Removing McBride from the front-line will leave Brown weaker
Fraser Nelson 11:43amDamian McBride’s reported departure should be seen as a major part of today’s reshuffles. He has for years been Brown’s real “enforcer”, and - as Martin Bright argued - became a focal point amongst ministers who suspected he was briefing against anyone who defied his master. He was referred to as “McPoison” by none other than Peter Mandelson, so I link Mandy’s return and McBride’s departure - because Mandy knows the real power of spin doctors, would rightly see McBride as one of his major enemies and demand his head as the price of returning to government.
Without McBride, Brown’s media operation will take a major hit. McBride was very effective operator, serving up high value detail for the journalists he was on speaking terms with. He worked tirelessly for his master and, like Mandy, knew the Black Arts as well as anyone. I hold no brief for him, having been a subject of the various tactics he uses against enemy journalists: the “who do you think you are” emails and his “why do you employ a clueless loser like Nelson” rants to my more senior colleagues. His rage emails were great fun to reprint, so I will miss him from that perspective. But for all his ills, he was one of the strongest operators Brown had. If McBride is gone, as looks likely, Brown will all the weaker for it.
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C Powell
October 3rd, 2008 11:56am Report this commentSo "forward to the past" with Brown. Why on earth does he think that bringing back that sanctimonious cow, Beckett, and sleazy, self-satisfied Mandelson (who had to resign twice from the Cabinet) will make him - or Labour - look like change, God knows.
Every time Mandelson opens his mouth about the mortgage pain people are suffering, the Tories - or the press - will be able to mention his own strange mortgage arrangements, the way he lived beyond his means, his enormous tax-free salary and expenses from the EU etc... He will remind people of all that they loathed about Blair and Labour's cosying up to the rich to no very good purpose for the rest of us. Sheesh...!
It seems to me that Brown has misread the mood: we understand that we - as a nation - have lived beyond our means and need to have a sensible sober competent honest Government to clear up the mess and set us on the right track. By bringing back Mandy Brown gives out all the wrong signals on this and shows that spin and being nasty to opponents is all he's concerned about.
Faceless Bureaucrat
October 3rd, 2008 12:03pm Report this commentBrown will rue the day he fired McBride just to appease Mandy. Whatever McBride's faults, he was loyal to the PM in a way that few (if any) others in the 'Bunker' or wider Party were. Mind you, as venal and treacherous as Mandelson is, McBride is a class operator and has buried many bodies that Mandy will have no knowledge of. This could get very interesting...
sam
October 3rd, 2008 12:07pm Report this commentInteresting.
May we please see examples of these emails ?
Thank you.
oldtimer
October 3rd, 2008 1:40pm Report this commentThe return of Madelson will surely put a smile on the face of Rory Bremner. When can we expect a new series?
The Laughing Cavalier
October 3rd, 2008 4:22pm Report this commentIt isn't just McBride but the whole lot of 'em who are poisonous. Yes, the caricaturists will have a great time with this venomous crew but the rest of us will suffer.
Arthur
October 3rd, 2008 7:34pm Report this comment“why do you employ a clueless loser like Nelson”
Is there anything better that exemplifies the appalling character of this lot? It is shaming that people like this hold such senior positions. I grieve for the loss of manners and civility at the heart of government.
Hadrian
October 3rd, 2008 10:20pm Report this commentThe return of the Mandelson is surely a huge own-goal? One has merely to see his mug to shudder at all that sums up what we, the long-suffering public, leftish as well as rightish, regard as the most repugnant aspects of cynical politicians. Certainly Brown has made I believe a hug tactical error in bringing back this amoral, creepy, egomaniac.
As for McBride's rants at 'loser Nelson', I think time will amply vindicate our hero!
TGF UKIP
October 3rd, 2008 11:21pm Report this commentC Powell, agreed your points on Mandelson, but when have the Cameron Tories demonstrated the appetite or ability to get stuck in on such issues?
Hadrian
October 4th, 2008 11:32pm Report this commentTGF UKIP-
It has to be admitted the Cameronites ( not 'Cameronians' who were 16thC truest blue Presbyterians) have been reluctant to carry the baner for many of the traditional Tory 'ideals' such as Law and Order, Merit, anti- centralist imperialistic, EU bureauocracy etc. By dint of changed circumstances and hard reality setting in for this generation I suspect they will inevitably need to tackle these issues whether they like it or not. I admire UKIP but feel a vote for it just weakens the main anti-socialist concentration of power- the Tories.
Hadrian
October 4th, 2008 11:43pm Report this comment...and more to the point about Damian's departure and his 'loser' jibes, I think Fraser can console himself with the hilarious thought that he apparently, according to blogg I've just been reading, is a 'gay icon', something I suspect Damian could never aspire to, lacking those dashing, drop dead looks of yours and that ready rapier wit and devastating charm that even could reduce Hazel Blears to speechlessness, Fraser boy!
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