Pressure builds over McBride emails
By politics.co.uk staff
Pressure is building on the government over the emails sent by Damian McBride, with opposition leaders and high-ranking Labour figures publicly expressing anger at the scandal.
Tory leader David Cameron, who was mentioned in the email, said: “We need to get to the bottom of who knew what and when. But what we really need is a change in culture at Number 10.”
Even Alan Milburn, former health secretary, said the affair had inflicted “serious damage” on the Labour government.
The Tories are still demanding an apology from Gordon Brown despite the letters he has written to the Conservatives discussed in Damian McBride’s email.
Tory sources indicated the letters did not contain any apologies, despite the fact Mr Brown “finally recognised the gravity of what’s been happening in Downing Street”.
The prime minister attempted to draw a line under the scandal, which has dominated the news agenda over the Easter holidays, by writing to the Cabinet secretary, Sir Gus O’Donnell, to draw up new rules for special advisors.
Sir Gus has also recieved a letter from shadow Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude asking a series of questions about the culture surrounding the email.
Mr Maude wrote: “The emails sent by Damian McBride raise serious concerns about the operation of 10 Downing Street, and the degree to which the rules about the role of special advisers are being enforced.
“Mr McBride was hardly a peripheral figure. He was personally appointed by the prime minister and directly responsible to him.
“I am sure you will agree that this episode is of fundamental importance to the integrity of the conduct of government, which you have an important role in protecting.”
Many analysts claim reform is unnecessary, after the role of special advisors was looked during Tony Blair’s premiership.
The current code of conduct, for instance, already bans special advisors from using official resources for party political activities.
Paragraph 12 of the rules also states explicitly that special advisors should avoid personal attacks.
Mr Brown’s letters to the people mentioned in Mr McBride’s emails expressed “deep regret” at the incident and stressed that no ministers had been involved.
Tory MP Nadine Dorries complained the letter was unreadable, although this probably has something to do with the thick black pen the prime minister is forced to use due to his poor eyesight.
The Tories are concentrating particularly hard on Tom Watson, who holds the dual role of minister for the civil service and minister for digital dngagement. Mr Watson was referred to in one of the emails.
The Conservatives also want more information on who was aware of efforts to establish a website named Red Rag, on which the smears were to be published.
Communities Secretary Hazel Blears told the BBC: “The emails that were sent by Damian McBride were utterly unacceptable. The prime minister’s made that crystal clear.
“Damian McBride has gone through the door in pretty sharp order. Now that says to me that the prime minister, who knew nothing about these emails, has taken action on every single front here.”
Downing Street admitted this morning the PM had known of the emails on Friday – well before Mr McBride was forced to resign – but that he was not made aware of the nature of their content.
The wife of shadow chancellor George Osborne went to the Press Complaints Committee today to discuss two Sunday newspapers which printed some of the allegations against her.
Mr McBride was forced to resign over the weekend after emails he wrote to former spin doctor Derek Draper about smearing senior members of the Conservative party became public. It was confirmed today he will not recieve any severance pay.
