Damian McBride
Encyclopedia
Damian McBride is a former civil servant and former special advisor to British Prime Minister
Gordon Brown
. McBride began his civil service career at HM Customs and Excise. He worked with Customs and Excise and rose to prominence as Head of Communications at the UK Treasury until 2008.
On 11 April 2009 he resigned his position after it emerged on a political blog that he and another prominent Labour Party
supporter, blogger Derek Draper
, had exchanged emails discussing the possibility of disseminating rumours McBride had fabricated about the private lives of some Conservative Party
politicians. The emails from McBride had been sent from his No. 10 Downing Street e-mail account.
to Irish
parents, McBride was educated at Finchley Catholic High School
, and attended Peterhouse, Cambridge
, where he read History, and wrote a final-year dissertation in praise of inciting violence and rumour-mongering in politics entitled Far More Important Than Politics? Public Policy and the Impact of Urban Riots, 1964-8. The thesis was supervised by Tony Badger
, who later commented "We disagreed over the value of the riots – I thought they were counter-productive – but he was very focused, and it was an excellent thesis" and tried to persuade McBride to do a PhD.
, and after coming to the attention of Mr Brown he was appointed Head of Communications at the department in 2003. Within two years he was working as Brown's special adviser, and masterminded Brown's campaign to become prime minister
in 2007.
McBride was revealed to have sent an email to Sky Television
in December 2006 in which he attacked it for using Stephen Byers
and Alan Milburn
, two former cabinet ministers who had been close to Tony Blair
as Labour commentators. Some in the Labour Party called for his resignation, but he survived. In 2008 he was reported to have been involved in a power struggle with Gordon Brown's senior strategist, Stephen Carter which resulted in Carter being ousted from his position and given a peerage and ministerial position.
During the 2008 Labour Party Conference he was criticised after briefing journalists about Ruth Kelly
's resignation as Secretary of State for Transport
several hours before she was due to make an official announcement on the subject. Following the incident he ceased to deal with the media on a regular basis and was appointed Head of Strategic Planning in Downing Street.
On 11 April 2009 it was reported by the Daily Telegraph that McBride had sent a series of emails to former Labour Party official Derek Draper
discussing plans to set up the controversial Red Rag
blogsite which would be used to post rumours they had made up about the private lives of senior members of the Conservative Party
and their spouses. These false rumours would have included sexual and personal allegations about certain Tory politicians and their spouses, including Nadine Dorries
, David
and Samantha Cameron
, and George
and Frances Osborne
. McBride conceded in his emails that he had used "poetic licence" in respect of existing gossip and rumours.
The emails, which had been sent from the Downing Street Press Office, were acquired by Paul Staines
, author of the right-wing Guido Fawkes blog who brought them to the attention of the media. The Guido Fawkes blog claimed that the publication by the Daily Telegraph was a breach of an agreement. Mr McBride resigned later the same day, and 10 Downing Street issued an apology for the "juvenile and inappropriate" emails. Gordon Brown later sent personal letters to those who had been mentioned in the emails, expressing his regret over the incident, but Conservative politicians called for him to make a public apology. Mr Brown apologised five days later while on a visit to Glasgow
, saying that he was sorry about what had happened.
Brown apologised for a second time on 22 April at the first Prime Minister's Questions
following the Parliamentary Easter recess after Nadine Dorries
asked him if he would like to take the opportunity to apologise to her. On 25 April it was confirmed that Dorries intended to take legal action against McBride for the false allegations which had been made against her. On 7 September 2009 it was confirmed that Dorries would sue McBride and Derek Draper, and also take legal action against 10 Downing Street.
In his first interview on the subject of the email scandal in July 2009, McBride revealed that when he told Brown what he had done, the Prime Minister was so angry that he could not speak. Mr Brown had also felt "incredibly let down". He also insisted that his job as special adviser
to the Prime Minister had not involved this type of work and that emailed slurs were not characteristic of the way the Prime Minister ran his government.
Following his resignation from Downing Street McBride applied for the post of Business Liaison Officer at his former school, Finchley Catholic High School
and started work there in July 2009.
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the Head of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Parliament, to their political party and...
Gordon Brown
Gordon Brown
James Gordon Brown is a British Labour Party politician who was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Labour Party from 2007 until 2010. He previously served as Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Labour Government from 1997 to 2007...
. McBride began his civil service career at HM Customs and Excise. He worked with Customs and Excise and rose to prominence as Head of Communications at the UK Treasury until 2008.
On 11 April 2009 he resigned his position after it emerged on a political blog that he and another prominent Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
supporter, blogger Derek Draper
Derek Draper
Derek William Draper is a former lobbyist, former editor of the LabourList website, and psychotherapist. As a political advisor during the 1990s he became widely known for his role in two political scandals, "Lobbygate" and "Smeargate".-Biography:Draper was educated at Southlands High School in...
, had exchanged emails discussing the possibility of disseminating rumours McBride had fabricated about the private lives of some Conservative Party
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
politicians. The emails from McBride had been sent from his No. 10 Downing Street e-mail account.
Early life
Born in 1974 and raised in North LondonNorth London
North London is the northern part of London, England. It is an imprecise description and the area it covers is defined differently for a range of purposes. Common to these definitions is that it includes districts located north of the River Thames and is used in comparison with South...
to Irish
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
parents, McBride was educated at Finchley Catholic High School
Finchley Catholic High School
Finchley Catholic High School for Boys is in North Finchley, part of the London Borough of Barnet.-Admissions:Finchley Catholic High School is, as its name declares, a faith school; it is also - up to the end of Year 11 - exclusively for boys...
, and attended Peterhouse, Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
, where he read History, and wrote a final-year dissertation in praise of inciting violence and rumour-mongering in politics entitled Far More Important Than Politics? Public Policy and the Impact of Urban Riots, 1964-8. The thesis was supervised by Tony Badger
Tony Badger
Anthony John "Tony" Badger is the Paul Mellon Professor of American History at Cambridge University and Master of Clare College, Cambridge. He is a specialist in post-World War II Southern American political history.-Life:...
, who later commented "We disagreed over the value of the riots – I thought they were counter-productive – but he was very focused, and it was an excellent thesis" and tried to persuade McBride to do a PhD.
Career
Following a career with HM Customs and Excise, McBride joined the Treasury while Gordon Brown was Chancellor of the ExchequerChancellor of the Exchequer
The Chancellor of the Exchequer is the title held by the British Cabinet minister who is responsible for all economic and financial matters. Often simply called the Chancellor, the office-holder controls HM Treasury and plays a role akin to the posts of Minister of Finance or Secretary of the...
, and after coming to the attention of Mr Brown he was appointed Head of Communications at the department in 2003. Within two years he was working as Brown's special adviser, and masterminded Brown's campaign to become prime minister
Labour Party (UK) leadership election, 2007
The 2007 Labour Party Leadership Election was formally triggered on 10 May 2007 by the resignation of Tony Blair, Labour Leader since the previous leadership contest on 21 July 1994...
in 2007.
McBride was revealed to have sent an email to Sky Television
Sky Digital (UK & Ireland)
Sky is the brand name for British Sky Broadcasting's digital satellite television and radio service, transmitted from SES Astra satellites located at 28.2° east and Eutelsat's Eurobird 1 satellite at 28.5°E. The service was originally launched as Sky Digital, distinguishing it from the original...
in December 2006 in which he attacked it for using Stephen Byers
Stephen Byers
Stephen John Byers is a British Labour Party politician who was the Member of Parliament for North Tyneside from 1997 to 2010; in the previous parliament, from 1992, he represented Wallsend...
and Alan Milburn
Alan Milburn
Alan Milburn is a British Labour Party politician, who was the Member of Parliament for Darlington from 1992 until 2010...
, two former cabinet ministers who had been close to Tony Blair
Tony Blair
Anthony Charles Lynton Blair is a former British Labour Party politician who served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2 May 1997 to 27 June 2007. He was the Member of Parliament for Sedgefield from 1983 to 2007 and Leader of the Labour Party from 1994 to 2007...
as Labour commentators. Some in the Labour Party called for his resignation, but he survived. In 2008 he was reported to have been involved in a power struggle with Gordon Brown's senior strategist, Stephen Carter which resulted in Carter being ousted from his position and given a peerage and ministerial position.
During the 2008 Labour Party Conference he was criticised after briefing journalists about Ruth Kelly
Ruth Kelly
Ruth Maria Kelly is a British Labour Party politician of Irish descent who was the Member of Parliament for Bolton West from 1997 until she stood down in 2010...
's resignation as Secretary of State for Transport
Secretary of State for Transport
The Secretary of State for Transport is the member of the cabinet responsible for the British Department for Transport. The role has had a high turnover as new appointments are blamed for the failures of decades of their predecessors...
several hours before she was due to make an official announcement on the subject. Following the incident he ceased to deal with the media on a regular basis and was appointed Head of Strategic Planning in Downing Street.
On 11 April 2009 it was reported by the Daily Telegraph that McBride had sent a series of emails to former Labour Party official Derek Draper
Derek Draper
Derek William Draper is a former lobbyist, former editor of the LabourList website, and psychotherapist. As a political advisor during the 1990s he became widely known for his role in two political scandals, "Lobbygate" and "Smeargate".-Biography:Draper was educated at Southlands High School in...
discussing plans to set up the controversial Red Rag
Red Rag
The Red Rag blogsite was at the centre of a UK political scandal that became known as smeargate. The scandal broke on 11 April 2009 when it was reported by the Daily Telegraph that Gordon Brown's special adviser, Damian McBride, had sent a series of emails to left wing political blogger Derek...
blogsite which would be used to post rumours they had made up about the private lives of senior members of the Conservative Party
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
and their spouses. These false rumours would have included sexual and personal allegations about certain Tory politicians and their spouses, including Nadine Dorries
Nadine Dorries
Nadine Vanessa Dorries is a British Conservative Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament for Mid Bedfordshire since 2005. She has been involved in parliamentary attempts to change the laws on abortion....
, David
David Cameron
David William Donald Cameron is the current Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service and Leader of the Conservative Party. Cameron represents Witney as its Member of Parliament ....
and Samantha Cameron
Samantha Cameron
Samantha Gwendoline Cameron , often known simply as "Sam Cam", is a British business executive and wife of David Cameron, the current Conservative Party leader and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom....
, and George
George Osborne
George Gideon Oliver Osborne, MP is a British Conservative politician. He is the Chancellor of the Exchequer of the United Kingdom, a role to which he was appointed in May 2010, and has been the Member of Parliament for Tatton since 2001.Osborne is part of the old Anglo-Irish aristocracy, known in...
and Frances Osborne
Frances Osborne
Frances Osborne is a British author. She is the eldest daughter of former and current Conservative Cabinet Minister David Howell, Baron Howell of Guildford and Cary Davina Wallace....
. McBride conceded in his emails that he had used "poetic licence" in respect of existing gossip and rumours.
The emails, which had been sent from the Downing Street Press Office, were acquired by Paul Staines
Paul Staines
Paul Staines is an English-born Irish right-wing political blogger. Writer of the pseudonymous "Guido Fawkes' blog of parliamentary plots, rumours & conspiracy", which had as of February 2009, 118,000 visitors per month, his political blog has been described as "one of Britain's leading political...
, author of the right-wing Guido Fawkes blog who brought them to the attention of the media. The Guido Fawkes blog claimed that the publication by the Daily Telegraph was a breach of an agreement. Mr McBride resigned later the same day, and 10 Downing Street issued an apology for the "juvenile and inappropriate" emails. Gordon Brown later sent personal letters to those who had been mentioned in the emails, expressing his regret over the incident, but Conservative politicians called for him to make a public apology. Mr Brown apologised five days later while on a visit to Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, saying that he was sorry about what had happened.
Brown apologised for a second time on 22 April at the first Prime Minister's Questions
Prime Minister's Questions
Prime minister's questions is a constitutional convention in the United Kingdom that takes place every Wednesday during which the prime minister spends half an hour answering questions from members of parliament...
following the Parliamentary Easter recess after Nadine Dorries
Nadine Dorries
Nadine Vanessa Dorries is a British Conservative Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament for Mid Bedfordshire since 2005. She has been involved in parliamentary attempts to change the laws on abortion....
asked him if he would like to take the opportunity to apologise to her. On 25 April it was confirmed that Dorries intended to take legal action against McBride for the false allegations which had been made against her. On 7 September 2009 it was confirmed that Dorries would sue McBride and Derek Draper, and also take legal action against 10 Downing Street.
In his first interview on the subject of the email scandal in July 2009, McBride revealed that when he told Brown what he had done, the Prime Minister was so angry that he could not speak. Mr Brown had also felt "incredibly let down". He also insisted that his job as special adviser
Special adviser
Special adviser may refer to:*Special advisers *Special advisers *Special Advisor for Green Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation*United Nations Special Advisers, see Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations...
to the Prime Minister had not involved this type of work and that emailed slurs were not characteristic of the way the Prime Minister ran his government.
Following his resignation from Downing Street McBride applied for the post of Business Liaison Officer at his former school, Finchley Catholic High School
Finchley Catholic High School
Finchley Catholic High School for Boys is in North Finchley, part of the London Borough of Barnet.-Admissions:Finchley Catholic High School is, as its name declares, a faith school; it is also - up to the end of Year 11 - exclusively for boys...
and started work there in July 2009.