Has the damage limitation worked?

Scott

1. The story isn't dead, just sleeping. I expect more email details to be released at the most embarassing moment possible for team Brown.

2. The emails allegedly span more than 2 weeks, not one hour. The Tories have already asked for an assurance that McBride does not return.

3. Follow the money...

The RedRag website has been running for 5 months. Who is paying for it?

Prodicus

Nope.

Draper has 'apologised' to Samantha Cameron. Er... *Samantha* Cameron? For what?

David Cameron challenges Brown to apologise. If he does, he's in trouble. If he doesn't, he's in trouble.

Definitely not over.

C Powell

"McBride's quick departure is designed to stop people asking who these people were."

Don't be so pathetic: you're journalists. Ask the right questions and keep digging.....

AndyLeeds

The whole things says much about Brown. One quickly comes to the conclusion that Brown is nothing more than a talentless thug surrounded by handpicked morons like McPoison. From the comments I hear the public have decided what they think of Brown and Co. I doubt they will change their minds.

strapworld

Mr Nelson, Then it behoves you and your colleagues, who are not part of the Brown's Media Corp to declare what is in all the other, as yet unrevealed, e mails.

Brown cannot be allowed to escape from this.

Cameron should demand copies of all emails from McBride referring to him or any Tory under the freedom of information act!

Make Brown squirm!

ChrisD

Fraser, you got it wrong yesterday, and I am afraid that same is true again today. Guido has already moved the story on a bit today, and no one seems to have noticed it seems.

I knew yesterday by lunchtime if McBride was gone by the time the Sunday's went to press, then those emails had to be truly beyond the pale. But we also forget just how this whole story broke in the DT and the blogsphere on Friday night. Guido hasn't though...

Do you really believe that the man capable of penning those smears could be seen to return to Brown's elbow while he remains PM? That would be tantamount to an acceptance of his behaviour after the event is now in the public domain.

john jones

Well then perhaps you should get your finger out old boy, do some journooolism, dig around the bins and stop them getting off the hook. The way the Media of this country let this sociopath and friends off the hook time and time again is incredible. Does Guido have to do all the heavy lifting? Lucky Woodwood and Bernstein didnt take that approach...'Hey Bob Nixon says he had nothing to do with this breakin thing..Ok Carl lets go for a beer and forgeddaboutit then'.

If not this then ask some bloody questions about where the Abrahams donations story has gone. Do you really believe that the CPS need this long to make a decision???

Grunt

No. Too many people are riled up about it, including many on the Left.

No 10 is mistaken if it thinks this can be brushed aside as the japery of a couple of interns.

But, of course, this mistake is good for the Conservatives as McBride can live another day to royally screw up the election campaign. Hopefully Whelan, Watson and the Unite Union remain on board as well to help propel the Labour Party into well-deserved oblivion.

So yes, the spin operation is working a treat.

Gawain

How depressings ? The rats win again. I suppose we just need to store this away and get ready for the next smearing. At least we know who to watch. I just wish some of the victims could sue. How much could McBride and Draper (or the Labour Party for that matter) afford in court costs and damages. I can remember learning (many, many years ago) that exemplary damages could be awarded for opressive, arbitrary or unconstitutional actions by members of a government. Or there any good lawyers out there ? Perhaps the answer here is the courts. Even if an action wasn't won it would cost these people thousands and might keep the publicity going.

JGS

It would be sad indeed if Labour are allowed to close down this story. We look to class political journalists like yourself to make bloody sure they aren't.

Susan Hill

He`ll be back indeed. Just like Mandelson was and with a fresh coat of paint and some squeaky clean shoes.

ChrisD

"It would be sad indeed if Labour are allowed to close down this story."

Only one group can allow that to happen JGS, and it ain't the government. Come on you political journalists, do your job.

West Morland

Andyleeds. Whatever McBride is, he's no moron. Check out his academic record, look how he's managed to keep the tory press on side. This man was, and is, dangerous. He will be back; Brown simply cannot afford to lose a man of his talents...

Eeyore

I echo what has been said here.

The ref to Watergate is apposite. This is one of those decreasingly rare moments when we little people are entirely at the mercy of whatever lies and distortions our masters care to deploy. Our only sources of hope are (1) decent people inside the NuLab gulag who cannot stand this villainy and leak (at the risk of career destruction) and (2) THE MEDIA - as the fourth estate of the realm, we depend on you to dig, ferret, unearth and tirelessly worry at this.

The prize? The reputation as the journo who brought down a deceitful Prime Minister.

Worthwhile, yes?

GO FOR IT! (Please!)

Alex

Well Fraser, it is down to people like you (ie journalists) to not be lazy and ensure that this story isnt killed off so quickly isn't it?

Tiberius

It simply isn't as easy for the Tories to cash in on this story as some people think. These scandals have become common currency and so fail to have the effect that they would have had pre 1997 (in much the same way as the devaluation of our real currency hasn't brought the Government down as it would have in the past). Draper's "I'm a pretty straight kinda guy" performance on TV today has had the effect of drawing the sting out by boring observers to death with his specious arguments about mates exchanging juvenile messages and him having his e-mails hacked into.

I'm sure Cameron will find a way to link this story to wider Government uselessness when PMQs resumes, and will continue to wage the war of attrition which is seeing his poll lead gradually increase over the Treacherous One.

But because NuLab have a faultlessly rehearsed set of shut down routines for a case like this, the impact will be incremental rather than fatal. Unless, of course, the trail isn't cold, and the bloodhounds do end up sniffing at Brown's aromatic nether regions.

Ctesibius

I think Kevin Maguire has just opened it up again. See Guido

Oscar

This story is far from killed off - it isn't even sleeping. As I type Charles Clarke is laying out his grand plans to clean up British politics with some eloquence. This issue goes to the heart of how politics is conducted. And believe it or not ordinary people do care about these things. Many more of us would vote if trust was restored. Bringing back Damian McBride is the fast way to kill off any hope of that happening.

Ken

According to Dizzy's blog the RedRag website was running on the same platform as Liebour's GoForth blog and was registered by "Ollie Cromwell" who opted not to supply an address (providing false website registrant info is a criminal offence, I understand).

The so-called 60 minute email from McPoison to Drippy was copied to Whelan and to Unite's frontman who was supposed to be the fall guy and responsible for publishing McPoison's venom on Red Rag. That rebuts Liam Byrne's facile BBC statements today and which the uselessly briefed interviewer failed to pick up on.

Somehow don't think this one will disappear by Wednesday provided MSM journos get off Fleet Street barstools and do some flaming work.

What we've seen journalists managing so far is cretinously sloppy and an absolute slur on a once noble profession. well done Guido, Ian and others, apply to the NUJ for honorary press cards, you deserve them.

Meanwhile see here for more apparent Telegraph misdemeanour. How far a once great paper has fallen.
http://my.telegraph.co.uk/guido_fawkes/blog/2009/04/12/telegraph_has_behaved_terribly_over_smeargate

grytpype-thynne

Get the gloves off and kick them where it hurts most!That is the only way to deal with the slimy pondlife of Brown/McBride

ChrisD

Fraser, what happened to my earlier post on this thread?

Nick

I'm not normally one to agree with many of the Coffee Houser's views that Cameron and co should take a more attack-dog approach to dealing with New Labour but Fraser's supine admission that the Damiangate affair is now over is pathetically defeatist.

1) McBride isn't necessarily set for a comeback.
According to the BBC's Westminster Hour programme McBride was sacked, without redundancy pay, and so will find it very hard to make any appearence with the Labour Party before the next election.

2) The central story isn't closed down. Cameron is asking for a personal apology from Gordon Brown. Nadine Norries is consulting her solicitors on Tuesday.

3) Even Labour-supporting blogs regard this as an iconic moment. Hard working Labour activists who knock on doors in all weathers are going to be sickened by these sort of smear activities. Inventing smears against the wives of Cameron and Osborne is also going to provoke the justified ire of the Polly Toynbees and Jackie Ashleys of Labour supporters.

4) Claims that the Tory Party is still the "nasty party" have been completely disproved.

mark

What was Whelan's reaponse when he was copied in? What did he know before he was copied in? And the bloke from Unite? For goodness sake there is an obvious, massive story out there. Ask for the full e-mail exchanged, ask who decided to drop "RedRag" and when.0i read today that Guido is a major scourge of the government "despite his lack of journalistic training". What training do you need to miss an open goal?,?: who was involved and what is the full story?

Austin Barry

No. In bullfighting terms Brown is sprouting painful banderillas on his bloody dung-covered flanks and steaming, heaving and bewildered has entered the "tercio del momento supremo" which will end in his political death. No doubt the puntilla will be plunged into his neck by one of his Cabinet cronies.

wrinkled weasel

I think (hope) you are playing devil's advocate.

I hope you may have a shred of conscience that this story was broken by a lone outsider who was lucky enough to get copied in to some juicy information, but who clearly lacks the resources and the intelligence to work the story.

You, on the other hand, have massive resources, experience and influence, together with a large salary.

Perhaps you might try earning it.

AndyLeeds

West Morland, if he (McPoison) is so brilliant why are Labour running so low in the polls ? And if they are so on top of the game why is it they fear Cameron, Osborne to such an extent that they have to sink to this level ? They frightened perhaps ? And if he is so brilliant why did he use a Government computer - and no ordinary one at that but one in No 10 - and carbon a few of the mates in on the act ? Even your average moron would have done this quietly in the pub and face to face, with no record. He bears out what the doorman at the office use to call his Phd daughters who found it impossible to look up a train timetable: 'educated idiots'.

But to me the whole business reflects on Brown and his mentality. It also shows an administration which is drawn towards its close. And that close can't come a day too soon. The mess Brown has caused will not be sorted out for a generation.

David Ossitt

Fraser.

Has the damage limitation worked?

It had better not have.

Keep it going keep on digging bury them in their own vile mess!

John Page

Guido has amusingly used the Telegraph's blog facility to blog against it.

"There are a lot of bitter, jealous journalists at the Telegraph and you have behaved shamefully over the McBride story. You even tipped off Downing Street in advance as to exactly what I was up to. It reflects on you a lot more than it does on me.

You revealed sources, broke a confidence, breached a signed non-disclosure agreement and behaved like patsys for McBride.

You still failed to spoil the story. Your political team is about as weak as it gets, that is why you sucked up to Downing Street.

The Telegraph was once run by gentlemen for gentlemen. This would never have happened under Deedes or Charles Moore."

http://my.telegraph.co.uk/guido_fawkes/blog/2009/04/12/telegraph_has_behaved_terribly_over_smeargate

The story's dying gasp, or an encouragement to do more? Is this why they're taking on Ben Brogan? Is this what you meant, Fraser, by McBride's links to opposition papers?

On another tack, as we've been discussing on another thread, isn't it more than likely that fuller contents of the emails will "appear" on an overseas site?

Finally, how plausible is it that these two sniggering scumbags just stopped dead in their tracks and reversed of their own accord?

Highly unlikely, it seems to me. Over to the journos.

Are these the only emails to have been mysteriously leaked?

John Page

Oh, and will Nadine Dorries really just go quiet?

Pete Hoskin

ChrisD: I'll take a look for it now.

Pete Hoskin

ChrisD: I've found it in our system, and it should now be appearing above. Apologies for the delay - don't know why it didn't make it through in the first place.

CS

***Does Guido have to do all the heavy lifting?***

Well said, John Jones. A bit more investigative journalism and a few less ivory tower musings on the to and fro of media strategies and narratives would be welcome on Coffee House.

Praguetory

Closing down the story? People in the know have considered supporting Labour to be a matter of deep personal shame for some time. Taken with Jacqui Smith, the public contamination of the Labour brand is almost complete.

ChrisD

Thanks Pete. Have just been catching up with tomorrow's newspapers, and I think that I was right about my initial reaction to Fraser's article.

The story has moved on from McBride, its now about Brown and his political modus operandi and the people that he surrounds himself with.
Jackie Ashley has to have the best line tomorrow in the Guardian.
"It’s too late for the prime minister to shrug off McBride with expressions of surprise and horror, as if he’d been walking around with a portly vulture on his shoulder for years without noticing. McBride was as inner circle as it gets. If the prime minister didn’t know what he was up to, he should have done."

Prodicus

Have you guys completely lost it?

That's twice today you have blogged about giving up on this story. The roar of public disgust with this unprecedentedly egregious evidence of corruption at the very core of Brown's government should be goading you into action - even on a Sunday.

People out here are screaming at you to go get 'em. Yes, you Fraser. Especially you.

I would expect this of the Grauniad, but even Jackie Ashley gets it, for God's sake! What's wrong with you all? Rabbits - headlights? Demoralised because a blogger, an amateur, got the story and you did not? What? What?

I just blogged that the MSM journalists' laziness and their cosiness with political news managers has created the very vacancy which Guido fills (so very well). I thought better of the Speccie. If you lot let this huge scandal fade away at the hands of the Brown-Mandy Machine, you will regret it for the rest of what's left of your professional lives. Do your job or lose your job.

People are angry. You are professionals. Get a grip. Harness the anger. Get the story. Build your circulation. Make your reputations, all over again, as you have to.

But only if you want to, of course.

Fergus Pickering

Why should the good Nadine go quiet?

African Allience

Downing Street is FULL of personality disordered, immoral SLIME. Labour = horrible horrible nasty nasty people.

Summer

Prodicus - Quite right. I support every word.

What is wrong with you Fraser, you're one of the better ones!!

You are surely not missing the fact the the democratic deficit this mess has shown is that our journalists are, as many of us suspected, in the pocket of Labour.

We, not the Government, are your customers - now go and do us a service and find out the story!!!

James C

Craven stuff, Fraser.
Are you a pal of Andrew Porter perchance?
You know, the Telegraph lobby "journalist" who did his best to kill and bury the story on Saturday, but only succeeded in making the Telegraph look like it is in the pocket of the No10 sleazeballs.

strapworld

well, Guido Fawkes revelation about Draper lunching, at Chequers, the weekend after establishing his and McBride's website, ensures that the story takes a further stride directly towards the Prime Minister himself.

Perhaps a Freedom of Information request, Mr Nelson, as to who else was at that luncheon may reveal much for you to write about?

Prodicus

And this morning, Martin Kettle on the Today prog: "What this shows is that the way Gordon Brown does politics is destructive."

*Martin Kettle.* On the BBC. Shortly after Naughtie wrenched the bottle of Bunker-issue salve out of Alan Nice Guy Johnson's face and threw it at him.

So, Fraser, can you see what it is, yet?

EastEndInfidel

I can't believe what I've just read -this article is detached, navel gazing, Westminster Village idiocy in its purest form. Most people outside of that village are disgusted with what McBride was doing at Downing Street, at taxpayers expense, full stop.

This scandal is going to run and run, because of the seedy Downing St culture which cannot change overnight and, as such, Brown's team are incapable of operating in any other way. This is pretty bad news for Brown. Labour's only hope is to use this to fashion a way of dumping Brown, who is an electoral liability.

JONNY

Will Brown apologise?
That's the story Nelson.
Has legs. Will run.
And run. And run.
And the more he won't apologise, the more the Tory bloggers will go to town on McPoison et al.
That should take us nicely up to June 2010.

G Adlam

This has to be your worst judged post I have ever read. Fraser, I believe you are profoundly wrong.

hadrian

This is politics at utter gutter level..no principle, just character assassinations.
And the best way for this to remain a sore in the madman's side is for the intended victims to demand personal apologies. I haven't seen the exact details of what was being alleged but they sound frightful enough for those involved to be boiling in indignation. They must keep that to the fore. I don't think this is Fraser's worst post- after all the point about spinners is they have an uncanny way of spinning out of the spotlight. Blair could do it- indeed he's even yet at it with that repulsive wife of his.