Quote:
David Cameron risked the wrath of the City today when said he sympathised with the frustration of the White House at the "environmental catastrophe" in the Gulf of Mexico.
Speaking in Afghanistan, the prime minister urged BP to do all it could to clear up the mess and he said he would discuss the matter with Barack Obama over the telephone ahead of a visit to Washington next month.
As BP's shares continued to fall today, touching an 13-year low at one point, Cameron said: "First of all this is an environmental catastrophe. We need to be clear about that. We need to be clear that BP needs to do everything it can to deal with the situation and the UK government stands ready to help. We have made offers of help and stand by to do more.
"I completely understand the US government's frustration because it is catastrophic for the environment and obviously everyone wants everything to be done that can be done. Yes of course it is something I will discuss with the American president when we next talk."
Asked whether it was right of the White House to blame BP when US contractors, such as Halliburton shared some of the blame, Cameron said "we are not going to solve the problems of BP and the Gulf" in Afghanistan.
His comments contrast with calls from British business leaders and London's mayor and fellow Tory Boris Johnson for the White House to tone down their attacks.
Johnson accused President Obama's government of "anti-British rhetoric", warning that the near 50% slump in BP's share price since the spill was bad news for UK pensioners.
"I would like to see a bit of cool heads rather than endlessly buck-passing and name-calling," Johnson told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
"When you consider the huge exposure of British pension funds to BP it starts to become a matter of national concern if a great British company is being continually beaten up on the airwaves."
|
David Cameron admits sympathy with Obama before discussing BP crisis | Business | guardian.co.uk
and
BP on the Defensive as Shares Drop - WSJ.com
this, from the daily telegraph, explains the view of bp that allowed pensions to invest
Quote:
|
BP's position at the top of the London Stock Exchange and its previous reliability have made it a bedrock of almost every pension fund in the country, meaning its value is crucial to millions of workers. The firm's dividend payments, which amount to more than £7 billion a year, account for £1 in every £6 paid out in dividends to British pension pots.
|
BP oil spill: David Cameron backs Barack Obama's hardline stance - Telegraph
that last sentence is crazy.