prime Minister's Question Time, and speeches from his time as Chancellor. Beneath these was: "Political speeches at the Labour Party (opens in new window)". This link, leading to the Labour Party front page, has now been removed.

Luckily, we saved a copy of the old page which is available here. ®

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