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Brown is besieged by Labour big guns
Joe Murphy, Political Editor14 Apr 2009
THE Downing Street dirty tricks row deepened into a full-scale attack on Gordon Brown's leadership this afternoon.
In a searing critique, former minister Frank Field said unfounded smears contained in emails written by a Brown aide had exposed a lack of moral leadership and policy substance under the Prime Minister.
Labour, he said, should be considering its policies for the recession. "Instead of this debate, we see the energy at the heart of No10 going into trying to smear the opposition.
"It is this contrast between how we should be behaving and what has been exposed, that is the real killer." Widening his attack, Mr Field said: "There is a wish among all sections of the Labour Party for the Government to start governing. We wouldn't care too much whether the ideas were Blairite or non-Blairite, as long as we could give the impression of supporting a government that was using the next year to mark out why we should stay in office."
Two other former Labour ministers Stephen Byers and Alan Milburn joined in the attack today.
Mr Field said supporters were "bewildered" by the "corruption". And he went on: "Week after week MPs have been turning up but with almost no serious work to do. There is the odd Bill to be sure. But there is no legislative programme to speak of. Even the debates that are put on to fill in time are ones that deny MPs a vote. The whole exercise is vacuous." Conservative leader David Cameron sought to make it an election issue. Speaking in Stafford he was set to say: "This government has been in charge for too long. They have forgotten what they are there for."
The assault on Mr Brown was still gathering steam four days after the leak of emails written by close aide Damian McBride that exposed a plot to smear senior Conservatives.
Handwritten letters by Mr Brown expressing "great regret", designed to defuse the scandal, were dismissed as insincere and inadequate.
Tory sources said the letters fell short of a proper apology. Mr Cameron was said to be irritated that a suggestion that he had a sexually transmitted disease was described in Mr Brown's letter as an "unsubstantiated claim" rather than as a downright lie. Downing Street hastily clarified that Mr Brown regarded the claim as untrue.
Writing in today's Standard, Mr Byers said Mr Brown should change direction and consider a wider purge of advisers. "To dismiss the incident as juvenile, which was the first reaction of Downing Street, totally missed the point and failed to recognise the extent of the hurt and offence caused," he said.
Mr Byers went on to criticise the Government's VAT cut and called for fresh policy thinking before the election. Mr Milburn said the "morally unacceptable" tactics were "completely out of kilter with the culture of Labour politics". Former home secretary Charles Clarke said politics had been "debased" and said two other figures involved with Mr McBride - former advisers Charlie Whelan and Derek Draper - should "sever all links with the Labour leadership". The leaked emails that sparked the furore were sent by Mr McBride from his computer at Downing Street. They contained bogus gossip about senior Conservative figures to be run on a Labour website.
The Prime Minister's spokesman said he had been "furious" when he found out on Saturday. But Tory shadow minister Francis Maude said: "The idea of Gordon Brown throwing up his hands in shock like a maiden aunt is absurd. Damian McBride was his attack dog - that's what he was hired for."
Frances Osborne, the wife of the shadow chancellor, last night called in the Press Complaints Commission to rule on two newspapers that reported Mr McBride's "false and damaging allegations" about her health. Mr Brown hoped to draw a line under the affair by writing to Sir Gus O'Donnell, the Cabinet Secretary, proposing tougher rules banning such behaviour by officials. But that was scorned as "a red herring" by the union leader representing top civil servants.
Smeared Tory: It's aimed at saving himself
ONE Tory MP smeared by the No 10 emails dismissed a personal letter to her from Gordon Brown, saying it was aimed at putting himself in the clear rather than saying he was sorry.
Nadine Dorries said the letter was unreadable in parts because of the poor handwriting. The Prime Minister used a thick black marker pen because of his poor eyesight.
She pointed out that the letter contained the phrase “such as this affects the reputation of our politics is a matter of great regret to me”.
“I do not believe this letter came from the heart,” Ms Dorries said. “I think it is all about saving himself and saving the other figures caught up in this scandal, including Tom Watson [the Cabinet Office Minister].”
Reader views (90)
I quite agree with Alan Chigwell.UK. I am a Tory and I am delighted that Labour are sticking with Brown, he is our biggest asset, with an incompetant clown like him at the helm a ship full of pirates and robbers, we are going from strength to strength. Carry on Gordon, great job
- Jimi Thomas, Rhayader Wales, 15/05/2009 16:45
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Somebody should inform Val in Spain that Cameron is NOT the Prime Minister and it is the proper administration of the UK government that is at issue.
Paying civil servants to smear other people is NOT considered part of government administration.
- Bingham Macnamara, lymington, hampshire, 15/05/2009 15:45
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No doubt, Gordon is busy thinking of ways that this can all be blamed on the legacy of Thatcher's Britain
- Mike, London, 15/05/2009 15:45
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This is a promise from a politician who promised to put an end to Punch and Judy Politics. He then signed up a discredited News of the World Editor as his chief of staff. I am sure that as the Election nears Dave and his mates won't just be altering Wikkipedia to save his face but will be down in the gutter in the way that the Tories always have been when winning is important. It's a pity the media will let him get away with it.
- T Treble, Ealing England, 15/05/2009 15:45
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Whilst I do not agree with Labour's smear episode I do wish that Cameron et al would throw as much weight and loud complaint at some of the labour issues which have and could adversely affect millions of people not just a handful.
- Raymond, Poole, 15/05/2009 15:45
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all we are seeing through this is the dirty side of politics that has always existed and is not related to one party. All parties have people specifically looking to dig up a little dirt, create some rumours...it does not come form the leaders because they can't be seen to be doing this....but thye all know that it exists...most important to this case is that none of the 'smears' was in fact published..
we are all naive if we don't think that every party is going through politicians past lives and contacts and then passing this on to friendly publications.....
- Martin_Clerkenwell, london, 15/05/2009 15:45
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- Val Daniels, Mijas Costa, Spain
I nearly fell off my chair laughing at the nonsense you wrote about the economy!! Utter tosh!
- Margy, London, 15/05/2009 15:45
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Val, you must have damn good eyesight to see the "green shoots" on the economy from way over there in Spain. Because nobody here can.
- Sean, London, 15/05/2009 15:45
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Brown is up to his neck in it all and hhis eyesight is not as bad has it is made out to be. I am registered serious sight/blind I have no sight in one ey and the other I have to be within a foot and if I wish to read the paper it has to be almost on my nose/ a magnifying glass is of no use to me. I may I write with a fine nib gell pen in black I have seen Brown coming down aircraft steps I have seen him rushing down other steps and going up them I would not have been able to do that he also reads from his lecturn I would not be able to do that/ He gets in cars before his wife and I think it is an insult of Labour people stating that he cannot see very well. by the way luckily for me I was a touch typist before I deeloped my problem. Brown uses all maner of excuses to get public sympathy. Brown should go and go now and we will have a general election and get these vipers out of Downing Street
- Jacqui Williams, peterborough cambs, 15/05/2009 15:45
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This little episode is creating more political activity than the damned recession. Can't any of these poor hard done by underpaid MP's do something about the economy! The voters will make up their own minds regarding sleaze without anyone needing to cry hard done by.
- Les, uk, 15/05/2009 15:45
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Communities Secretary Hazel Blears insisted Mr Brown acted promptly. She said: "You've got the Prime Minister expressing deep regret. What more would people expect him to do?"
Easy ... just say sorry !!!
- Dave, herts, 15/05/2009 15:45
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When they have finished the mud slinging perhaps they would get down to dealing with those MPs who have been fiddling expenses, and Jacqui Smith in particular who has claimed £116,000 for a spare room in her sister's house which she claims is her "main" home, and whose husband is paid £40,000 p.a. of tax payers' money to sit at home watching porn.
- R.F., Yorks, UK, 15/05/2009 15:45
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This man has no Morals,Ethics or Integrity.Is this how the Scots are brought up?Fortunate he does not attempt any crosswords as he would be stuck on any words begining with an "A".
- Harvey Lawrence, London, 15/05/2009 15:45
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Gordon Brown RIP and quickly please, if you were honourable you would fall on your sword but sadly for all of us you are not!
- Louisa, London, 15/05/2009 15:45
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I do hope that the correspondents who are 'talking up Brown' are doing so only to provoke a response. Otherwise, our Dept. of Education, Health & Welfare, etc., have some serious questions to answer. I also think that people labouring under such serious delusions may pose a security risk to our country!
- Kevin Sullivan, Roehampton, London., 15/05/2009 15:45
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#Malcolm
I am a UK resident and I have a home in the UK and a home in Spain where we live during the winter months. I am a UK taxpayer. I am 71 and my retirement income is taxed at source and paid from the UK. You should look at the Conservative website www.conservativesabroad.org. This tells Conservatives how they can still vote even though they are permanently resident in Spain. But I expect you you think that is ok. I don't see you remonstrating with other people who live in Spain, France, and even further afield. Is that because their political views coincide with your own?
- Val Daniels, Mijas Costa, Spain, 15/05/2009 15:45
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Just get rid of Brown he is damaging the Labour party!
- John, London, 15/05/2009 15:45
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People who are slandered by this offensive email should not hesitate to sue.If the email were so malicious then the punishment should be the more painful to bear for the writer. If Mcbride were to be bankrupted from a slander trial nobody will cry for him least of all the prime minister who has suffered the most. For the good of the country lets see McBride punished for his maliciousness. I know it was LBJ who said accuse your opponement of anything derogatory be it true or false then watch him squirm. This not America and thank God
- Alexis Dogilewski, London England, 15/05/2009 15:45
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Does anyone really believe that the Tory's are going to be less sleazy than Labour, lets see some policies not empty rhetoric, the Tory's claiming that they are going to have the moral high ground. Doubtful
- Sharon, Hackney, 15/05/2009 15:45
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Methinks we need another Cromwell.
- Clive Egan, London, 15/05/2009 15:45
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I think the 'big guns' are being totally unfair. Give PM Brown a chance. Isn't anyone good enough for them?
- Rick Huffman, Saint Joseph, Michigan, 15/05/2009 15:45
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Just get rid of him along with the rest of his mob of greedy bunch of MPs who are all just taking as much as they can before they are booted out
- Mike, London England, 15/05/2009 15:45
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My heart bleeds for him - NOT!
- Marianne, SW France, 15/05/2009 15:45
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#Bingham Macnamara
Oh please, don't be so sanctimonious. I'm merely pointing out that this is politics and unpleasantness goes with the territory in all parties. I wonder how many people who post on here are at their place of work and using their employer's email?
- Val Daniels, Mijas Costa, Spain, 15/05/2009 15:45
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Martin Fielding - I do not use the term "poliburo" lightly. Chairman Tone started it and Chairman Gordyov has carried it on.
- Bj, London, 15/05/2009 15:45
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Val Daniels, Mijas Costa, Spain
Can I ask a simple question Val - bearing in mind that Nu-Labour has now been in office for the last 15 or so years, exactly how long have you lived in SPAIN!!! If you rerally want to promote the failed policies of Tony blair & gordon brown, you should at least have the decency to actually LIVE in the Uk and pay taxes here!!!
- Malcolm, London, 15/05/2009 15:45
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Now we have Val in Spain taking issue as to how some people conduct their lives. I thought the subject of this article was Labour's dirty tricks and smearing certain people, some of whom are not even in politics.
If it is your opinion that politics and unpleasantness "goes with the territory", why not say that instead of maligning people who have nothing to do with the government of this nation?
Whilst many may discern what I am thinking, at no time would I start telling other people how to conduct their lives, particularly if I am sitting in Spain.
- Bingham Macnamara, lymington, hampshire, 15/05/2009 15:45
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Val from Spain.
I'm really surprised that as a long term labour supporter, you can support this hopeless government. OK, so you don't like the Tories but this government is just hopeless. There isn't one Whitehall department that isn't now unfit for purpose!
The best thing for the labour movement would be for brown to go now to limit the damage at the next election. Then you could have a period in opposition to rebuild after the disastrous blair/brown years while the tories clear up their mess. You should then hope to get back in at the election after that.
Can't you see that brown is condemning labour to years in opposition? The sooner labour are out of power, the sooner they can get back in.
- Chris, Brighton, England, 15/05/2009 15:45
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If only David Cameron put as much energy into when the expenses issue came up - only when it hits home to him does he get hot and bothered. I wish there was a decent alternative to Labour unfortunately David Cameron who still looks like he is at public school is not it.
- Lyn, London, 15/05/2009 15:45
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call an election go gordon go
- George Cruickshank, inverness, 15/05/2009 15:45
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Election will stop the dirty tricks as well as the numerous more serious crimes committed under the New Labour regime.
Gordon Brown is obviously unable to keep the Labour government/party under control, therefore we need a new government and an extensive political purge.
- Horace, London, UK, 15/05/2009 15:45
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Please, Labour, don't get rid of the Clown! He's the Tories guarantee of winning the next election.
- Alan, Chigwell. UK, 15/05/2009 15:45
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Val
what good news is there regarding the economy??
1 The economy has shrunk more than the 1% claimed by the Chancellor in his Pre Budget Report
2 The UK according to the IMF will be the worst hit of the major economies
3 Banking and financial services, the mainstay of the UK economy is still in the doldrums.
4 Unemployment is on a 10 year high
If the above is 'good news', I would not want to hear your version of bad news
- Toks, London,England, 15/05/2009 15:45
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It's interesting how Ken Livingstone supporters tend to post from places like Canvey Island and Gordon Brown supporters tend to post from places like Spain. What does that tell us, I wonder?
- Kevin T, Beckenham, Kent, 15/05/2009 15:45
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William Hague when tory leader made smears about labour peoples private lives Mr Mandlesson of rio/ commenting on Robin cooks divorce of his wife for his secretary/ not that Nigel lawson, douglas hurd, norman fowler didn't do the same or both denis thatcher/ ronald reagan didn't divorce or remarry
- John P Reid, london, 15/05/2009 15:45
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This episode has got totally out of control. Gordon sucessfully closed this one down at the weekend by sacking Mc Bride ( a blair leftover) Gordon was right about him a long time ago he was a trouble maker. Gordon will not be bothered though the G20 poll surge is much to his credit!
- Wayne, Herts, Uk, 15/05/2009 15:45
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Hmmm, how easily the media forget good ol' Osbourne's attempt to besmearch the good (ahem) name of Mr Mandleson, look where that got him! The Tories have realised they are no good at the so called 'dark arts' and now have taken the moral highground. And oh, does anyone remember lots of details about Ken's love life and several kids by different mums? Now let's have a guess at who stoked the fire on that one... the tories?
- David, Croydon, 15/05/2009 15:45
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Don't the Tories employ someone from the News of the World?
- Peter Guinness, London, 15/05/2009 15:45
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What exactly do the Tories have to offer Britain?
- Robert, Philadelphia USA, 15/05/2009 15:45
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QUITE SIMPLY WOULD ANY PERSON SUPPORTING THESE OUTRAGEOUS BLOGS LIKE SIMILAR COMMENTS POSTED ABOUT THEIR LIVES AT HOME AND WORK.
JUST FOR ONCE AN APOLOGY WOULD BE NICE FOLLOWED BY SOME SERIOUS POLICES
- Alan Green, Woodford Green, 15/05/2009 15:45
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When is everyone going to get off Gordons Case. He has a budget to prepare. Can't you all see he is trying to improve your lives and yet you all slate him! get a grip and start being positive !! Now let that be the end of it
- Wayne, Herts, Uk, 15/05/2009 15:45
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A Pox on New Labour and a 'Double Pox' on our Prime Mentalist. The sleaze, spin, lies and slander are all seaping from out under Gordo's carpets in Number 10 like a sickly miasma, Even Brown saying that he has put a stop to this should be taken with a bucket of salt.
The closer we move towards the next general election in 2010, the more this stinking miasma will erupt again. Maybe he will try and abandon all future elections by engineering a 'National Emergency' so he can remain in office for 'Ever and a Day'. But I don't think that he and his ZaNuLab Kommizzars are that stupid - or are they?
Time to book a bedspace in the local funny farm methinks.
- Uncle Vanya, East Anglia Area England, 15/05/2009 15:45
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Brown's corruption and deception has crawled out of the dark hole, into the open. Blair hid the Nulabour heart. McBride reveals the attitude of Brown and Blair NuLabour. For years their orders were to smear any opposer with PC or worse. Brown corruption has spread from politics throughout society. Brown took £70bn tax in 1997, and now takes £140bn. State services have stood still or become worse, and the nation is in mess. Ministers frequently admit departments are 'unfit'. Brown has made all regions outside London depend on him for over 50% of income from welfare and state jobs. Brown is irresponsible, 'I ended boom and bust'. Brown in fact created the huge housing boom by corruption of UK inflation measures so interest rates were set too low. His 'Light Regulation' lead RBS and HBOS failure. Brown said 'Labour are building 3 million new homes over the next 10 years, 300,000 a year' plain deception. In fact 75,000 private homes were built last year. Immigration is Brown's longest lasting disasterous legacy. Expect 13,000 EU entrants, and over 400,000 arrived, plus 1 million a year from elsewhere. Brown's 'open borders' policy has now given birth to 300 internal UK terror plots, about 200 from Pakistan Brown encouraged. Brown gives muslim men full welfare for all wives and families and they control all votes. Brown likes the postal vote system. Election officials decribe it as 'childishly simple to defraud'. Brown has corrupted State and private life.
- Mand, bracken uk, 15/05/2009 15:45
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Now would be a perfect time for David Cameron to lay out his plans for government...Well Dave can we see your secret agenda?
As for comments about how the Prime Minister writes given that Gordon has only one working eye it tells us how little the tories regard people who have a disability!
In fact Gordon becoming Prime Minister is as significant to disabled people like myself with Epilepsy as Barak Obarma becoming President is to black people and may explain why they get on so well together.
I am still waiting to here how many mansions Tory M.Ps have? So is Gordon and that might explain why he is letting this one run on...and on...etc..
This is a case of desparate tories clutching at straws but the real strawman appears to be David Cameron.
- Melvyn Windebank, Canvey Island, Essex, 15/05/2009 15:45
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Quote:
Sticking "-gate" on the end of every scandal is getting VERY VERY TEDIOUS.
- Paul, London
Although, using "Masturgate" for the Home Secretary's husband's porn scandal was actually VERY VERY FUNNY, don't you think?
- Davo, Bristol, 15/05/2009 15:45
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Wayne Kerr - Herts , did you know that Keith Price of Luton used to come out with your drivel too. Have you met?
- Dave Davies, Basingstoke, 15/05/2009 15:45
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Damian McBride should be charged with Malfeasance in Public Office - his comments were made with malice and are clearly inappropriate for a public servant
- Pete Morris, Vauxhall, 15/05/2009 15:45
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Martin_Clerkenwell, london
Martin you miss the point. Labour were the ones caught out NOT the tories!
Let's see a bit of integrity and backbone here from the perpetrators who got caught instead of all this running away and trying to pass the blame. It's quite pathetic.
- Tom W, London, 15/05/2009 15:45
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Wayne, if "Gordon never liked this guy McBride", why has he given him 2 crucial jobs, effectively promoting him after an earlier scandal?
- Kevin T, Beckenham, Kent, 15/05/2009 15:45
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Sticking "-gate" on the end of every scandal is getting VERY VERY TEDIOUS.
- Paul, London, 15/05/2009 15:45
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Gordon Brown and his cronies deceive. This is beyond what any government before them has even touched upon. He is not appointed, let us not forget - he got there because his party (because we) wanted Blair out and he was the only potential successor. It's such a shame the Tories cannot put up a meaningful opposition - in particular, a shadow chancellor who is utterly, utterly woeful.
The first step should be Clegg's proposal of return of all ill-gotten property gains. The next step should be the cancellation of their ludicrous and uncomensurate pension benefits. Third step, as Cameron proposes, redundancy for 10%, possibly more, of these useless, duplicated parasites.
- Da, london, 15/05/2009 15:45
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Nixon's Oval Office tape from June 14 shows H. R. Haldeman describing the situation to Nixon:
To the ordinary guy, all this is a bunch of gobbledygook. But out of the gobbledygook comes a very clear thing: You can't trust the government; you can't believe what they say; and you can't rely on their judgment. And the implicit infallibility of presidents, which has been an accepted thing in America, is badly hurt by this, because it shows that people do things the President wants to do even though it's wrong, and the President can be wrong.
- Undercover Elephant, London, UK, 15/05/2009 15:45
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Gordon,
your time is up go the country now before you do any more damage to our country
- Steve Savory, westminster, 15/05/2009 15:45
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I'm not the only one that's sick and tired of having the word "gate" attached to each and every scandal.
- Kate, London, 15/05/2009 15:45
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#bj
So he's damned if he does, and damned if he doesn't, the man can't win, can he?
#Nick Howar
It wasn't the Labour party who put this emails in the public domain. My own view is that it was a good day for the Conservatives to bury the good news on the economy, in particular the generally held view from leading economic think tanks that the VAT cut, which Osborne and Cameron ridiculed, has created a £9billion increase in spending. The green shoots are out there but there's none so blind as those who wont see.
#Bingham Macnamara
Are you really as naive as you sound? Do you think Andy Coulson, who resides in the US and is Cameron's chief spinmeister is above the fray. Remember he was sacked as editor of NoTW because of his illegal bugging of our Royal family.
- Val Daniels, Mijas Costa, Spain, 15/05/2009 15:45
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Look, it's a Catch 22. If Brown didn't know about the conspiracy he has no control over even his closest staff. If he did know about the conspiracy he's a liar, because he said he didn't. Either way, he's screwed.
- Chris, Farnham, UK, 15/05/2009 15:45
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It's obviously time for a new government. Cameron will lead us in a new era. It's time for Brown to step down gracefully, while he still can!
- Sarah, Cheltenham, UK, 15/05/2009 15:45
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One man one vote leave Brown alone.. i guess if we were not in the western world the Tories would have made a coup d'etat.
- Alex Lisinge, Putney, 15/05/2009 15:45
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Curious how the Tories and the media are ignoring the most serious claim in the e-mail about the MP helping his partner get business through the House of Commons. Wonder why?
And since when was Frank Fields a "Labour big gun"?
Does anyone honestly care about a bunch of PR politicos having a bit of handbags with each other? I mean are the Tories any different with their record of sleaze?
- Ashiq, London, UK, 15/05/2009 15:45
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IS it me or does this government look more and more like the Iraqi government of five years ago?
Gordon Brown hiding in his bunker; his henchmen trying to destroy the opposition.
And the ever chirpy Hazel Blears issuing one defence statement after another; getting on with the job of rescuing the economy... she sounds more and more like Comical Ali as every day goes by...
- Robin, London, 15/05/2009 15:45
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What really gets to me is that Tony Blair sneaked these "Special Advisers" who are in reality party activists onto the Civil Service Payroll so we are now all paying for them. It is little wonder that their numbers have grown alarmingly.
Let us use this incident to prove that they should be removed from the taxpayers' payroll and transferred back to the Labour Party's.
- Martin Fielding, London, England, 15/05/2009 15:45
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Gordon Brown said he would clean up politics after Blair. But the man who he put in charge was an ''attack dog''.
Brown new the man he was appointing, he knew he had no ''morale compass'' now he denies knowledge.
It all happened on your watch Mr Brown.
- Pete, Epsom, UK., 15/05/2009 15:45
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Stephen Pound for PM - lets have a laugh in these dreadful times !!!
- Nick Holland, glasgow, 15/05/2009 15:45
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I love it Brown being got at by his own party. It shows even they are fed up of him. Just like the rest of us. I bet those labour MP's with small majorities are getting squeaky bum time. Labour has lost it's flavour.
in charge of
- Ebin Donk, angus scotland, 15/05/2009 15:45
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What G20 poll surge is that Wayne? The last poll taken, by Populus, shows Labour virtually unchanged, 13 points behind the Tories. If there was a G20 bounce, the Jacqui Smith expenses revelations a few days later put the dampers on it pretty quickly. It remains to be seen what difference this little affair makes. It's the Budget you should be really worried about. All that spending has to be paid for somehow!
- Kevin T, Beckenham, Kent, 15/05/2009 15:45
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IF POLITICIANS OF ALL PARTIES SPENT MORE TIME ON HELPING THE COUNTRY INSTEAD OF THIS SPIN THE COUNTRY COULD GET BACK ON TRACK
- J Windsor, LONDON ENGLAND, 15/05/2009 15:45
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They are all at it probably, it's just that this lot got caught out.
This is taking attention away from Jacqui Smith and co and all their fiddling.
- Mb, London, 15/05/2009 15:45
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Brown wishing to change the rules as they apply to special advisers is a total charade. All bog standard contracts of employments have a get all clause about serious misconduct resulting in instant dismissal. Brown seems to be like the preverbiable three wise monkeys all in one. Doesn`t want to hear, doesn`t want to see and certainly doesn`t want to say," I am sorry for the sorry state I have got this country into, sorry for my corrupt government and I resign."
- Brian Gare, Norfolk Gorleston, 15/05/2009 15:45
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The extraordinary hypocrisy of Brown is demonstrated by the fact that he appointed these malicious people to his inner circle and any remedies he is applying are only undoing what was introduced by Blair and Brown as a method of government in 1997.
As far as the people Brown appointed to his inner circle, it is worthwhile recording that "birds of a feather flock together".
- Bingham Macnamara, lymington, hampshire, 15/05/2009 15:45
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So Gordon Brown has now given up his two most sincere and deep-seated principles: prudence and propriety.
He is now nothing more than a sad, pathetic man, so far out of his depth that it’s cringeworthy just hearing him speak.
His words are now wasted on us, he has lost the right to be heard.
- St, London, 15/05/2009 15:45
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Goodbye soon, Gordon, and don't forget to take your rubbish with you.
- Paul Freeman, London, England, 15/05/2009 15:45
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This is not just a symptom of a government on its last legs. Sleaze is now institutionalised within the Labour party with Gordon Brown, along with his predecessor, responsible for dragging politics down into the gutter.
- Simon, london, 15/05/2009 15:45
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His only regret is that he got caught out. Disgusting waste of space of a politician, he is into it up to his neck, this and the rest of his sleazy party.
- Mike L, London, 15/05/2009 15:45
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Isn't it marvellous how mature and intelligent our "leaders" are?
- Neil M., london uk,, 15/05/2009 15:45
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Have the pundits missed the main point? Mounting a smear campaign at this time must be for a purpose. Was an early general election being planned, or are these the first blows (below the belt) of the euro elections?
Apart from that, as an ex-labour party member and voter, the only obvious conclusion is that the Brown government has no policies except to steam full sped ahead towards the iceberg. For socialists, it is time for the crew to turn the 'Titanic' into the 'Battleship Potemkin' and unite with all those fighting against the boss powers of the capitalists setting the collision course.
Nick Howard
- Nick Howard, Sheffield England, 15/05/2009 15:45
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so a couple of spin doctors start to smear the Tory party..that's,a couple of spin doctors start to smear the Tory party...um,er,what's the problem?..oh?mm..I see.....well. ok then...I am outraged at the thought of hardworking MP's having to suffer the outrage of someone with an e mail address telling lies,they should be horse whipped-not the mp's!!-..anyone would think it happened under Lady Thatcher ,- is grumpy Bernard Ingham dead?-..at this rate we could have someone like Max Clifford telling the press what to print and when.Its nothing like the days of Max Hastings,Bob Maxwell and Lord of Whatever Universe He Chooses To Rule, Rupert Muckdog,making up lies and destroying families in the pursuit of honesty..Three cheers for honest Dave Cameron and his merry band of pure MP's,striving to gain power and set HMS UK on the road to full recovery and its rightful place in believing it has the divine right to be an empire again and let every uncivilised person bow down to the power of the truth.Meanwhile the 'truth of expenses' is being swept under the carpet and the 'hard working mp's'-still on holiday?..are laughing at us,this story is a joke,if the other political parties do not have a back room team spinning -thats lies to me and you- then i will pay all the expenses of any mp who contacts me!!.aN HONEST GOVT?...how we laughed..wasnt it blair he mumbled 'whiter than white'?..mmm.honest tony,alistair and peter,all chums with cameron,osborne,hague,cant tell them apart!!
- Jonnie Of Brixton, BRIXTON-SW2-LONDON, 15/05/2009 15:45
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'New Labour' won the election in 1997 because voters were sick of the amount of 'sleaze' generated by the Conservatives. Since then this government has long shown themselves to be just as capable of underhand, dishonest, self-serving and disreputable behaviour. Us voters must not have short memories - you can only count the number of honest, trustworthy squeaky-clean politicians (from all parties) on the fingers of one hand!
- Angela Smith, Holt, 15/05/2009 15:45
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Thank goodness its Tuesday the weekends over and we can move on from this silly sleaze rumours. Gordon has closed this down quickly and new that nasty Mc Bride was bad news from the beggining (after inheriting hom from Blair) Now Gordon can focus on the election after an excellent G20 package pioneered by Gordon and agreed by all the worlds leaders . I bet all this silly stuff spoiled a much earned rest over the weekend. However with Labour surging in the polls this will make him feel comfortable.
- Wayne, Herts, Uk, 15/05/2009 15:45
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Gordon Brown has cultivated such behaviour around him as it's all he knows - he is an inadequate coward whose modus of operandum is to personally attack self assured people who are sure of their own views in life - this is why he is totally unsuitable for high office and why, if he ever stood for an election, he would not win the popular vote - The sooner we get rid of him and his accolates, the better it will be for politics and the country!
- David Grey, London, 15/05/2009 15:45
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Wayne from Herts - you really are missing the point (but then as you seem to think Gordon's doing a good job that's not totally surprising). Gordon didn't "inherit" McBride, he appointed him as his senior adviser at the treasury. He's had several opportunities to saxck him before and failed to do so.. Furthermore, Brown's attempt to try and "close this down quickly" (as you put it) only goes to show how complicit he is in the whole spin culture. If you really think Labour are "surging in the polls" then you must be reading more Labour spin!!
- Malcolm, London, 15/05/2009 15:45
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Won't it be intresting to see how many people vote Labour at the next election because they've always voted Labour. Lemmings all of them, who are so inflexible as to be blind, deaf and unthinking, who'll goose step the way their fathers did. This is not an advertisement for the Tories, only an observation about how close are the ears of a good proportion of the electorate. It is time us voters learned to be a little more discerning .....
The smoke is coming out of MY ears.
- With Smoke Coming Out Of My Ears, London NW11, 15/05/2009 15:45
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Wayne needs to see a doctor immediately. He needs some more tablets.
- Sally70, Bedford, 15/05/2009 15:45
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What lower depths can this government plumb,this country will not improve until this incompetant shower with clown leader Gordon Bean Brown GO.Just imagine what more damage they can do with another year in office,we need a revolution NOW.
- Kenneth Brown, Ware Hertfodshire, 15/05/2009 15:45
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What planet is "Wayne, Herts" on? Definitely not on the same planet as 95% of the UK population, that is for certain.
Ah! Got it!! Wayne, Herts is applying for a job to replace the recently departed Scottish Mafia member from Downing Street.
Wayne, Herts will be in excellent company at Number 10 Downing Street - they are all most proficient at reams of spin and waffle, smoke and mirrors - not an ounce of dignity or credibility amongst the lot of them.
- Reuben Camara, Morecambe/Lancaster, 15/05/2009 15:45
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Gordon never liked this guy Mc Bride and clearly had no idea what he was up too. Gordon has probably spent the whole of the weekend answering stupid questions, whilst trying to write the budget. We all need to be more positive - after all the G20 STIMULUS GIVES US ALL RENEWED HOPE - house prices are rising, retail sales are soaring and all due to Gordons efforts. Be positive everyone.
- Wayne, Herts, Uk, 15/05/2009 15:45
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Gordon Brown talked of his 'values' and his 'moral compass' in June 2007 when he accepted the leadership of the Labour Party, and with it, the office of Prime Minister.
Now the reality of his 'values' and 'moral compass' are revealed for all to see. A man he has repeatedly selected to work directly for him, promoted more than once, and has worked closely with for nearly a decade has seen fit to create lies involving corruption, intimate sexual activities, personal medical issues involving an STD and the mental health of the wife of a political opponent.
Previously MacBride had been employed against Browns political opponents within the Labour Party and the media, his remit was then expanded to include the opposition AND their families.
Gordon Brown claimed his values included "to enable people least able to help themselves' but he has no qualms about his 'special adviser' making up lies about the mental health of Frances Osbourne.
Gordon Brown has faced questions about his competence,and then his credibility, but now these latest events question his very character!
By employing the likes of McBride, Lord Mandelson, Charlie Whelan, Tom Watson and Ed Balls, the public exposure of their activities has sullied his integrity and stripped him, forever, of any pretence at moral authority.
As Cromwell so eloquently said;
"You have sat too long for any good you have been doing lately ... Depart, I say; and let us have done with you. In the name of God, go!"
- Manny Goldstein, London, UK, 15/05/2009 15:45
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Sorry is not in the poliburo's vocabulary so why demand or expect an apology? In the unlikely event that Chairman Gordychov did offer apologies it would be as sincere as his pledges to save the NHS and inprove Local Authority child care.
- Bj, London, 15/05/2009 15:45
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The squandering of taxpayers' money on people such as Mr McBride is beyond belief. He was employed as a 'strategist' by Gordon Brown at enormous cost to damage political opponents. I remember how Mr McBride attempted to undermine our achievements in the Olympics last year with a tedious story about Myra Hindley - of all people. The point is what he did was approved by Gordon Brown who should take full responsibility for the damage that has been caused.
- Simon Ellis, London, 15/05/2009 15:45
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All I can say is Keith Price from Luton has disappeared and now we suddenly have Wayne from Herts supporting Crash - a lone voice in a largely deluded majority. Plant, anyone?
- Marianne, SW France, 15/05/2009 15:45
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Wayne - you are obviously not management material. Open you eyes to what is really going on. We have the most inept PM I can ever remember who cannot make a decision to save his life. If you are in charge the buck stops with you. You are responsible for everything done in your name. If Brown had said sorry last Friday and sacked McBride at the same time it would have killed the story stone dead. Because of his ineptness the story will drag on and no and do untold damage to NuLabour.
P.s. Wayne. The Chancellor writes the budget not the PM.
- Brian Gare, Norfolk Gorleston, 15/05/2009 15:45
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