Blair refuses to make statement on funeral row

Downing Street sought yesterday to leave behind the controversy over whether it tried to win Tony Blair a bigger role at the Queen Mother's funeral. The Prime Minister rejected demands from the Opposition for him to make a Commons statement on the conflicting accounts on the affair by Downing Street and Black Rod, the parliamentary official in charge of the lying-in-state.

Ministers were cautiously optimistic last night that the row might be fizzling out. There was no sign that Black Rod, Lieutenant-General Sir Michael Willcocks, would publish his memorandum to the Press Complaints Commission, which caused Mr Blair to drop complaints against three publications that claimed he tried to boost his role at the funeral. Significantly, the Tories did not press their demand in the Commons yesterday amid signs that Buckingham Palace is worried that the unseemly dispute has cast a shadow over the strong public support for the Royal Family after the Queen Mother's death. Privately, Blair aides hope Black Rod will not publish his memo, fearing it would contradict the dossier issued by Downing Street on Friday by claiming that Number 10 put "sustained and constant pressure" on Black Rod to give the Prime Minister a bigger role.

Officially, Mr Blair's spokes-man said: "It is entirely a matter for Black Rod and if we were going to indicate an opinion it would be interpreted as us telling Black Rod what to do." The spokesman said Downing Street did not have the memo and "was not aware of anyone having seen it". He added: "Since no one has produced facts to support the allegation that civil servants behaved improperly we do not believe a statement is necessary."

After Labour MPs criticised Black Rod's role in the affair, Number 10 said: "We have very carefully not expressed any opinion about what Black Rod may or may not have done and we will stick to the position absolutely. We are not getting involved in criticising him."

Black Rod is thought unlikely to issue his memo unless requested to do so by a parliamentary committee. But Mark Oaten, chairman of the Liberal Democrats, said the memo should be published to end the speculation over the issue. He said Mr Blair should apologise and admit his Government had been "obsessed with presentation and spin", adding: "He has a very large majority and he really ought to come out a bit more honestly rather than hiding behind Alastair Campbell."

Mr Blair will try to switch the spotlight back to mainstream politics in a speech on criminal justice today. On Thursday he will hold the first of the televised press conferences at Downing Street. Sir Michael has declined to embroil himself publicly in the row.