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Sunday 22 November 2009

A Blogger's Notebook

18 April 2009

Guido Fawkes outlines his role in the downfall of Damian McBride

Having sat patiently on a barrel of digital dynamite for months — the emails from Gordon Brown’s chief spin doctor Damian McBride to Mandelson’s protégé Derek Draper, suggesting Tory smear stories — I light the fuse on Andrew Neil’s BBC Daily Politics show. In an unedifying squabble, I succeed in stitching up the once again infamous Draper on live TV, forcing him to deny that he takes briefings from McBride. Viewers at home may be baffled as to why I am determined to talk about Draper’s relationship with McBride. They may also be bemused by my unflattering Berkeley University T-shirt. The reason for this is to wind up Draper even more: Berkeley featured on his CV, despite him not graduating from that institution. After the show I publicise on my blog a Freedom of Information request for emails between McBride and Draper.

Chris Hope is a Telegraph journalist I have worked with in the past: he took the credit for our investigation into the Smith Institute that resulted in Gordon Brown’s favourite think-tank getting restructured by the Charity Commission. I meet Chris in El Vino’s promising another scoop, Non-Disclosure Agreement in hand. Bloody Mary for me, milky coffee for him. He is stunned. ‘Are they genuine?’ he asks, five times. He makes notes. The Bloody Mary emboldens me. A figure of £20,000 is discussed. On a whim I text Damian McBride, just for the hell of it: ‘So the choice is (a) lie (b) deny (c) email a friend. Too late to press delete and (c) got you in the hole in the first place. Guido.’ Later I call a contact at the News of the World. He seems interested. He calls back. They are very interested. When can I come over to Wapping? I call the Sunday Times — might as well pay them a visit too, if I am going to be in Wapping. They email back the Non-Disclosure Agreement. I send them a descriptive note. They are keen too. A few minutes later my News of the World contact’s boss calls and starts ranting at me — what the hell am I doing negotiating with the Sunday Times as well? So much for the NDA.

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savage

April 16th, 2009 11:22am Report this comment

Thank you. I'm sorry it ended up costing you, but I'm sure you know it was worth it. Keep going (at all parties including MSM).

Johan

April 16th, 2009 12:05pm Report this comment

Thank you Guido. I hope this goes on to cost Chris Hope a little something too - he's already lost my respect, not that he'll give a damn.

squealer

April 16th, 2009 12:30pm Report this comment

Hahah so you did want to make money out of this. Oh well.

Patrick

April 16th, 2009 12:43pm Report this comment

I followed with great interest this story as it proceeded on your blog. Nice to know a bit of the background. For all our sakes keep at it.

Ecko

April 16th, 2009 12:55pm Report this comment

Oh, don't be sanctimonous, the poor git hangs his neck out for the rest of us day by day.

overweight slobs rule the uk

April 16th, 2009 2:36pm Report this comment

He's almost as likeable as Draper and McBride

Pip Gold

April 16th, 2009 2:59pm Report this comment

Reading that last bit I just barked out laughing and terrified the dog.

Katabasis

April 16th, 2009 3:20pm Report this comment

Well done Guido. I'm with you. Many others are too.

Another major battle won. Eventually we'll win the war.

Craig Strachan

April 16th, 2009 3:39pm Report this comment

So, Paul - how does it feel to be the Susan Boyle of journalism?

oneuniverse

April 16th, 2009 5:16pm Report this comment

Well done, well done!

Ed the Shred

April 16th, 2009 5:58pm Report this comment

Great to have this additional background Guido. Loved the ITN Draper confusion anecdote.

It is clear that you are feeling a bit miffed at Chris Hope running the DT spoiler on Saturday (NDA notwithstanding). However do you feel, in retrospect, that the spoiler actually helped build anticipation and momentum to the story? I think it did.

The Admirer

April 16th, 2009 6:55pm Report this comment

Suberb. And thanks for the insight. Been following on your Blog, Oh National Treasure.

Joe Public

April 16th, 2009 8:24pm Report this comment

Did you say "Sorry" to Dolly about ruining his holiday?

City of Vice

April 16th, 2009 9:12pm Report this comment

Well done Guido. These cowardly MSM lobby journalist types have been lying to us for years, by allowing the government to lie to us for years, in their grovelling over scraps from the table of No 10. Yet now that you've done the heaving lifting they seek to take the credit and cast aspersions as to the quality of your work. Well, speaking as 'a man in the street', I would like thank you for your efforts, and stick a virtual two fingers up at the craven lobby 'journalist' lickspittles.

Stewart

April 17th, 2009 3:04am Report this comment

Unlucky about the money. However, I'm sure you'd be within your rights to increase your advertising rates on your website after this story. Well done on helping to tip those rotters in government over the edge. Keep it up and watch your back.

James R

April 17th, 2009 5:08am Report this comment

I think they nearly lost him at 'How soon can you come over to Wapping?'
The appropriate response to which question would have been: 'Listen carefully, my man, I'm presently sat over a large one at El Vino's. I'm the tall geezer with the pointy hat down in the basement. Now how soon can YOU get YOURself over HERE?'

Canary Wharf Rat

April 17th, 2009 3:48pm Report this comment

Easter weekend marked a turning point and we have you to thank. Not only did you expose the low and murky depths this administration will plumb, you also made a whole country aware that we do have an alternative to the shite we have to swallow from the "mainstream" new media.
That fact will change the face of Politics in this country forever. The control freaks are fast losing control. Power to the people.