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Brown 'sorry' over e-mail slurs Brown 'sorry' over e-mail slurs
(20 minutes later)
Prime Minister Gordon Brown has apologised over e-mails sent by his former aide Damian McBride.Prime Minister Gordon Brown has apologised over e-mails sent by his former aide Damian McBride.
Speaking on a visit Glasgow, Mr Brown said he was "sorry about what happened" and took "full responsibility".Speaking on a visit Glasgow, Mr Brown said he was "sorry about what happened" and took "full responsibility".
Mr McBride quit after making unfounded personal smears about senior Conservatives in e-mails sent to Derek Draper, who was a Labour Party adviser. Mr McBride resigned after making unfounded personal smears about senior Conservatives in e-mails sent to former Labour Party adviser Derek Draper.
Mr McBride's actions were a "clear and serious breach" of Whitehall rules, the head of the civil service has said.Mr McBride's actions were a "clear and serious breach" of Whitehall rules, the head of the civil service has said.
Mr Brown has sent handwritten letters to the politicians smeared in the e-mails, expressing his regret for what had happened and telling them that the rules for political special advisers would be toughened up.Mr Brown has sent handwritten letters to the politicians smeared in the e-mails, expressing his regret for what had happened and telling them that the rules for political special advisers would be toughened up.
But the move failed to quell the anger among senior Conservatives, who stepped up calls for a public apology. But the move failed to quell the anger among senior Conservatives, who called for a "change of culture" at the top of government.
Making a fresh attempt to close down the row, Mr Brown said: "I've said all along that when I saw this I was horrified, I was saddened and I was very angry." Making a fresh attempt to close down the row, Mr Brown said: "I take full responsibility for what happened. That's why the person who was responsible went immediately."
It was important to "reassure people that everything is being done to clean up politics in our country". 'Deep regret'
The prime minister added: "I take full responsibility for what happened. That's why the person responsible went immediately." Speaking on a visit to the Govan shipyard, he said: "I have said all along that, when I saw this first, I was horrified, I was shocked and I was very angry indeed.
"I think the most important thing we do is reassure people everything is being done to clean up politics in our country.
"I wrote to the people who were affected by it and expressed very deep regret for what happened."
Mr Brown is in Glasgow for a special meeting of the Cabinet which focused on the economy.
He said: "We have now got to get on with the job of creating opportunities for people and apprenticeships, creating new work and, of course, getting a budget for jobs."
The e-mails at the centre of the row contained allegations about Tory leader David Cameron and shadow chancellor George Osborne and others which, it was suggested, could be published on a planned Labour-backed gossip website called Red Rag, which was never launched.
Mr Draper has said he "deeply" regrets responding to Mr McBride's e-mail and was considering resigning from his role running LabourList, a Labour-supporting website.
On Wednesday, in an e-mail to members of Labour's National Executive Committee, the party's general secretary, Ray Collins, said Mr Draper - who had offered "advice and opinion on an ad hoc basis" - would not be asked for either again.