McBride: Blame Guido, not me
Fraser Nelson 8:43pmMcBride's resignation statement is in, and true to character he has decided not to skulk off home apologetically. It was all the wicked Guido, he says. 'All I was doing was having a bit of a laugh with my mate Derek. As an upstanding member of the community, I am morally sickened that the wretched Guido has publicised these malicious rumours about the nice Mr Cameron...’ In fact, my paraphrasing doesn't do justice to his real words. Here they are:-
“I am shocked and appalled that, however they were obtained, these emails have been put into the public domain by Paul Staines. When Derek Draper originally suggested using a website to compete with the kind of material seen regularly on the Guido Fawkes blog, he asked me in a personal capacity to write up some of the stories doing the rounds in Westminster. Derek and I decided in the end that this website was the wrong thing to do, and that Derek should not take his online efforts down to the level of Guido Fawkes and his Tory backers. I have already apologised for the inappropriate and juvenile content of my emails, and the offence they have caused, but I did not want these stories in the public domain - it is because Paul Staines has put them there, and I am sickened that he has done so. However, we all know that when a backroom adviser becomes the story, their position becomes untenable, so I have willingly offered my resignation. It has been an absolute privilege to work for Gordon Brown and the Labour Government in the Treasury and in Downing Street, they will always have my full support, and I regret any embarrassment I have caused them.”
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Ben
April 11th, 2009 8:54pm Report this commentYou have to love Guido. He should be on a plinth in Trafalgar Square.
West Brom Blogger
April 11th, 2009 8:57pm Report this commentCan you credit it? I can't believe McBride has the cheek to say he is "sickened" that someone has brought his misdemeanours into the public gaze.
Melville
April 11th, 2009 9:00pm Report this comment"He had a hard job at a difficult time, but occasionally Mr McBride took the mythology of a hard-bitten, tough-talking attack dog just a mite too seriously."
Times, 4 October 2008
don
April 11th, 2009 9:03pm Report this commentThe fact of the matter is that McBride is a civil servent. Under no circumstances does what he has done fall within the civil service code. He should have been sacked on that point alone.
Chuck Unsworth
April 11th, 2009 9:07pm Report this comment'Only having a laugh'? This man is a senior Civil Servant, directly answering to the Prime Minister and he's just 'having a laugh' with one of his 'mates', a discredited blogger? You bet.
I want my taxes back right now.
Believe me, McBride is not half as 'sickened' as I am.
RW
April 11th, 2009 9:08pm Report this commentNothing would shock and appall this alleged Government more than that members of the public, the common herd, should actually get to see its inner workings.
We the voters (23% of whom voted Labour in 2005, incidentally) are not here to speculate. We are here to offer obeisance to these great political masters who in their all-seeing wisdom determine our future. To give blind unthinking acquiescence to their immense waste and misuse of our money, and bow down to their ever increasing restriction of our common liberties.
God forbid that the hoi polloi should ever hear of the viciously corrupt inner workings of New Labour. We're not here to know anything or express doubts.
We're not here to expect New Labour to govern fairly and properly on behalf of all the citizens of this country. We're here to pay up, shut up and obey orders.
Cato
April 11th, 2009 9:09pm Report this commentYup, he was having so much of a laugh with Dolly that he copied Tom Watson into the e-mails
Tiberius
April 11th, 2009 9:12pm Report this commentWell for all the cool and "don't mess with me" that one is told surrounds McBride, he didn't learn the lesson that was taught to Jo Moore on 9/11.
And his statement broadcasts the fact that he's just a Big Girl.
Alex
April 11th, 2009 9:12pm Report this commentGuido - well done.
Fantastic job
A J Scott
April 11th, 2009 9:21pm Report this commentDoes McBride have any pension entitlement? If so, I trust it will be forfeit on his resignation.
Denis Cooper
April 11th, 2009 9:21pm Report this commentCould he now be exposed to prosecution for misuse of public resources?
The common law offence of "misconduct in public office":
http://www.cps.gov.uk/legal/l_to_o/misconduct_in_public_office/index.html
"The elements of misconduct in public office are:
a) A public officer acting as such.
b) Wilfully neglects to perform his duty and/or wilfully misconducts himself.
c) To such a degree as to amount to an abuse of the public's trust in the office holder.
d) Without reasonable excuse or justification."
Maximum sentence is life imprisonment, but I should think six months would be enough to teach others that they shouldn't steal from the taxpayer.
Also:
http://www.parliament.uk/commons/lib/research/briefings/snpc-04909.pdf
has a fascinating table on page 9, showing an increase in successful prosecutions in recent years.
Platosays
April 11th, 2009 9:26pm Report this commenthahahhaahahaha
Bernard from Horsham
April 11th, 2009 9:27pm Report this commentMcBride should be hung out to dry, to try and blame someone else for his disgusting e mails is incredible.
Susan Hill
April 11th, 2009 9:42pm Report this commentMaybe he thinks it`s April 1st
Tim Ireland
April 11th, 2009 9:45pm Report this commentI can't believe that Paul Staines would claim to be sickened by McBride's antics.
Alf Tupper
April 11th, 2009 9:47pm Report this commentNine of the last ten entries are about this backroom shuffling.
Is this what political comment has become in this country?
Isn't there anything more deserving of your attentions than this squalid inconsequence?
Korenwolf
April 11th, 2009 9:53pm Report this comment"I've had got away with it too if it wasn't for those meddling kids"
Nick
April 11th, 2009 10:04pm Report this commentGordon Brown will rue the day he didn't actually sack Damian McBride and allowed him to resign......
He's not, after all, a 22 year old SpAd who got a little carried away after a few pints at Portcullis House Arms.....
Colin
April 11th, 2009 10:29pm Report this commentThe labour party should pick up the tab for mcbride.
Thomas Cussans
April 11th, 2009 10:33pm Report this commentIt is 'an absolute privilege' to see you go, Damien.
Toodle pip, old cake.
Nicholas
April 11th, 2009 11:36pm Report this commentWell, apart from the two deluded chumps on here trying to defend the indefensible the general reaction seems to be one of complete disgust at McBride and his co-conspirators.
The resignation statement will be a lasting tribute to his mean-minded nastiness. A nasty piece of work entirely representative of the real nasty party.
hadrian
April 11th, 2009 11:59pm Report this commentThe usual, interminable sleaze that erodes parliamentary authority in the public's perception.
Anan
April 12th, 2009 1:33am Report this commentOMG BAD NEWS FRASER!!!!! That guy on Sky News, whats his name, you know, Gandalf's brother with the big head, the multitude of magic rings, and the compulsive spell-casting arm and finger waving actions, displayed THIS VERY page with your name clearly shown, and said in his report tonight: "David Cameron's friends are not happy."
DUN DUN DUN. He called you Dave's FRIEND. Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear. Please Frasy, take it easy, its OK, calm down, take a stress pill, its a compliment to be called Dave's friend, even though you are jealous of him.
Martyn Richard Jones
April 12th, 2009 3:46am Report this commentBlogger wars, how thoroughly interesting.
Michael Greaves
April 12th, 2009 6:32am Report this commentOne factor being obscured by the unpleasantness of this ZANU Labour plot is the role played by the Spectator's stable mate, the Telegraph, who, for reasons of their own, were yesterday aiding and abetting McBride to spin his way out of trouble.
I have been a reader (and, more importantly to the Barclay Brothers, a purchaser) of the DT since the 1960s. It will never cross my threshold again.
RW
April 12th, 2009 10:26am Report this commentMartyn Richard Jones, you clearly have two special skills, with which this Government will be delighted:
(a) Completely missing the point.
(b) Believing official propaganda.
Gordon will be *so* pleased with you. You're exactly the kind of voter on whom he depends.
This is nothing to do with "blogger wars" and evrything to do with a Labour Party which lacks moral scruples, and has confused its own interest with that of the country it pretends to govern.
This shouldn't make you sneer. It should make you worry, deeply.
seb
April 12th, 2009 10:45am Report this commentThe personality disorder that compels 'gents' like Damian and Dolly to carry out or at least plot crimes and misdemeanours seems not to preclude their feeling sick at being found out. Diddums.
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