Mad Nad' gets libel damages from McBride, says No 10 "a cesspit"

[Hopeless Romantic]

Tory MP targeted in 'smeargate' emails wins damages from No 10 adviser

Nadine Dorries, the Tory MP who was targeted in the ''smeargate'' emails, has said that she had been paid damages by the Downing Street adviser who resigned over the scandal.

Mrs Dorries welcomed the decision by Gordon Brown's former spin doctor Damian McBride to settle and expects it to strengthen her case in legal action against Number 10 itself.
Mrs Dorries said she hoped the development would stop people thinking there was ''no smoke without fire'' after she was reported to have been among proposed victims of a smear campaign.

The Mid Bedfordshire MP said she was unable to confirm the sum paid, which was reported to have amounted to £1,000 in damages and £2,500 in legal costs.

Mr McBride quit as the Prime Minister's special adviser in April after it was disclosed he had written to another Labour ex-adviser Derek Draper about plans for a ''Red Rag'' political gossip website.

It was suggested that the site - which never came into being - could include false rumours about the personal lives of Opposition figures and their spouses.

Mr Brown was forced to apologise for the emails amid heavy criticism of a ''dirty tricks'' culture within Number 10.

But Mrs Dorries said she would fight on for apologies and damages from Downing Street and Mr Draper to publicly expose the ''cesspit'' surrounding the PM.

''It was important for me that he admitted guilt. I have lived with the worry that people would think there was no smoke without fire. It was vitally important for me to clear my name.

''What he paid really was not the issue. It is important people know what a cesspit Number 10 has turned into.''

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/6462320/Tory-MP-targeted-in-smeargate-emails-wins-damages-from-No-10-adviser.html