Here are two sentences:

Both Mr Blair and Foreign Secretary Jack Straw have denied that Britain had reneged on plans to involve the UN in the reconstruction of Iraq .

Mr Blair and the Foreign Secretary , Jack Straw , have denied Ms Short 's claims that Britain has reneged on plans to involve the UN in the reconstruction of Iraq .
Choose your answer: are the two sentences saying the same thing?

a). no;
b). yes;
b).