Smeargate - some background

This article from The Telegraph last October may give some useful background on the Downing Street bunker.

"Mr Brown has decided to spend some of his time working in Downing Street surrounded his closest aides.

He will sit centrally with six to eight advisers on desks either side of him. They will include his political secretary, senior civil servants, and other advisers.

...

"Like the hub-and-spoke it is designed to ensure that communication lines are clear and decisions can be made swiftly."

Those closest to Mr Brown at "the hub" will be Liam Byrne, the Cabinet Office Secretary, Tom Watson, a junior minister under Mr Byrne and close confident of the Prime Minister, Gavin Kelly, his political secretary, and Sue Nye, his veteran gatekeeper. They will be joined at various times by other senior figures – including Lord Mandelson and Baroness Vadera - when particular issues are being dealt with.

...

Mr McBride, loyal and trusted friend of Mr Brown since his days at the Treasury, has not left the scene at Number 10, but was instead moved sideways into a strategy role. "

Thanks to John Ward in Medway for The Telegraph spot.