Smeargate damages for Dorries and Watson
By politics.co.uk staff
Conservative MP Nadine Dorries and former Labour minister Tom Watson have received damages in separate claims following the spring’s ‘smeargate’ affair.
Ms Dorries, the MP for Mid-Bedfordshire, received an undisclosed sum from former Downing Street spin doctor Damian McBride.
Gordon Brown was forced to sack Mr McBride when it emerged he had suggested spreading malicious rumours about Tory MPs on a blog called Red Rag.
The damages related to the first of three claims for damages being pursued by Ms Dorries, who is suing for libel.
This afternoon she tweeted: “The first hurdle in clearing my name down. Two to go.”
In a separate case the Sun agreed to pay Mr Watson, now a member of the culture, media and sport select committee, damages.
It had alleged he had a direct involvement in plans for the Red Rag blog, which were swiftly abandoned after an email exchange revealing the smearing plans between Mr McBride and blogger Derek Draper emerged.
