Red Rag Meets Deep Throat?

[bijou]

Posting by me has been light today (if not practically non existent) that is because we have a huge political scandal brewing and I have been following the UK political blogs. Essentially, the top advisor (a civil servant) to the Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, has been forced to resign as a result of his involvement in a scheme to disseminate false rumours about leading Conservatives. What makes it more interesting is that he has resigned before the story appears in the Sunday papers in its full detail.   

This is a story which was originally broken and pursued by a blogger called Paul Staines (aka Guido Fawkes at order-order.com) it has as a background a spat between a blogger (and ex Labour spin doctor called Derek Draper), Guido and another blogger Iain Dale (http://www.iaindale.blogspot.com/).  It is worth reading the following link if only because of the very real prospect of the British government being brought down by a political blogger.

UPDATE 15 - NOTW
"Tomorrow the News of the World will reveal the sensational details in the shocking email smears sent by Gordon Brown's top aide.

The PM's spin-doctor, Damian McBride, and Derek Draper, who heads Labour's internet campaigning, outlined a dirty tricks war of highly personal stories about top Tories.

The plan was far more sophisticated than McBride or Draper have claimed and was close to completion.

Emails seen by the News of the World show McBride and Draper schemed to spread false malicious stories that:

Opposition leader David Cameron had an embarrassing illness

Shadow Chancellor George Osborne's wife was "emotionally fragile" just because she appeared upset at parties

A Tory MP used his position to get publicity for lover's business

Involved allegations about female Tory MP Nadine Dorries and another named MP.

In the emails, McBride says: "We've got to keep up the momentum."

Stories had been drafted and pictures selected to run alongside them.

McBride spoke to the Prime Minister this afternoon and formally resigned from his post as senior media strategy adviser. "
UPDATE 14 - McBride resignation text in full
UPDATE 13 - Pages 1-3 in Sunday Times tomorrow, Iain Dale names Tom Watson and Charlie Whelan as accomplices
UPDATE 12 - Derek commits media suicide on BBC N24
UPDATE 11 - NOTW promising details later this evening
...

Much more here

[thundley4]

Does the UK have different laws pertaining to politics than the US? Smear campaigns seem to be the bread and butter of politics over here.

[bijou]

Does the UK have different laws pertaining to politics than the US? Smear campaigns seem to be the bread and butter of politics over here.

The difference with this story is that the smears are said to be made up, our libel laws are very strict; also traditionally wives and children are not targets in campaigning. Apparently one of the stories is about Samantha Cameron (the Conservative leader's wife) and her (and David's) 6 year old son died recently so attacking a grieving mother is particularly bad.

[thundley4]

You know, it's would almost be nice to have those libel laws in the US, especially in this last election.

[NHSparky]

The difference with this story is that the smears are said to be made up, our libel laws are very strict; also traditionally wives and children are not targets in campaigning. Apparently one of the stories is about Samantha Cameron (the Conservative leader's wife) and her (and David's) 6 year old son died recently so attacking a grieving mother is particularly bad.

Too bad we don't have those laws.  The MSM and Democrats would be out of business in a week.

[Bluesuiter-Retired]

No wonder "the messiah" and brown got along so well, they both use the same dirty underhanded political tactics.