Lost in the post

Robert Williams

Like 'unsubstantiated claim', Brown's insistence in the use of the wording "PRIVATE emails"(in his letter to Gus) particularly grates.

Nicholas

They were not "private" emails because they were sent as an integral part of McBride's "job" using Downing Street facilities in the context of the "Red Rag" initiative which could hardly be described as a "private" enterprise. The issue is exacerbated by the fact that these emails were more party political than governmental which does raise the issue of Misconduct in Public Office. The nature of McBride's resignation requires a full enquiry by O'Donnell (at least) to determine what exactly was going on. It is very much in the public interest.

By using this carefully connived at wording Brown is digging a bigger hole for himself. The Labour stooges in the civil service and media will also reveal themselves by their obstruction of the natural course of justice.

Nick

Brown is widely regarded as a master tactician, although a poor strategist, but his handling of this crisis has been particularly poor.

Sacking McBride immediately when these revelations came out, making a public apology to those smeared and announcing that he would take whatever actions he was able to shut down Labourlist would have taken a lot of sting out of this affair.

As it is his cack-handed approach, together with the Tories subtley played tactics, have given the story legs and allowed it to become a public debate on the entire vicious approach to politics that Brown has engaged in all through his career.

Marbury

Nadine Dorries's remark about not being able to read Brown's handwriting is deeply unpleasant, and symptomatic of a bullying overtone that accompanies much of the entirely justified criticism of the PM.

JS

Wording of letters is one thing, but I think Nadine Dorries is taking it too far by complaining about his handwriting. He doesn't need to apologise for having trouble seeing the page. He has a very busy schedule, and hers wasn't the only letter he was writing -- he could easily have had them typed for him. I'm sure if there is any confusion over content Downing St. will happily clarify it for her. While I appreciate how angry she must feel, there's no sense in quarrelling for the sake of it.

Denis Cooper

Nicholas

"... obstruction of the natural course of justice".

But maybe justice has not yet started to run its course, because apparently nobody "who matters" wants to start it running.

Not the police, not the CPS, not the Home Secretary, not the Shadow Home Secretary; and, from his article in the Telegraph today, not the Mayor of London, who also chairs the Metropolitan Police Authority.

Some lonely blogger has tried to set it in motion, with a "Formal Request for Criminal Investigation of McBride and Whelan":

http://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2009/04/formal_request.html

but that'll probably be brushed aside, as coming from somebody who is seen as being of no importance.

However ... according to the legal guidance on "Perverting the Course of Justice" on the CPS website:

http://www.cps.gov.uk/legal/p_to_r/public_justice_offences_incorporating_the_charging_standard/index.html#Perverting_the_Course_1:

"The course of justice starts when:-

an event has occurred, from which it can reasonably be expected that an investigation will follow; or ... "

and I would have thought that just such an event has occurred.

Andrew

In fairness to the Great Leader, everybody knows that bad handwriting is a global problem that began in America.

Oscar

But have you read the letter he sent Nadine? The Inland Revenue send more apologetic letters than this and the reference to "prank emails" is horrendous:

“I enclose a letter sent to Gus O’Donnell to revise rules for political advisers. The political adviser concerned has apologised unreservedly and left his post.
He sent these prank emails without the knowledge of anyone in Downing Street.
I understand the embarassment caused, and any activity such as this that affects the reputation of our politics is a matter of great regret to me. As you can see, I have taken action to do all I can to avoid this happening again.”

Dungeekin

PM Seeks Therapy for Speech Impediment:

Gordon Brown has enlisted the help of a therapist to aid him in overcoming a speech impediment, according to Downing Street sources.

The PM has reportedly sought the help of Derek Draper, who was educated somewhere near Berkeley, to help resolve a problem that has been recurring since he took office in 2007.

A source close to Mr Brown said, "Gordon realises that there is a problem he needs to fix, and is getting help to do so. He has an intermittent stutter, which seems to come into play only when he is required to speak or write the word 'sorry'. There's just a mental block there, and the word simply can't get past his lips".

The anonymous source added, "it's even worse when he writes. He tries and tries, but his hand won't work. . . then he swiftly loses both his bladder control and his temper, and smashes yet another mobile".

Derek Draper refused to be drawn on specific cases, but confirmed that he was 'working closely with a senior figure'. Mr Draper said that while the case he was working on was complex and would not be quickly resolved, he hoped to be able to blame the Tories for it within the next six weeks.

lawrence greek

agree with the comments above regarding the handwriting jibe, however this is a married mother of three and the term 'unsubstantiated claim' is frankly insulting. you can see why she is unhappy.

Forlornehope

Frankly, given the nature of the slur on Nadine Dorries, any comment that she makes about Gordon Brown has to be considered reasonable in the circumstances.

Van Helsing

Is it possible, that she couldn't read the handwriting because of a smear.

Chuck Unsworth

Surprising that the letters were not written in crayon.

Howard Somerset

Question to the Prime Minister:
DC "Will the Prime Minister confirm that no mention/discussion of the proposed smear website 'The Red Flag' took place at the lunch at Chequers attended by a Mr Derek Draper and would he further confirm when he first heard about this website?"