Alastair Campbell told the crowd: ‘Unite behind Gordon to win’. But can they?

Fraser Nelson

09 May 2007

Fraser Nelson says that the departure of Tony Blair and the arrival of Gordon Brown will mark a clear-out of personnel and a marked change in style. The risk is that the new Prime Minister becomes a force for division and the object of derision

This is already causing some controversy, as Mr McBride is known for being a little too enthusiastic in his pursuit of enemies, real or perceived. While tales of Alastair Campbell’s bullying were common coin in Fleet Street, tales of Mr McBride’s work tend to be less widely circulated. But one was made public on Tuesday night at the leaving party for Anthony Browne, who has just stepped down as chief political correspondent of the Times to run the Policy Exchange think tank. It is a useful glimpse of the Chancellor’s tactics.

Mr Browne had asked for a Treasury comment on his paper’s scoop that the Chancellor had been warned in advance by officials about the damage his 1997 pensions fund raid would do. The reply came by text message from Mr McBride, and instantly presupposed a vendetta on Mr Browne’s part: ‘I suppose your, er, “new” Tory employers will be delighted so I can see why you personally are trying to turn it into something. Disgusting, really, for someone being paid by a so-called paper of record.’

A second text message followed. ‘I just wish for once you’d try to get past your cynical, Tory, halfwit Harold Lloyd schtick to try and be a genuine journalist. It’s presumably cos of your inability to do so that you’re off to earn a crust at some Tory think tank instead. Pathetic.’ As the bespectacled Mr Browne read all this out during his leaving speech there were intakes of breath, even among the journalist present. The era of hardball and spin is to outlive Mr Blair.

While charm may not be one of Mr McBride’s strong points, few dispute that he serves the Chancellor well. While he fires abuse at journalists he regards as dispensable, he is courteous and helpful to those with whom he has a relationship. You are in or out: nothing in between. There is no Big Tent with this spin doctor. ‘They may call him McPoison, but he is still a very effective operator,’ says one Westminster insider. And this is why he is likely to be at the centre of Mr Brown’s communications machine — though perhaps banned from electronic communication.