No 10 apology over 'slur' e-mails
Downing Street has apologised for e-mails sent by one of Gordon Brown's
senior officials which reportedly discussed smearing top Conservatives.
The Daily Telegraph says the e-mails found their way to Paul Staines,
writer of the Guido Fawkes blog, who described the emails as "obscene".
The offending emails were sent by Damian McBride, the prime minister's
ex-political press officer.
A Number 10 spokesman said the messages were "juvenile and
inappropriate"
'Ludicrous'
The Tories said it was "absurd" that advisers were "plotting smear
campaigns rather than focusing on how to help people affected by the
downturn".
The Daily Telegraph said the e-mails included unfounded allegations
about Conservative leader David Cameron and shadow chancellor George
Osborne.
Their author was thought to have sent them to former government spin
doctor Derek Draper, who runs a pro-Labour blog.
“ Shouldn't Downing Street officials be concentrating on the challenges
we face as a nation? ”
Chris Grayling, shadow home secretary
"The emails are intended to be anonymous smears, they are obscene in
cases, and would impossible for a newspaper to publish. They're
libellous and they're untrue," Mr Staines told the BBC.
"In the emails, Damian McBride admits to using 'poetic licence'. He's a
civil servant, he's exempt from the restrictions on being impartial and
political, he's not exempt from telling the truth."
It is understood Mr McBride had to apologise to colleagues.
Shadow home secretary Chris Grayling described the episode as
"ludicrous".
He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "We are in the middle of the
biggest economic crisis for half a century. Is this really the best
Downing Street can do?
"Shouldn't they surely be thinking about national issues, shouldn't
Downing Street officials be concentrating on the challenges we face as a
nation?
"To think that they are sitting in Downing Street putting together
ludicrous stories about Conservative MPs that they can put round as
tittle-tattle just beggars belief."
'Chaotic'
Mr McBride, a special adviser in Downing Street, was removed from his
job dealing with the media on a day-to-day basis following the
resignation of former Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly in September 2008.
The handling of her departure from government was widely seen as
chaotic, our correspondent said.
But Mr McBride stayed on in Number 10, and was given responsibility for
strategy and planning.
Our correspondent said Mr McBride, who has worked for Gordon Brown for
many years, became unpopular with some MPs for his trenchant briefings
to journalists
She added that it was not clear how the e-mails ended up with Mr
Staines, who has traded insults with Mr Draper.
A spokesman for Downing Street said: "Neither the prime minister nor
anybody else in Downing Street, except the author, knew anything about
any of these private emails.
"The author of these emails has apologised for their juvenile and
inappropriate nature and for the embarrassment caused.
"All staff will be reminded of the appropriate use of Number 10
resources."
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.
Published: 2009/04/11 13:01:38 GMT#
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