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Gordon Brown's press secretary: 'I was cruel, thoughtless and vindictive' Damian McBride: 'I was cruel, thoughtless and vindictive'
(about 9 hours later)
Damian McBride, the former press secretary to Gordon Brown, admits he routinely destroyed Brown's rivals by briefing about their sexual affairs, alcoholism or internal political rivalries. He also reveals that he planted moles in the Labour party to spy on rivals, and accepts at times he became "a cruel vindictive and thoughtless bastard".Damian McBride, the former press secretary to Gordon Brown, admits he routinely destroyed Brown's rivals by briefing about their sexual affairs, alcoholism or internal political rivalries. He also reveals that he planted moles in the Labour party to spy on rivals, and accepts at times he became "a cruel vindictive and thoughtless bastard".
McBride, one of the most influential behind-the-scenes figures in Labour politics of the past decade, claims Brown never asked about his methods.McBride, one of the most influential behind-the-scenes figures in Labour politics of the past decade, claims Brown never asked about his methods.
The former press secretary – in confessional mode in his book Power Trip: A Decade of Policy, Plots and Spin, which is serialised by the Daily Mail – admits that he behaved appallingly and says at times he could not live with himself and should have resigned. "Instead I shrugged and carried on becoming more and more detached, and losing all sense of judgment."The former press secretary – in confessional mode in his book Power Trip: A Decade of Policy, Plots and Spin, which is serialised by the Daily Mail – admits that he behaved appallingly and says at times he could not live with himself and should have resigned. "Instead I shrugged and carried on becoming more and more detached, and losing all sense of judgment."
Alastair Campbell, press secretary to Tony Blair, challenged McBride to reveal whether he was planning to keep the money from the serialisation paid by Associated Newspapers, or whether he would be handing the cash to the Labour party.Alastair Campbell, press secretary to Tony Blair, challenged McBride to reveal whether he was planning to keep the money from the serialisation paid by Associated Newspapers, or whether he would be handing the cash to the Labour party.
McBride said the "dark" world of politics encourages vanity, duplicity, greed, hypocrisy and cruelty, and confessed that he was "sucked in like a concubine at a Roman orgy". The revelations about the warped and bitter mentality of those closest to Brown during his time as chancellor and prime minister will do little to help Ed Miliband ahead of his party conference. Questions are bound to be asked whether he or the shadow chancellor Ed Balls knew about the McBride's methods. McBride, who now works for a Catholic aid agency, writes in his book: "Some people will undoubtedly wonder why – if Gordon knew I was guilty of misbehaviour – he never either formally reined me in or had me moved on.McBride said the "dark" world of politics encourages vanity, duplicity, greed, hypocrisy and cruelty, and confessed that he was "sucked in like a concubine at a Roman orgy". The revelations about the warped and bitter mentality of those closest to Brown during his time as chancellor and prime minister will do little to help Ed Miliband ahead of his party conference. Questions are bound to be asked whether he or the shadow chancellor Ed Balls knew about the McBride's methods. McBride, who now works for a Catholic aid agency, writes in his book: "Some people will undoubtedly wonder why – if Gordon knew I was guilty of misbehaviour – he never either formally reined me in or had me moved on.
"And my answer to that is simply that there was something unspoken between us … the unspoken word was from me to him, and said: 'Don't question my methods'.""And my answer to that is simply that there was something unspoken between us … the unspoken word was from me to him, and said: 'Don't question my methods'."
The former press secretary, who knew both Balls and Miliband for many years before they became frontline party figures, claims: "It's hard to listen to any of Ed Miliband's occasionally tortured, over-academic speeches without hearing his father's voice, especially when he talks about recasting the capitalist model and re-shaping society through the empowerment of ordinary people.The former press secretary, who knew both Balls and Miliband for many years before they became frontline party figures, claims: "It's hard to listen to any of Ed Miliband's occasionally tortured, over-academic speeches without hearing his father's voice, especially when he talks about recasting the capitalist model and re-shaping society through the empowerment of ordinary people.
"And that's not just about Ed's politics; it's also undoubtedly central to how he explains to himself and to the rest of his family why he challenged his older brother for the Labour leadership."And that's not just about Ed's politics; it's also undoubtedly central to how he explains to himself and to the rest of his family why he challenged his older brother for the Labour leadership.
"What better reason than needing to achieve his father's vision and ensure David Miliband did not traduce it? An act of supposed disloyalty to his brother becomes transformed in his mind into the ultimate act of tribute to his father.""What better reason than needing to achieve his father's vision and ensure David Miliband did not traduce it? An act of supposed disloyalty to his brother becomes transformed in his mind into the ultimate act of tribute to his father."
He claims that Miliband in private provided a shoulder to cry on for people when they felt criticised by Balls.He claims that Miliband in private provided a shoulder to cry on for people when they felt criticised by Balls.
He also revealed that Brown decided to back Miliband for the Labour leadership late on when he knew Balls could not win and there was a danger that David Miliband might succeed, especially if he might form a late alliance with Balls. He recalls: "Gordon and others close to him urged me that – if I had any influence over Ed Balls or his team – I should tell him he had to reject any deal offered by David, and instead pursue the same deal with Ed Miliband. It would be 'madness', they said."He also revealed that Brown decided to back Miliband for the Labour leadership late on when he knew Balls could not win and there was a danger that David Miliband might succeed, especially if he might form a late alliance with Balls. He recalls: "Gordon and others close to him urged me that – if I had any influence over Ed Balls or his team – I should tell him he had to reject any deal offered by David, and instead pursue the same deal with Ed Miliband. It would be 'madness', they said."
McBride also goes on to tell how, when the opportunity for Brown to run for leadership eventually arose, he helped destroy Lord Reid who was the final remaining obstacle to Brown's accession.McBride also goes on to tell how, when the opportunity for Brown to run for leadership eventually arose, he helped destroy Lord Reid who was the final remaining obstacle to Brown's accession.
McBride says he started to leak from a "black book" of stories he had gathered about Reid's alleged escapades in the 1980s and 1990s, when he and Brown were both in the Commons. McBride does not disclose details of the stories he had collected but one published at the time included lurid allegations of "drink-fuelled indecent proposals" he allegedly made to one of Brown's closest allies, Dawn Primarolo, who is now deputy speaker of the Commons. Circulation of the story was said to have been key to his decision to pull out of the Labour leadership contest and announce his resignation from the cabinet.McBride says he started to leak from a "black book" of stories he had gathered about Reid's alleged escapades in the 1980s and 1990s, when he and Brown were both in the Commons. McBride does not disclose details of the stories he had collected but one published at the time included lurid allegations of "drink-fuelled indecent proposals" he allegedly made to one of Brown's closest allies, Dawn Primarolo, who is now deputy speaker of the Commons. Circulation of the story was said to have been key to his decision to pull out of the Labour leadership contest and announce his resignation from the cabinet.
"No sooner had the first call been made following the first story I'd given out, than Reid announced he would be resigning," McBride says."No sooner had the first call been made following the first story I'd given out, than Reid announced he would be resigning," McBride says.
A friend of Reid later told McBride he could "call off the dogs now".A friend of Reid later told McBride he could "call off the dogs now".
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