Sexy dressing for Valentine's
Jedward Jacko tribute
Quake children for sale
Percy Jackson and the Olympians
Orlando gets a soaking
HE AIDE TO GO: Gordon Brown with his former right-hand man Damian McBride
Vicious and vile
Revealed: Shocking emails behind the secret No10 smear plot targeting Tories
THE shocking extent of planned smears against the Tories which led to the resignation of Gordon Brown's most trusted aide last night are revealed today by the News of the World.
The Prime Minister's personal spin doctor Damian McBride quit after it emerged he and Derek Draper, Labour's internet campaign chief, conspired to spread false and sinister stories of a highly personal nature.
McBride boasted that the sleaze campaign "will put the fear of God" into the Tories.
We can disclose that the unfounded smears included:
SMEAR ONE . . . a story that Conservative leader David Cameron has an embarrassing medical condition.
SMEAR TWO . . . a vicious triple attack on Shadow Chancellor George Osborne. It suggests he had sex and took drugs with a prostitute, another smears his wife, and the third claims an ex girlfriend has photos of him in a bra, knickers and suspenders.
SMEAR THREE . . . involves MP Nadine Dorries and another Tory MP. Last night mother-of-three Dorries said she was consulting lawyers.
SMEAR FOUR . . . that a Tory MP used his position to get publicity for a firm in which his partner is boss.
McBride-known to friends as "Mad Dog" and enemies as "McPoison"-quit at teatime yesterday just hours after admitting the planned smears to Gordon Brown, calling his own actions "inappropriate and juvenile".
Last night Draper, husband of GMTV's Kate Garraway, was also under pressure but refused to go. He said: "I don't think I should resign for receiving an email I did not publish.
"This was a mate sending another mate some gossipy stories that never saw the light of day. Some were brilliant and rather funny."
He said McBride should not have had to quit, adding: "It's very sad. I don't think it is fair." McBride, 34, confessed to the PM about the emails on Friday night, insisting no one else from Downing St was involved.
TARGET: McBride had a vile personal story about Cameron
No 10 aides tried to dismiss the plot as "ill-judged gossip between friends" which was never meant for the public.
But we can reveal the campaign was far more advanced than that.
In emails sent from McBride's Downing Street account he told Draper of his plans: "One is a solid investigative story. The other three are gossipy and mainly intended to destabilise the Tories."
In a damning admission he confesses to using "a bit of poetic licence".
Draper wrote back: "These are absolutely totally brilliant, Damian. I'll think about timing." McBride added: "We've got to keep the momentum going."
The sick stories were drafted and pictures were even selected to go alongside them. A website, called Red Rag, had been set up to run them.
Our exposé will come as a massive blow to Mr Brown. It is hugely damaging that his closest aide was planning such a vicious hate campaign.
McBride's resignation is his second in a matter of months.
Last year ministers protested to the PM that McBride, then chief spokesman, was briefing against them.
And many were furious that Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly's resignation was revealed by McBride in a 3am briefing in a hotel lobby during the Labour conference last October.
Credibility
McBride offered to stand aside and the PM reluctantly agreed. Instead, McBride was given a key backroom role co-ordinating Downing Street's political strategy including planning attacks on Tory policies.
Mr Cameron has already warned friends he expects Labour to launch its dirtiest ever election campaign.
Draper, 41, has been given the role of attracting voters back to Labour via the internet. That job is seen as one of the most crucial roles of Labour's next election campaign.
Our revelations today are a devastating blow to Draper's credibility.
McBride set out the plans in email exchanges with Draper-formerly Peter Mandelson's spin doctor-in January this year.
They intended that McBride would secretly write them but they would appear to be penned by trade union loyalist Andrew Dodgshon on the new Red Rag site.
TARGET: Shadow Chancellor George Osborne and wife Frances
Brown's previous spin chief Charlie Whelan and Unite union press officer Dodgshon were copied in on the emails but there is no suggestion they were actively involved.
Perhaps the most appalling smear was the false rumour that David Cameron suffers from an embarrassing health problem. We have decided not to disclose the nature of it.
McBride and Draper planned to run the story on the website with a picture of Dr Christian Jessen of TV series Embarrassing Illnesses.
In the email, McBride said: "If David Cameron wants to go down the American route of having TV debates before the next election, why doesn't he go the whole hog and propose that the party leaders also publish their full financial and medical records?
"He could clear up exactly how much the Camerons are worth and he could make clear that he's not hiding any Embarrassing Illnesses (Insert the picture of Dr Christian Jessen, who's supposedly the doctor who treated him and who presents the Embarrassing Illnesses programme.)"
He said Cameron could be asked if he had paid for any private medical treatment since he became an MP.
He then wrote: "If someone asked him that in an interview I predict we'd see him shifting uncomfortably in his seat and scratching around for an answer."
Mr Cameron has always been open about his medical history, admitting going to a sexual health clinic for a check-up when he was at university.
McBride and Draper also planned to plant a story about George Osborne's wife Frances.
And In another smear on Osborne they claim the Shadow Chancellor's ex-girlfriend had photographs of him from his university days dressed in sexy women's underwear and another of him with his face blacked up.
McBride also suggests Osborne had sex and took drugs with a prostitute.
In 2005 the News of the World revealed Osborne shared nights out with a drug-taking vice girl who helped turn his best pal into an addict. Osborne denied her story that he took drugs and there is no evidence any of McBride's claims are true.
BLOGGER: Staines
But McBride claims there is evidence he did and falsely claims he had sex with her. Our story did not suggest in any way that Osborne had sex with the girl.
In another story, McBride and Draper planned to reveal a Tory MP had used his position to get publicity for a business where his gay partner works.
He listed occasions when the MP had praised the firm in the House of Commons and hosted a reception in Parliament to promote their goods.
McBride wrote: "Is it acceptable that a Conservative should routinely use his position in the House of Commons to offer free publicity while never once declaring his close personal relationship with their Managing Director?"
The bombshell emails came into the possession of Paul Staines, who writes the Guido Fawkes political blog widely read in Westminster.
Right-winger Staines has a long-running feud with Draper and had been taunting him and McBride about the existence of the emails. On Thursday Staines put up a picture of McBride caught in rifle target cross-hairs with the words: "He who lives by the smear . . . "
After quitting last night, McBride issued a statement saying: "When Derek Draper suggested using a website to compete with the kind of material seen on the Fawkes blog, he asked me to write up some of the stories doing the rounds in Westminster.
"Derek and I decided in the end that this website was the wrong thing to do.
Sickened
"I have apologised for the inappropriate and juvenile content of my emails, and the offence they have caused, but I did not want these stories in the public domain. It is because Paul Staines has put them there and I am sickened he has done so."
Before McBride quit, co-conspirator Draper attempted to deflect the attention from him.
Writing on his LabourList website he said: "The emails sent to me from my mate in Downing Street were the whole extent of his involvement and couldn't have taken more than an hour or so to write."
Cabinet Office Minister Tom Watson is referred to in the emails but there is no evidence he was involved.
MP Dorries said on her blog, also before McBride quit: "The email accusations regarding myself are 100 per cent not true. Downing St dismissed the emails as a 'joke'.
"I don't regard the fact that Damian McBride, who takes his instruction from and reports directly to the PM, attempted to destroy my reputation, career and my life as a joke."
Premier in fury at top aide antics
BY IAN KIRBY, POLITICAL EDITOR
GORDON Brown was furious at McBride's antics and made it clear last night that his top aide had no choice but to quit.
The PM's official spokesman said: "The Prime Minister has accepted Mr McBride's resignation. Neither he nor anybody else in Downing Street had knowledge of these emails. It is the Prime Minister's view that there is no place in politics for the dissemination or publication of material of this kind, which is why it is right that Mr McBride and Mr Draper decided not to publish this material."
Earlier in the day, ex Home Secretary Charles Clarke blasted McBride, saying he had brought shame to the Labour party, adding: "Damian McBride has no place in Downing Street."
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Grayling called it "an extraordinary and disgraceful situation."
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This article has 186 comments
Why on earth is anyone be surprised at this?
Politicians as a whole are crooks who have never had a "proper" job in their lives (fortunate for them that they are unlikely to lose their jobs due to a recession).
I AM SURPRISED THAT ANYONE IS EVEN VAGUELY INTERESTED IN THIS.
I have been on this planet some 60 ish years and none of this is new.
Most MP's only do the job for the money, no problem, 'cos the system is totally corrupt and people will take advantage. If I was able, I'd do the same, as would anyone else if they were honest!!
As an aside, why on earth are we sending money to an earthquake appeal that doesn't exist? I gather that Italy hasn't organised an appeal, but Peterborough City Council seems hell bent on sending them £25,000. I am surprised that it isn't legal for this to happen? O.K., it was a tragedy, but why should council tax payers support such an appeal when they ,are unable to to put enough CSO's, garbage collectors, road repair gangs, etc.,out there, because there is no money.
Interesting that the response from pbro is that "what's the problem?, this is only 20p per head"
Personally i think the £25,000 would be much better spent locally.
When was the last time that we (England, not UK) were offered or received any outsid (international) donations for our recent catastrophic floods etcetera.
I really would be interested if we had EVER accepted any money from overseas under similar circumstances.
Cheers Chris
By astroshack.. Posted April 16 2009 at 11:48 PM.
Pathetic desperation tactics! Though personally I don't think this is Gordon Brown's fault - why has he employed such a slobbish imbecile?
I can't believe this idiot is only 34!
By candleton.. Posted April 16 2009 at 11:08 PM.
It seems to me that the majority of U.K. politicians, MP's, MEP's and a lot of local councillors are greedy and corrupt beyond belief. How can anyone have any trust in the U.K. government? All the political parties are rotton to the core, out of touch with the real world and none of them are worth voting for. It's not called the 'gravy train' for no reason. We should get rid of the 'party line' and make it illegal for anyone without 10 years in industry to become a politician.
By Richard Bufton.. Posted April 16 2009 at 11:15 PM.
Can sombody please set up the "Tell you the Truth " or "We will govern for half the pay" party.
Im so fed up with all Parties lying and lining thier pockets.
There must be some honorable people left out there somewhere.
By jim from Maldon.. Posted April 15 2009 at 1:45 PM.
I'm hoping that global warming, or some other natural or man-made disaster, will wipe out the population of this cesspit laughingly referred to as England. Then the rest of humanity can celebrate a rise in the overall quality of the species.
By Arthur Sargent.. Posted April 15 2009 at 8:52 AM.
Well, I guess Brown did learn something from B. Hussein Obama last week in their meetings. Plain ole Chicago machine politics exported to Britain.
Well to the new Obama-world where anything goes as long as it gets the Left power.
By LogicalUS.. Posted April 14 2009 at 8:00 PM.
Storm in a teacup! Yes, childish, sleazy, low-grade behaviour on part of Damian and Derek, but what they have to say is so pathetic as to make them a laughing stock. Far more worrying than their supposed smears, is the PM's judgement - or lack of it - in surrounding himself with such people, and at the taxpayer's expense. Why don't we just calm down about the whole witless exercise - they'll all soon be gone and best sport will be watching to see if Dave, George and the rest turn out any better in the long run.
By Robyn.. Posted April 14 2009 at 3:12 PM.
No smoke without fire!
Can't help but think that there's an element of truth to some of these - hence the Tory faux outrage!
By Hephaestus.. Posted April 14 2009 at 1:38 PM.
Gordon Brown is always talking about no reward for failure I persume he no longer accepts his salary !
By TOM.. Posted April 14 2009 at 11:32 AM.
Guy Fawkes has done it again, but with rather more success than his predecessor.
Now the ball is in the Tory Court; How do they propose to permanently reform this mess so that we can have a Government we are proud of, not ashamed?
By Nick W.. Posted April 13 2009 at 7:56 PM.
Enough is enough when will this goverment of arrogant unwanted fools stop making us the laughing stock to the rest of the world.
Why wait for an election they dont play by the rules why should we!!!
By Leo Murray.. Posted April 13 2009 at 6:53 PM.
We have been in steady decline since Blair got into power. Everyday we read something about this Labour Government & think it can't get any worse & then it does.Never ever when the Tories have been in power have they ever sunk as low as this lot.There seems to be nothing this Government will not do to stay in power & it is frightening. They really are the nastiest, sleaziest, greediest, arrogant self centred lot we have ever had in power. June Sumner
By June Sumner.. Posted April 13 2009 at 5:27 PM.
As an Australian working in London I must say that I worry about the future of this country.
Unfortunately it would seem that Broon and his stalinist red brigade are intent on wrecking the country. The scorched earth policy will not end until they are turfed out.
Broon's ego knows no bounds. Saved the world. Give me a break.
By Stu.. Posted April 13 2009 at 3:58 PM.
Tory sleaze was mostly of a sexual nature.
Labour sleaze is stealing money from the hard-earned taxpayer to pay to their friensd and the workshy.
I would prefer Tory sleaze to the corrupt bunch of idiots in power at the moment.
By Steve.. Posted April 13 2009 at 12:24 PM.
well said PETER,i agree with all you say;lets call an election NOW!!! Labour have turned my country into a police state and its a country where i now feel like the minority! we all know what labours master plan is,and if we dont WE SHOULD!! Its not in labours interest to close the flood gates as every vote counts be it crimminals or terrorists!
By s.wade.. Posted April 13 2009 at 9:25 AM.
The whole sleazy, grubby episode has revealed two grown men - a deliberate oxymoron(s) - behaving like naughty schoolboys passing notes to each other at the back of the classroom.
The difference is these two idiots are irreparably damaging faith and trust in democracy not undermining a maths class - they have cast doubt on the whole political structure - and on politicians' ability to rule and their integrity.
By Sue.. Posted April 13 2009 at 9:20 AM.
McBride was a civil servant on the public payroll. He was not employed by the labour party. So why was he engaged in party politics?
By Gordon Hickley.. Posted April 13 2009 at 2:56 AM.
Jay: "anyone voting tory in the next election- i hope you have a smile on your face when a family member is waiting in a A@E for 10 hours and then waits for a operation for 6 months plus."
That already happens, under the Labour government. If you hadn't noticed, standards in the NHS have DECLINED since Labour took over. And by the way, that's a very nice sentiment from you - I think it's clear which party is now the "nasty" party.
By Mimi.. Posted April 13 2009 at 12:48 AM.
Wasn't it that pathetic excuse for a Politician, Mr John 'Two Jags' Prescott, who famously declared to the nation during the run-up to the 1997 General Election, that the Tories were, "Up to their necks in sleaze" ?
What do you have to say now, Fat Boy ?
It can't be long before David Cameron and his team blitz the press and TV channels with a list of all the scandals that the Labour parties finest have been involved in, since coming to power. Every week, another Labour M.P. or party worker makes the front pages. Some even have splinters in the end of their noses from where their snouts have been rubbing the bottom of the trough.
Go now, Mr Brown - the public didn't even get offered the chance to vote you in. Iron Chancellor my arse !!!
By Gary.. Posted April 12 2009 at 10:58 PM.
Liebour can't manage a p--- up in a brewery, take the now Bloated public sector, the workers of which ie the NHS say it's worse now than ever if you don't believe me try this, got to any hospital or Police station during any week day and have a look at the car park, you'll see that it's full, then go in the evening or weekend and youill see hardly any cars on the car park as THEY are the ones doing the job the rest are paper pushers doing non entity jobs. Money has been spent alright but NOT where it should have been in recruiting MORE staff to do the job and nto just diversity councellors etc. You Labout people live in cloud cuckoo land, and just to end on I'm no great lover of Cameron either
By John.. Posted April 12 2009 at 9:37 PM.
I am thnking that the Labour mans are desparate for winning and will stop at nothing to smearing Tory.
How can I trust these politicians and also the police are bullyboy liars
By Dr Ali Ghobi.. Posted April 12 2009 at 9:58 PM.
@Chris Arnfield."Real people will never accept Camero9n and his duplicitous snobs."
I'm a real person and I'd rather vote for Cameron than the vile rubbish that are currently running the country.
No more Tory sleaze they said. No, it's now Labour sleaze and it's a lot worse than Major's lot ever did!
By Gordon Brown-Nose.. Posted April 12 2009 at 9:48 PM.
Disgusting and vile!
Do they have no shame?
Imagine prancing around in bra, panties and suspenders, I for one hope these pictures never appear!!
Thank you.
By George of the jungle.. Posted April 12 2009 at 8:55 PM.
Most of the top MP's are all in it for themselves. It's been shown time and time again to be the case.
The sleaze by the new labour, the false moral stance by the conservatives is something we all see through. People are cynical and untrusting when it comes to politics and, when you hear what comes out of Westminster every week, you can't blame them!
By Alan.. Posted April 12 2009 at 8:38 PM.
i was wondering how someone outside the uk can determine conservative politicians from liberal politicians?
if JFK was alive today he would probably be considered a conservative.
of course both sides are striving for the same thing. reelection.
adios,
ab
lancaster, mexifornia
push 1 for english in america
got boxcars?
By aB NORMAL.. Posted April 12 2009 at 7:44 PM.
Why all the fuss. Anyone prepared to remember the Thatcher years and subsequent Tory governments will ale=ready know how many were caught hanging from rafters in ladies underwear, being `economical with the truth`, swindling the public and leaking lies into the public domain about political adversaries. We should perhaps remind the new generations who have not had the `privilige` of a tory government that some of their minsters and MPs are still either incarcerated or out `on licence`.
I do not think we need any false indignation or lectures from Tories about sleaze, they invented it.
Typical ya boo playground antics from Old Etonians in ivory towers. Real people will never accept Camero9n and his duplicitous snobs.
By Chris Arnfield.. Posted April 12 2009 at 7:44 PM.
Just another example of how desparate Labour are to stay in power and continue to ruin this once great country. No government came into power with so much money in the bank, yet when we need it, its all gone wasted on schemes that have been ill thought out and on setting targets and forming grangos of mates to spend more of our money on stupid schemes. What happened to all our gold Mr Brown.
By David.. Posted April 12 2009 at 6:24 PM.
The point above about Kate Garroway is well put how can she be sued for political interviews.
Being from a working class background i just can't understand how MP's can expect to have any respect
The whole political system is nasty corrupt and full of people who are only interested in themselves
By dave.. Posted April 12 2009 at 6:37 PM.
We are praying for a hung parliament. They puts us in charge not them. They are all the same.
By Sylvie.. Posted April 12 2009 at 5:39 PM.
anyone voting tory in the next election- i hope you have a smile on your face when a family member is waiting in a A@E for 10 hours and then waits for a operation for 6 months plus.thats whats going to happen when they scrap the targets.dont BLAME the torys blame yourself....giggle giggle
By jay.. Posted April 12 2009 at 4:44 PM.
Wow! As a dull Canadian I find these smutty stores absolutely astounding! I am sure much of the same
rot exists in our canadian parliament also but it never comes out.... perhaps I should be happy about that?????
By H. Campbell.. Posted April 12 2009 at 4:44 PM.
Labour, Conservative or Liberal they are all the same.
They promise all but deliver nothing!!
and they are only interested in them selves.
Get wise people, it does'nt matter who you vote for the government always get in!!
By Paul.. Posted April 12 2009 at 3:48 PM.
until we all see the emails verbatim we are hardly in a position to comment. Surely,haven't these political operatives got something better to do with their time?
By bryan hall.. Posted April 12 2009 at 3:28 PM.
Your commentsThis article has 152 comments
Previous 1 | 2 | So you realy think the tories are going to be a BREATH of FRESH AIR...go and ask mining communities what dirty politics was all about during the Thatcher years when police where bussed in from all over the UK on BAGS of OVERTIME just to keep down brave men who worked the bowels of the earth to to keep you warm..politics in this country is the SWING of THE PENDULUM..you are now getting fed up and think a change will be better...well lets see if you still think that in 5/6 years from now, or when the media TELL you you need a change!!!!
By Brian. Posted April 12 2009 at 12:13 AM.
I think "Brian" is really Damien McBride or maybe Arthur Scargill reincarnated!
Maggie saved this country Brian. Gordon has destroyed it like your mining heroes nearly did.
If you read the real history books rather than your imaginary lefty ones you will see history repeating itself once again. Labour messes up, spends all the money and the Conservatives sort out the mess until everyone has forgotten just how incompetent Labour are. Gordon has just added a new dimension.
Malicious spiteful lying poison. The worst chancellor and PM in history and the biggest most arrogant sleaze bag to boot
By Philip Derbyshire.. Posted April 12 2009 at 3:20 PM.
Over the years I have felt that more and more
the politicians elected to govern our once so
mighty and well-respected country have presented
as being vastly diminished in comparison to our our
past rulers. Perhaps the 'westminster' parliamentry
way has existed too 'long'! Should now it not be
the case that what is needed is tempory influence
imposed by a 21st centenary Oliver Cromwell?; but
where the duece is he (or she)?; certainly not to
be found (at present) anywhere in the mother of
parliaments!!!!!!!
By John Phillips.. Posted April 12 2009 at 3:26 PM.
I believe those of any political leaning who indulge in this childish behaviour could be described as insignificent scum
By J G Finn.. Posted April 12 2009 at 2:57 PM.
On behalf of my two 4-legged companions can I ask you all to refrain from comments like 'country going to the dogs'. The insult in comparing dogs to NuLab is more than my sensitive animals can bear.
By Anthony Back.. Posted April 12 2009 at 2:25 PM.
Draper and Staines are branches from the same tree.Many people never heard of them until the Tory
press with falling circulations decided to bore us all
with all this drivel.I am old enough to remember sleaze from all three leading parties.John Major teachings of back to basics while having an affair with Edwina Currie,David Plunkett and his debacle
Jeremy Thorpe and Norman Scott.Draper and Staines have always been playing the dirty on each other,Andrew Neilalmost had to pull them apart on The Daily Politics show BBC.1
By Kamard.. Posted April 12 2009 at 1:58 PM.
A man is known by the company he keeps.
It's not credible that Brown didn't know what his chums were up to.
And who out of this bunch is set up the anonymous "Red Rag" website?
By Bob.. Posted April 12 2009 at 1:57 PM.
Brown is finished,we must be the laughing stock of the world, sleeze thieves corruption, how long is the British public going to stand for it, we thought T,Blair was bad enough, but this lot is scum to the core. We need a revolution,, the Thai,s have the right idea take to the streets.
By sally.. Posted April 12 2009 at 1:29 PM.
And we thought Blair was bad!!!
By Katee.. Posted April 12 2009 at 1:27 PM.
Nice to know you care, Sarah - or should I say Mrs Brown?
By Sally.. Posted April 12 2009 at 1:25 PM.
Time for a shake up, a general election is needed, the labour goverment have proved time and time again they can't be trusted, basically they've become a joke and it's one that has become very jaded now.
By Lorna Wanstall.. Posted April 12 2009 at 1:09 PM.
And this is what they get paid a salary, a second home allowance and all sorts of other benefits to do?
Get rid of this system, it is corrupt, unfair and frankly beyond a joke
By michelle Zelli.. Posted April 12 2009 at 12:43 PM.
these labourites are on the biggest ego trip this country has ever seen not one of them would last a day in the private sector Brown is still surrounding himself with idiots so it makes him look sensible you would think that he would realise that between him and Blair they have bankruped this country morally socially and financally and the best thing he can do is go on the curcuit like blair telling everbody how to live thier lives and how great they thy were at ruining a whole country 1n about 5 years and make 7million a year no doubt tax free
By Dave.. Posted April 12 2009 at 12:43 PM.
You know, it was only 6 months ago that a senior tory MP was arrested, for trying to orchestrate leaks and smear, by befriending civil servants.
Wake up. I've spent the last year reading leaks on the government. From Tessa Jowell, to spending, to the war on Iraq.
Mr. Cameron has to realise that if he takes politics into the gutter, with smears and pr, then he has to accept that his own private life may come into the public domain at some time. And his cabinet.
And it seems to me that the Tories aren't happy with what may come out
By Chris.. Posted April 12 2009 at 12:42 PM.
I must admit it is a bit refressing to see the Tories have a bit of sleaze for a change. They have been using moles for months, and anyone would think they are whiter that white. What, with two tories in the last tory government landing up in jail, John Major who wanted to go back to family values, what hypocracy!
There is not one thing in the whole of the tory records when in power, that they have done to make this country a better and fairer place for all.
People should think hard and fast, we have a minimum wage, redundancy pay, equal pay, housing benefits and disabililty benefits, higher pensions, better hospitals a great health service and more work.
It takes someone older like myself to see the rapid changes for the better, because we have lived through the imposed poverty by the tories, long may thay stay out of office. They couln't run a 2p bazaar.
It is a disgrace how they get away with how their party is funded, how they breach the rules by corruption, we need to clean up politics, the thought of David Cameron and his cronies coming into power is enough to make one take a pill!
By rosali.. Posted April 12 2009 at 12:31 PM.
The danger of bringing Government and party politices into disrepute, especially at a time of deep recession, is that, as in 1930s, Germany leading to the rise of Hitler, single issue extreme parties will take advantage and once elected will ensure that all this "fun" is stopped and then it's, "This way to the concentration camp Sir". I would like to see all three main political party leaders, together with those in Scotland, Ireland and Wales, getting together on this and pledging no more spin, smear or exaggeration; full stop. Please, please, take heed of the warnings of history, not just in the UK but across the world.
By Terry Flinders.. Posted April 12 2009 at 12:16 PM.
To Sarah - I don't think you have to work for Tory HQ to be less than impressed by this. To those who say they won't vote Labour OR Tory now - I'd vote LibDem, and hope for a hung parliament where we might get something approaching consensus politics.
By Graham.. Posted April 12 2009 at 11:55 AM.
The only thing Brown is furious about is that McPoison has been caught. His whole career has been built on destroying others, as loads of civil servants who've tried to work with him have found, as well as politicians of all colours. It is totally unbelievable that he didn't know what was going on. The man is a disgrace.
By Alfred T Mahan.. Posted April 12 2009 at 11:54 AM.
Let us all wait till the start of the campaign and we shall all see the mother of all scandals coming out of westminster. They will destroy themselves on the pages of newspapers and magazines. As far as I am concerned I think Labour has had its fair share of being in power, the other party can come and try to change things for the better if they can do just that.That is what democracy is all about. But we must not all rush to vote conservatives. We must realise we also need a very strong opposition.
By Sammy Sparkle.. Posted April 12 2009 at 11:42 AM.
There have been vile smears and lies used against members and candidates of the only political party which stands up for British values and tradition for years but voters are starting to see through it and are turning to the BNP to stop the Islamification of their children's education and culture.
Why is this any different?
By Steve.. Posted April 12 2009 at 11:42 AM.
Vile, vile, vile the lot of them. While they get richer (huge expense claims on top of their more than adequate salaries) we get poorer and the country loses the credibility it used to have.
I'm no longer proud to be British. If I was younger I'd leave NOW with my family. I'm disgusted to the core!
By Helen.. Posted April 12 2009 at 11:39 AM.
It is high time the Queen called Mr. Brown to the palace and asked him to place country before personal pride, admit he is utterly inept at running our country & call an immediate General Election.
The British people deserve nothing short of that!
By David. Posted April 11 2009 at 11:05 PM.
HEAR! HEAR!
By Richard Stansfield.. Posted April 12 2009 at 11:27 AM.
still won,nt vote the Tories, they are not any better...................................................
By johnson Amuduku.. Posted April 12 2009 at 11:27 AM.
Oh boy... are Labour running scared to sink to this kind of sleazy rubbish. It smacks of Lord Mandy, don't you think? Let them carry on for a bit and they will go on digging a deeper and deeper hole for themselves. Now is the perfect time to raid all the parties with e-mails (hundreds of them) and that way they can't dismiss the public mood. Blogs are good but e-mails sent to the centre of government are not so easily ignored. Come on folks, lets give them something to worry about.
By Val.. Posted April 12 2009 at 11:19 AM.
They have destroyed all that that was good in our country, now they are intent on self destruction
By James Henson.. Posted April 12 2009 at 11:06 AM.
OK Gordon it's up to you now. Sack this bunch of "advisors" and their cronies and make a public appology for this vile episode.
People are starting to believe that you are behind this muck raking. Is it true?
By alan p.. Posted April 12 2009 at 10:42 AM.
Its about time that we have a general election, we are fed up with this Labour govement, thery are doing nothing to satisfy the people who vote for them to be in power.Gordon Brown should apologize to the whole country for the mess he is in.
Pearl Perera
Hampshire
By pearl perera.. Posted April 12 2009 at 10:51 AM.
Gutter politics, from a gutter government. This has been going on for 11 years - wake up people - vote this corrupt lot out.
By j wright.. Posted April 12 2009 at 10:49 AM.
Noo labour is the Noo Nasty party. Actually, the vile, venal and corrupt party of government. they have got to go. As usual they have bankrupted the country. Tax hard and spend profilgately. They will adopt a 'scortched earth' policy now, with massive borrowing, so that when the next Tory government is forced to cut public spending they can start screaming about Tory "cuts". They are a despicable crew.
By Dr Nick Ashley.. Posted April 12 2009 at 10:38 AM.
a week in politics, as they say............ please keep in mind answers needed from Jacky Smith, McNulty, the Speaker etc etc.
ever noticed how labour drag out the underclass to answer critical question? this time its liam who?
please look on utube, damian hannan giving our unelected pm a complete dressing down.
By tony bernie.. Posted April 12 2009 at 10:37 AM.
No smoke without fire. If this stuff isn't true are they going to sue? "We all live in the gutter but some of us are looking up at the Tories" as another shirt-lifter once said. Since when has politics being a gentile game?
By Colin Harrison.. Posted April 12 2009 at 10:33 AM.
STILL!!!!!!! WONT VOTE TORIES, THEY ARE NOT ANY BETTER, WATCH THIS SPACE IF THEY COME IN LOL LOL LOL '' I FEAR MORE TO COME''
By sorraya.. Posted April 12 2009 at 10:14 AM.
Today's Labour is just scum, pure evil scum. The sooner they are out the better for everyone in this country.
By Labour Out Out Out.. Posted April 12 2009 at 10:13 AM.
Fiddling while Rome burns.
By Raf Lobato.. Posted April 12 2009 at 10:11 AM.
Nulabour were working to ensure that they stay in power for ever when along came Cameron and a credible opposition to destroy their grand plan. Can't wait for an election to get rid of them.
By lily.. Posted April 12 2009 at 10:19 AM.
Coming so soon after the death of Cameron's handicapped son, this farrago shows the abysmal depths the sullen, hopeless, desperately spinning Brown has sunk to. The man has no link to the real world, no humanity, no humour - nothing but lies and spin and one "initiative" after forgotten "initiative." Oh, and he's bankrupted the country as well.
By Les Gibson.. Posted April 12 2009 at 10:18 AM.
I thought Blair was bad at times but Brown is bad all the while, who voted for him knowing he would be become a leader Nobody back door politics, Socialisim in Britain Dead.
What a disgrace brown is, as a Now EX labour voter I will do my best to ensure they never ever get in power again.
Andy
By andy west.. Posted April 12 2009 at 10:18 AM.
Damian McBride and Derek Draper remind me of the anti-hero government "heavies" from Ayn Rand's political novel "Atlas shrugged" - How soon before all us taxpayers go on strike and put a stop to the dishonest antics and mismanagement of our once great nation by this government!
By Seb Nash.. Posted April 12 2009 at 10:15 AM.
Judging by the tone and character of the majority of comments made here, it is nice to see that the folk at Tory HQ are busying themselves this Easter Sunday.
By Sarah.. Posted April 12 2009 at 10:15 AM.
I agree that he should have been sacked. How disgusting that he was allowed to resign, presumable, with huge pension, bonus, etc. in tact. Labour is absolutely dispicable.
By Vanessa.. Posted April 12 2009 at 10:15 AM.
Why are we the taxpayer paying for these special advisers --what are the cival servants for. What a con and waste of our money being paid to dozens of these people--if we want to save money get rid of them all. We never had so many in the past
By Ronnie.. Posted April 12 2009 at 10:07 AM.
talking about gays have a close look at those at the top dont be fooled just because they get married most mp's marry for conveience
By Dave.. Posted April 12 2009 at 10:06 AM.
I cannot belive that his resignation was "accepted". He should have been SACKED!!
By Unbelievable.. Posted April 12 2009 at 9:56 AM.
It's hard to believe McBride was on a six-figure salary paid by the taxpayer. If Labour wants to waste money on these inane and corrupting "advisers" and cronies then they should pay from party funds.
By Chris K.. Posted April 12 2009 at 9:47 AM.
The most important point to remember, is those of you who claim they will no longer support Labour MUST give your vote to someone else. Otherwise as we all know, they will be back again, via the back door.
By Joan McTigue.. Posted April 12 2009 at 9:46 AM.
I have never voted Conservative in my life but I will at the next election. Nothing, absolutley nothing could be worse that this shower. This governmnet has made us the laughing stock of the world.
By Joan Mctigue.. Posted April 12 2009 at 9:43 AM.
It is about time that the dictator that is our PM leaves office. He has no mandate from the people to govern over us. We the people should force an election and remove this dictator from office. He is no better that Robert Mugarbe
By Norman Smart.. Posted April 12 2009 at 9:38 AM.
another scandel from the holy party ooops sorry labour party,when blair came to power he said no more spin no more lies the torys where buried under scandal after scandal.we the labour party will be the good guys rescue us all from the big bad tories,labour will stand for truth and honesty.but year after year the guard slipped the spin men came and scandal was know as a blip a misspoken words.there theme tune was things can only get better and it did for a bit,now the should be playing the last tune played by the titanics band as the good ship labour brakes apart.will this be the end of scandal nope and it will continue either on here or in there offices at whitehall.having read some of the posts here the one that is the most offencive is of trevor howes post .he must be some sort of lunatic to suggest any links to the 2 world wars and the countless millions that died,he thinks only thousands died.but will this be the end of labour only time will tell and only at a price ......
By kevin tully.. Posted April 12 2009 at 9:38 AM.
quote "You lot won't be laughing when the Tories are in power and things will be a great deal worse!
"
How can things get any worse? We are already in a recession. We have sleep walked into a dictatorship that uses the threat of terrorism to remove our right to freedom, how can things get any worse??!!!!
It is about time we voted the lot out.
By Duncan.. Posted April 12 2009 at 9:37 AM.
There is also no suggestion that Brown and Watson were NOT involved.
By James Carr.. Posted April 12 2009 at 9:36 AM.
these allegations just show how desperate new labour have become.they dont stand a chance at the next election (which cant come quick enough)gordon brown as knackered our country,now we will be paying for his incompetence for years.labour governments always run out of money and guess who gets the bill!
By mark bolland.. Posted April 12 2009 at 9:28 AM.
This is an outragious behaviour from a sleazy goverment, what more did you expect.
By Franko.. Posted April 12 2009 at 9:21 AM.
I am very much an Ex Labour voter, but it saddens me greatly to see the depths these vile people are prepared to go to cling on to power.
Someone needs to rescue the Labour Party from these truly ghastly people urgently
By Jon Kearns.. Posted April 12 2009 at 9:21 AM.
June - I take it you don't know about the decision by the government want to take regarding retaining ALL emails and phone calls and text messages for EVERYONE! In the name of national security! So if I were you I would be very careful how or what you say to your nearest and dearest = big brother's watching you.
By rose.. Posted April 12 2009 at 9:25 AM.
This is just another page in the vile history of the recent Labour Party. Draper says that this was a laugh between two mates and that some of it was funny, like i said, vile Labour Party. Draper should do the right thing and go he is a waste of time and money.
By Mark Henry.. Posted April 12 2009 at 9:01 AM.
So the party that from the beginning of the month now has legal access to record our emails and who we contact has been caught out. If it is deemed good enough for us lot then its good enough for them.
New Labour disgust me to my core with their constant writing laws that affect us but are never to applied to themselves.
By Paul.. Posted April 12 2009 at 9:01 AM.
We the tax payer have been paying this muppet a six figure salary to churn out this rubbish. Is this what Brown thinks we want? Brown and his governement promised a credible alternative and sleeze free. We have had Blair questioned by the police, Dr David Kelly commit sucide due to attacks by a Labour party inner circle. Today we have another example of an unelected person using the primeministers office to spread lies. Brown has no credability, economically his party are bankrupt and it appears to morally bankrupt. Labour OUT!
By Steve Tea.. Posted April 12 2009 at 9:00 AM.
This demonstrates just how little confidence this government has of winning the next election fairly. They know they won’t win on their appalling record so they resort to the politics of dirty tricks.
McLoser Brown must know he and his Scottish mafia are finished, good riddance to the lot of them.
By Brian Roberts.. Posted April 12 2009 at 8:59 AM.
Fascinating insight. I love the bit where McBride blames it all on Guido for bringing this into the open - a bit like blaming the ink for the content of a letter! The sooner this sorry lot of crooks, chisellers, and incompetents (and I include Brown, Smith and the rest of them) are consigned to history, the better. A total disgrace.
By Browned_off.. Posted April 12 2009 at 8:56 AM.
You lot won't be laughing when the Tories are in power and things will be a great deal worse!
By Arty.. Posted April 12 2009 at 8:49 AM.
I see the Labour Spin Doctors are now trying to bacl peddle saying it was just a joke between two friends does anybody actual believe that
By keith.. Posted April 12 2009 at 8:47 AM.
Hasn't anyone got a sense of humour-if I was Tory I would laugh my head off at all of this but no--the usual self righteousness. You've all got short memories can't you remember the last Tory government with their high moral values and their dirty deeds. They are just as bad as Labour regarding scandals, economic mismanagement and lining their own pockets at our expense. Get real....
By John Ayton.. Posted April 12 2009 at 8:44 AM.
We can see here how it is they lie so easily and so often about stuff like the Lisbon Treaty (the EU constitution about which we were promised a referendum).
By David .. Posted April 12 2009 at 8:39 AM.
Damn! I had already decided to change my vote to the poor old Liberals, now I shall have to go the whole hog and vote for Cameron.
By John.. Posted April 12 2009 at 8:37 AM.
Great stuff, for once the grubby antics of the News OTW have come to the rescue of New Labour - Who would vote Tory now?
Ah yes, you have to play dirty in Politics. Well done for falling on your sword fat bloke.
By deepinder cheema.. Posted April 12 2009 at 8:36 AM.
I don't usually read the News of the World, but had to today to get the details of the Downing Street Emails. I can only but agree with the majority of other correspondence on this matter sighting the total failure of the Brown government and the stinking depths to which it has now sunk. Whilst for many the Tories may not be their party of choice at the next election I would urge anybody to vote for them to ensure we don’t end up with a hung parliament and see the back of Brown and the rest of his useless crew. As for Blair getting him into a court for committing this country to war on the basis of lies will be a continuing objective for many of us.
By Paul Chapman.. Posted April 12 2009 at 8:33 AM.
We were paying his wages. He resigned. I presume he has not been paid since yesterday? In your dreams.
By Peter Hall.. Posted April 12 2009 at 8:30 AM.
Strange its a fuss about nothing when it involves Labour and sleeze when it involves the Tories.
By Johnny Norfolk.. Posted April 12 2009 at 8:25 AM.