UK opposition demands Brown apologise for aide’s slurs

Damian McBride, who was head of strategy and planning in Brown’s Downing Street office, proposed in one email a “campaign  of unfounded personal slurs” against senior Conservatives and  their wives in an attempt to embarrass the opposition as an  election approaches, the Sunday Times newspaper said.

Senior Conservative lawmaker William Hague told Sky News:  “We do want a clear apology from the prime minister himself.”

“It’s very important that he shows personally that he takes  this very seriously and gives his assurance that this sort of  thing is not going to happen again,” he added.

“If that is not an orchestrated dirty tricks campaign, I  don’t know what is,” added Conservative legislator Chris  Grayling, speaking to the BBC.

Conservative lawmaker Nadine Dorries, who was mentioned in  emails she described as false and libellous, said she was  seeking legal advice.

The Conservatives, keen to play up the impression of a  government in disarray as a general election looms within the  next 14 months, have stepped up their attacks on Brown.