14/04/09 - Labour Smear Campaign

Conservatives continue to demand an apology from Gordon Brown over e-mails sent by a former Downing Street adviser attempting to smear various senior Conservative MPs.

These emails raise serious concerns about the operation of Number Ten Downing Street.  Damian McBride was personally appointed by the Prime Minister and directly responsible to him.  He worked alongside the Minister for the Civil Service, Tom Watson, at the heart of the Prime Minister's office.  This affair raises broader concerns about the degree to which a government which has been in office for twelve years thinks it can ignore the rules. 

It's not enough for the Prime Minister to try to create a smokescreen by tinkering with the rules for special advisers.  He has questions to answer, such as was he aware of the proposed smears? Was he aware of the 'Red Rag' website to which they were to be sent?  Was he aware that his advisers were involved with it?  And did his Minister for the Civil Service have any knowledge of or involvement in it? 

Cllr Justin Tomlinson, "It is nothing short of a disgrace that the Prime Minister yet again can't use the word 'sorry'.  When we caught out the office of Michael Wills MP for trying to fill the Swindon Advertiser letters page with personal attacks on myself, he offered an apology of sorts.  Time and time again Labour politicians are being exposed for grubby, nasty personal attacks.  Is there any depth they won't swoop too to cling on to power?''

Robert Buckland, "Tom Watson MP was previously exposed in the national news for personal attacks on David Cameron - staggeringly his 'reward' was to work directly for Gordon Brown right at the heart of the Prime Minister's office.  The Labour Government is riddled with the desperate attempts to cling onto power at any cost, it is no wonder their supporters and members are leaving in their droves.''