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Labour conference: Damian McBride defends memoirs Labour conference: Damian McBride defends memoirs
(about 1 hour later)
Gordon Brown's former spin doctor has defended writing about his attacks on the ex-PM's opponents, saying Labour must "learn lessons from his mistakes".Gordon Brown's former spin doctor has defended writing about his attacks on the ex-PM's opponents, saying Labour must "learn lessons from his mistakes".
Damian McBride told BBC Two's Newsnight that many in the party regarded him as a "traitor" for serialising his memoirs during its annual conference.Damian McBride told BBC Two's Newsnight that many in the party regarded him as a "traitor" for serialising his memoirs during its annual conference.
But he said he hoped they would help Labour "exorcise demons" and move on from "destructive" feuds of the past.But he said he hoped they would help Labour "exorcise demons" and move on from "destructive" feuds of the past.
Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls said Mr McBride had been a "law unto himself".Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls said Mr McBride had been a "law unto himself".
Mr McBride has admitted to leaking details about the personal lives of Labour ministers seen as a threat to Gordon Brown's ambitions to replace Tony Blair as prime minister after the 2005 election.Mr McBride has admitted to leaking details about the personal lives of Labour ministers seen as a threat to Gordon Brown's ambitions to replace Tony Blair as prime minister after the 2005 election.
The revelations, published in the Daily Mail, have caused anger among senior Labour figures past and present, providing a reminder of the bitter divisions during the Blair-Brown years.The revelations, published in the Daily Mail, have caused anger among senior Labour figures past and present, providing a reminder of the bitter divisions during the Blair-Brown years.
'Sobering reminder''Sobering reminder'
In his first broadcast interview since the serialisation began, Mr McBride defended its timing, suggesting such books "always come out at conference season" and it would have done more damage if it had been published closer to the next election.In his first broadcast interview since the serialisation began, Mr McBride defended its timing, suggesting such books "always come out at conference season" and it would have done more damage if it had been published closer to the next election.
"In opposition, any sense of disunity or disagreement between Miliband and Balls - any repeat of the Blair-Brown feud - would be fatal to Labour's election chances," he said."In opposition, any sense of disunity or disagreement between Miliband and Balls - any repeat of the Blair-Brown feud - would be fatal to Labour's election chances," he said.
"If anything, I hope my book will act as a sobering reminder of those risks.""If anything, I hope my book will act as a sobering reminder of those risks."
Mr McBride acknowledged his part in the "hugely destructive" infighting which scarred Labour's thirteen years in office, particularly during Mr Blair's last years in No 10. Mr McBride acknowledged his part in the "hugely destructive" infighting that scarred Labour's 13 years in office, particularly during Mr Blair's last years in No 10.
He added: "I know many people in the Labour movement think I'm a traitor for publishing a book lifting the lid on some of that feuding, especially at party conference.He added: "I know many people in the Labour movement think I'm a traitor for publishing a book lifting the lid on some of that feuding, especially at party conference.
"But I believe if Labour's going to avoid repeating its mistakes it's got to learn from its past, exorcise its demons, and make sure that when it says those days are over, it means it." "But I believe if Labour's going to avoid repeating its mistakes, it's got to learn from its past, exorcise its demons, and make sure that when it says those days are over, it means it."
The book's revelations include claims that Mr McBride:The book's revelations include claims that Mr McBride:
He suggests that Mr Brown was aware of his methods and had given his unspoken approval.He suggests that Mr Brown was aware of his methods and had given his unspoken approval.
'Unconscionable''Unconscionable'
Mr McBride has also attempted to implicate Mr Miliband in the spin culture that prevailed in parts of the Labour government, suggesting he might "have problems" if email exchanges between Mr Miliband and spin doctor Derek Draper came to light.Mr McBride has also attempted to implicate Mr Miliband in the spin culture that prevailed in parts of the Labour government, suggesting he might "have problems" if email exchanges between Mr Miliband and spin doctor Derek Draper came to light.
Mr Miliband has insisted that although he knew negative briefings were going on, he did not approve of them and had urged Mr Brown to get rid of his aide.Mr Miliband has insisted that although he knew negative briefings were going on, he did not approve of them and had urged Mr Brown to get rid of his aide.
Speaking on Monday, Mr Balls - a close ally of Mr Brown when he was chancellor and prime minister -said "many people", including himself, were unaware of what Mr McBride had been up to. Speaking on Monday, Mr Balls - a close ally of Mr Brown when he was chancellor and prime minister - said "many people", including himself, were unaware of what Mr McBride had been up to.
"What Damian McBride did was wrong and, to be honest, unconscionable," he told BBC News."What Damian McBride did was wrong and, to be honest, unconscionable," he told BBC News.
"I have never seen people behave in this way - personal, nasty, smeary, made-up stories. I think it is hideous and people are shocked by it.""I have never seen people behave in this way - personal, nasty, smeary, made-up stories. I think it is hideous and people are shocked by it."
He suggested journalists, as well as politicians, needed to "break out of the off-the-record, source-based smear culture and all of us have to say that has to change in the future".He suggested journalists, as well as politicians, needed to "break out of the off-the-record, source-based smear culture and all of us have to say that has to change in the future".
The full interview with Damian McBride will be broadcast on BBC Two's Newsnight at 22.30 BST. Meanwhile, Conservative MP Alun Cairns has called for the police to investigate whether Mr McBride may have broken the Official Secrets Act and the Computer Misuse Act.
Mr Cairns has written to Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe after Mr McBride admitted in his book that he accessed Gordon Brown's email account without authorisation.
Another Tory MP, Henry Smith, demanded that Mr McBride be stripped of his civil service pension if he was found to have breached the civil service code and the special advisers code of conduct.
The full interview with Damian McBride will be broadcast on BBC Two's Newsnight at 22:30 BST.