Alastair Campbell: Brown should apologise
James Forsyth 12:39pm
Another interesting post from Tony Blair’s spin man about what Gordon Brown should do about his cocking up so badly:
Also, note the implicit condemnation of the way the Brownites operate in Campbell’s description of the affair as an “unwanted if not entirely unexpected event.” Campbell recommends that Brown should get it all out there as soon as possible:“So, on doing the right thing, there is the question of Cameron's call for an apology. There may be politics attached to it, but it is worth asking the question - if a Tory spin doctor had been found to be planning smears against the families of Labour politicians, would we have asked for, and expected, an apology? I think the answer is yes.
...
the public has to see that when GB says he condemns this type of politics, he really means it.”
This seems to strongly imply that Campbell thinks that people other than McBride, Whelan and Draper knew about Red Rag. This story ain't over yet by a long stretch.“This is now one of those stories that will be picked away at until all the loose ends are pulled, so best to get them pulled quickly. For that reason, I hope someone inside No 10 is getting to the very bottom of this episode now.”
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David
April 13th, 2009 12:54pm Report this commentThe ultimate Blairite getting his final revenge?
Wilhelm
April 13th, 2009 12:55pm Report this commentTalk is cheap. anyone can sorry. Draper and the thuggish McBride are sorry because they got caught red handed not because of what they did.
If Hitler said sorry in 1945 would we give him a free pass ? If Broon was truly he'd resign.
kinglear
April 13th, 2009 12:56pm Report this commentIt certainly isn't over. N adine Dorries gives the lie to Draper and McBrides lies of "never supposed to see the light of day" So how come she is asked directly some months ago by a newspaper if the smear about her is true?
John Wilkes
April 13th, 2009 1:07pm Report this commentA point of some significance regarding the lunch at Chequers is that it was 12 days after the Red Rag blog site was registered. As it is obvious that Draper had a hand in this, are we expected to believe that it was not the subject of discussion? It demonstrates the fundamental point - if Gordon Brown didn't discuss this strategy and planning with Damian McBride, what did he discuss?
Nicholas
April 13th, 2009 1:13pm Report this comment"This story ain't over yet by a long stretch."
Despite the fact that BBC News24 is trying to bury it and generally the BBC seem to think that interviewing only Labour politicians trying to defend the indefensible is an unbiased approach.
boulay
April 13th, 2009 1:19pm Report this commentcome on journo's - ask for a statement from ed balls about how much he knew. we know from maguire from the mirror that balls was part of the wednesday gang so he must have either
a) asked mcpoison what a civil servant paid for by the tax-payer was doing involving himself in party political work
b) been complicit in the purpose of pretty low labour party propaganda using tax-payer funded staff
or c) been completely stupid/naive/incompetent at examining and analysing situations as to make him unfit for holding an office of state.
pressure ed balls please - i think if you follow the story it will stick to him
ps, will the labour party be refunding the tax-payer for party political work carried out by a civil servant???
Susan Hill
April 13th, 2009 1:30pm Report this commentHeadless chickens. Goodness this is fun to watch.
John Page
April 13th, 2009 2:39pm Report this commentPleased to see you say it's not over.
WATO went with the Ministerial Code on Special Advisers. Nadine Dorries reports the BBC is coming under legal pressure. Guido says the govt is also applying pressure to the BBC (who should tell them to FO).
Grunt
April 13th, 2009 2:50pm Report this comment"Do we want to tip off anyone about Red Rag having set up? Walters? I could do it and say LabouLlist had been sent the link anonymously."
Who is Walters?
johnny come lately
April 13th, 2009 4:02pm Report this commentOne of the biggest laughs must be PoliticsHome's Andrew Rawnsley that scion of political thinkers
/writers/presenters has not said a word.
He's on his easter hols!
meditating in a monastry no doubt. The Abbotts Head?
He knows how to miss the small stories!
Daniel1979
April 14th, 2009 11:28am Report this commentSounds to me like Campbell can see an opportunity to get at some people inside Downing Street who he has himself clashed with himself in the past.
Fred
April 14th, 2009 4:53pm Report this commentGB is the Captain of the Titanic
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