NO 10 OFFICIAL QUITS OVER E-MAILS

One of Gordon Brown's senior officials has resigned after sending e-mails which reportedly discussed smearing senior Conservatives.

Damian McBride, the prime minister's former political press officer, had apologised after the messages found their way to a Westminster blogger.

Paul Staines, writer of the Guido Fawkes blog, described the messages sent by Mr McBride as "obscene".

A Number 10 spokesman said the messages were "juvenile and inappropriate".

The e-mails are said to have included unfounded allegations about Conservative leader David Cameron and shadow chancellor George Osborne.

A spokesman for Number 10 said nobody in Downing Street knew of the e-mails and that it was Mr Brown's view that there was "no place in politics for the dissemination or publication of material of this kind".

The Tories said it was absurd that advisers were "plotting smear campaigns rather than focusing on how to help people affected by the downturn".

In his resignation letter, Mr McBride said he was "sickened" that Mr Staines had put the e-mails in the public domain and that he regretted embarrassing the government.

GUIDO FAWKES' VIEW Paul Staines, author of the Guido Fawkes blog Mission accomplished - McBride fired. These are e-mails that orchestrate a campaign against Tory MPs and opponents of Downing Street. This is not just a spat... this is evidence of a long-term smear operation run out of Downing Street. Guido Fawkes' blog

"I have already apologised for the inappropriate and juvenile content of my e-mails, and the offence they have caused," he said.

"We all know that when a backroom adviser becomes the story, their position becomes untenable, so I have willingly offered my resignation."

The e-mails were originally sent to former government spin doctor Derek Draper, who runs a pro-Labour blog, before they came to the attention of Mr Staines.

Mr Draper branded the idea of an orchestrated Downing Street campaign as "ridiculous".

He said he had been sent the comments after canvassing Labour supporters about the prospect of setting up another blog to combat "right-wing tittle-tattle" posted on the internet.

However, former home secretary Charles Clarke had led calls for Mr McBride to be sacked and said his actions had brought "shame" on the Labour Party.

Despite the resignation, BBC political correspondent Ross Hawkins said Gordon Brown may not escape the political fall-out.

"For years Damian McBride has been one of the prime minister's closest advisers, dealing with the press at the Treasury when Mr Brown was chancellor and moving with him to Downing Street," he said.

"His special adviser status meant he was allowed to give partisan - and sometimes strident - political briefings to journalists."

DEREK DRAPER'S VIEW Derek Draper, editor of Labour List blogging site It's a high price to pay isn't it for sending a silly e-mail to a mate, to lose your job. In truth these were a bit juvenile and inappropriate and some were in bad taste though I have to admit some were also brilliant and rather funny. The idea that this was some great smear campaign gives me and my internet work far too much credit and the idea that it was a big project orchestrated in Downing Street is ridiculous. Labour List

Mr Staines told the BBC: "The e-mails are intended to be anonymous smears; they are obscene in cases, and would be impossible for a newspaper to publish. They're libellous and they're untrue.

"In the e-mails, Damian McBride admits to using 'poetic licence'. He's a civil servant, he's exempt from the restrictions on being impartial and political, he's not exempt from telling the truth."

Conservative MP Nadine Dorries, who was mentioned in one of the e-mails, said: "I want an apology from the prime minister.

"It's completely unacceptable that this kind of behaviour takes place using taxpayers' money."

Shadow home secretary Chris Grayling said: "This whole episode has been quite disgraceful.

"This resignation is a clear admission that Gordon Brown's team at Number 10 were involved in a deliberate attempt to spread unpleasant false rumours about opposition politicians.

"Gordon Brown needs to provide a clear explanation about what happened and who else was involved."

Mr McBride, a special adviser in Downing Street, was removed from his job dealing with the media on a day-to-day basis in September 2008.

He had stayed on in Number 10, and was given responsibility for strategy and planning.

BBC NEWS REPORT.