Black ops (2)

Since my last post (at 12.59 a.m.) the BBC has picked up on Guido’s story and has named the author of the black ops e-mails as Damian McBride, the Prime Minister’s former press officer.

According to the story so far (and bear in mind that the No 10 damage limitation team has already swung into fevered activity), McBride was exchanging “juvenile and inappropriate” e-mails with Derek Draper, the psychotherapist former spin doctor who is now head honcho of the LabourList website.

A “source close to the Downing Street official” (not Mr McBride himself, one must imagine) has told the Telegraph that the e-mails were “ideas for some stories which could appear on a Left-wing version of the Guido Fawkes blog called Red Rag”. 

At least they’ve come up with an appropriate title.

The official Downing Street spokesman’s comment is a prime example of Labour spin:

“We are not aware of any security breach in the No 10 system.

“The Prime Minister knows nothing about these emails but the individual concerned has informed colleagues and apologised for any embarrassment or offence caused.”  

Some interesting observations and questions that will doubtless be put to No 10 as the story develops:

1. Why make the point about the security of the No 10 system? Not, surely, to imply that Guido may have got hold of whatever information he has by nefarious means?

2. But if the account was, as the Telegraph reports, hacked into, how can it seriously be suggested that there has been no security breach?

3. It is ludicrous to assert that “the Prime Minister knows nothing about these e-mails”. He obviously does, unless his spokesman has spared him the details to avoid offending his delicate sensibilities and is in the habit of making statements to the press without his authority. When, precisely, did Gordon discover what McBride was up to?

4. Why was a “high security Downing Street account” being used to send the “unfounded, innuendo-laden” e-mails? Is that a matter that can be allowed to go unpunished?

5. The BBC tells us that McBride’s present responsibility at No 10 is for “strategy and planning”. Planning for what, precisely?

6. Is McBride still on the public payroll? If so, at what salary?  Who does he report to?

7. If so, does Gordon Brown think it appropriate, in the light of this conduct, that he should continue as a civil servant?

8. Does LabourList enjoy the Prime Minister’s personal endorsement?

Finally, the issue shows the value of blogs such as Guido’s.  It is doubtful whether any of the mainstream press would have broken the story.