Has the damage limitation worked?

So, has the spin operation worked? McBride’s quick depature had three objectives.

1. Close down the story. This seems to have worked: today’s news doesn’t have many more developments. If tomorrow’s papers have nothing new, then Damiangate may not last until Wednesday. This would be, in the circumstances, the best possible outcome for Brown as there is a far more dangerous aspect to this story as yet unwritten: how the tactics exposed by McBride’s emails (ie, character assassination) were the weapon used by Team Brown to take out his potential rivals for No.10. This time, the Tories were the target – but similar tactics were used to destabilise a long line of former (and some serving) Cabinet members.

2. Position McBride for quick return. Crucially, McBride is only down for a minor offence: sending “juvenile” emails.