Conservatives demand apology over "smear" emails
Conservatives have called on Gordon Brown to apologise for Mr McBride's emails
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Sunday, 12, Apr 2009 10:35
The Conservatives have called on prime minister Gordon Brown to personally apologise after one of his closest aides was forced to resign for sending emails about smearing senior Tories.
Special adviser Damian McBride stood down yesterday after emails he wrote intended for former spin doctor Derek Draper became public.
Mr McBride has apologised for his actions but opposition MPs are calling for the prime minister to also issue a personal apology for what happened.
In the emails, Mr McBride discussed with Mr Draper setting up a blog, called Red Rag, which would spread gossip about members of the Conservative party.
This morning, the News of the World and the Sunday Times have published the conversations which are said to include false allegations about David Cameron, George Osborne, and backbencher Nadine Dorries.
In the emails Mr McBride admits to using a bit of "poetic license" with the aim to "put the fear of God into Osborne".
Tory shadow home secretary Chris Grayling called for an immediate inquiry into what had occurred and questioned whether Mr McBride was the only person in Downing Street who knew about the email chain.
Speaking to BBC News, Mr Grayling said: "It's a sign of something absolutely rotten at the heart of Gordon Brown's Downing Street."
Mr Cameron alos called on the prime minister to make a personal apology for the scandal, as did Ms Dorriesm who is also considering legal action against Mr McBride.
Mr Draper is a former spin-doctor for the Labour party and now runs the LabourList blog.
The email chain was made pubic by Paul Staines, the writer of the Guido Fawkes blog, who has previously clashed with Mr Draper.