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No 10 'smear' messages published No 10 'smear' messages published
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E-mails discussing smearing top Tories that led to the resignation of a senior Number 10 official have been published.E-mails discussing smearing top Tories that led to the resignation of a senior Number 10 official have been published.
Damian McBride, the PM's ex-political press officer, quit after the messages were picked up by a Westminster blog.Damian McBride, the PM's ex-political press officer, quit after the messages were picked up by a Westminster blog.
In them, Mr McBride made obscene and unfounded claims about the personal lives of Tory leader David Cameron and shadow chancellor George Osborne. In them, Mr McBride made obscene and unfounded claims about the personal lives of party leader David Cameron and shadow chancellor George Osborne.
Allegations were also made against the Tory backbencher Nadine Dorries, who says she is consulting her lawyers. The Conservatives urged Gordon Brown to explain how the allegations came to be sent from an official e-mail account.
Shadow home secretary Chris Grayling said: "This is an exceptionally serious matter and he needs to explain immediately what happened."
Claims were also made against the Tory backbencher Nadine Dorries, who says she is consulting lawyers.
The e-mails were originally sent to former government spin doctor Derek Draper, who runs a pro-Labour blog, before they came to the attention of Paul Staines, writer of the Guido Fawkes blog.The e-mails were originally sent to former government spin doctor Derek Draper, who runs a pro-Labour blog, before they came to the attention of Paul Staines, writer of the Guido Fawkes blog.
Mr McBride called the suggestions "a few ideas I've been working on for Red Rag" - a reference to a Labour website.Mr McBride called the suggestions "a few ideas I've been working on for Red Rag" - a reference to a Labour website.
He also wrote in the e-mails, sent from his official Number 10 address, that he had used a bit of ''poetic licence'' based on what was known, to ''put the fear of God into Osborne''. He also wrote in the e-mails, sent from his Number 10 address, that he had used a bit of ''poetic licence'' based on what was known, to ''put the fear of God into Osborne''.
Mr McBride described the first as a ''solid investigative story'', but the other three as ''mainly gossipy, and intended to destabilise the Tories".Mr McBride described the first as a ''solid investigative story'', but the other three as ''mainly gossipy, and intended to destabilise the Tories".
He added added: ''Let's think about how to sequence these in with others'' - a suggestion that a longer-term plan to place stories was being hatched.He added added: ''Let's think about how to sequence these in with others'' - a suggestion that a longer-term plan to place stories was being hatched.
'Clear explanation''Clear explanation'
Mr McBride, a special adviser in Downing Street, was removed from his job dealing with the media on a day-to-day basis in September 2008.Mr McBride, a special adviser in Downing Street, was removed from his job dealing with the media on a day-to-day basis in September 2008.
He had stayed on in Number 10, and was given responsibility for strategy and planning.He had stayed on in Number 10, and was given responsibility for strategy and planning.
A Number 10 spokesman said the messages were "juvenile and inappropriate".A Number 10 spokesman said the messages were "juvenile and inappropriate".
The spokesman added that nobody in Downing Street knew of the e-mails and that it was Mr Brown's view that there was "no place in politics for the dissemination or publication of material of this kind".The spokesman added that nobody in Downing Street knew of the e-mails and that it was Mr Brown's view that there was "no place in politics for the dissemination or publication of material of this kind".
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 Tories said it was absurd that advisers were "plotting smear campaigns rather than focusing on how to help people affected by the downturn".
I think the public will be very concerned that Downing Street is so desperate to hold on to power that it engages in such behaviour Nadine Dorries MPI think the public will be very concerned that Downing Street is so desperate to hold on to power that it engages in such behaviour Nadine Dorries MP
In his resignation letter, Mr McBride said he was "sickened" that Mr Staines had put the e-mails in the public domain and that he regretted embarrassing the government.In his resignation letter, Mr McBride said he was "sickened" that Mr Staines had put the e-mails in the public domain and that he regretted embarrassing the government.
"I have already apologised for the inappropriate and juvenile content of my e-mails, and the offence they have caused," he said."I have already apologised for the inappropriate and juvenile content of my e-mails, and the offence they have caused," he said.
"We all know that when a backroom adviser becomes the story, their position becomes untenable, so I have willingly offered my resignation.""We all know that when a backroom adviser becomes the story, their position becomes untenable, so I have willingly offered my resignation."
Mid Bedfordshire MP Ms Dorries demanded an apology from the prime minister and said she was considering legal action against Mr McBride.Mid Bedfordshire MP Ms Dorries demanded an apology from the prime minister and said she was considering legal action against Mr McBride.
"The taxpayers do not pay him to engage in this kind of behaviour," she added."The taxpayers do not pay him to engage in this kind of behaviour," she added.
"I think the public will be very concerned that Downing Street is so desperate to hold on to power that it engages in such behaviour. ""I think the public will be very concerned that Downing Street is so desperate to hold on to power that it engages in such behaviour. "
She also questioned how Gordon Brown would feel if a Conservative staff member spread untrue rumours about his wife.She also questioned how Gordon Brown would feel if a Conservative staff member spread untrue rumours about his wife.
Mr Draper branded the idea of an orchestrated Downing Street campaign as "ridiculous".Mr Draper branded the idea of an orchestrated Downing Street campaign as "ridiculous".
He said he had been sent the comments after canvassing Labour supporters about the prospect of setting up another blog to combat "right-wing tittle-tattle" posted on the internet.He said he had been sent the comments after canvassing Labour supporters about the prospect of setting up another blog to combat "right-wing tittle-tattle" posted on the internet.