Tory MP sues former No 10 adviser and blogger over e-mail smear

Published on Monday 7 September 2009 21:18

A CONSERVATIVE MP targeted in smear e-mails between Labour advisers launched defamation actions yesterday, employing two political bloggers to serve the writs.

Nadine Dorries embarked on legal action against former Number 10 special adviser Damian McBride, and former editor of the Labourlist website Derek Draper, after they were alleged to have sent a series of e-mails containing unfounded rumours about her and other Conservatives for a gossip website to be known as Red Rag.

Mr Draper's writ was served to his GMTV presenter wife Kate Garraway by Edinburgh University graduate Harry Cole, who writes the Tory Bear blog. A video of the delivery was later posted on his website. Paul Staines, aka Guido Fawkes, the blogger who broke the original story, said Mr McBride was handed legal papers as he started a new job at Finchley Catholic High School in London.

Mr Staines told The Scotsman he had suggested the stunt to Ms Dorries, MP for Mid Bedfordshire. He said: "I encouraged her to do it. She got copies of the original e-mails from me. I talked to her about the issues and I encouraged her to sue. "

Mr Cole, who is believed to be employed by Conservative Central Office, and whose own website was at the centre of a defamation row with Labour peer George Foulkes, said Mr Staines asked him to help serve the papers: "Derek Draper and smeargate was one of the biggest stories torybear.com ever covered so I was more than happy to have been of service," he said.

Mr McBride quit as Gordon Brown's special adviser after he admitted sending the e-mails to Mr Draper, who later quit as editor of the Labourlist website.