Sorry seems to be the hardest word

The Conservatives have been asking Gordon Brown to apologise for the smear campaign that was discussed by Derek Draper and one or more others. The BBC are reporting under the heading "Brown 'sorry' over e-mail slurs" that:

"Prime Minister Gordon Brown has apologised over e-mails sent by his former aide Damian McBride.

Speaking on a visit Glasgow, Mr Brown said he was "sorry about what happened" and took "full responsibility". "

Now call me picky but has Gordon Brown said sorry for the slurs or just "what happened"? Is "what happened" the slur emails or the discovery of them?


The line that really made me laugh though was this one:

"The prime minister added: "I take full responsibility for what happens. That's why the person responsible went immediately.""

So Gordon Brown takes "full responsibility for what happens" and that is "why the person responsible went immediately". Surely if Gordon Brown takes full responsibility he should go immediately; no?


I am also a little confused by this; I have heard it reported that Gordon Brown said that all that could be done about Smeargate had been done and that the role of Tom Watson MP in this scandal had been explained. I am not sure that either of these statements is true; a full independent enquiry would get to the bottom of "smeargate" and the role of Tom Watson MP in this scandal has not been fully explored; until copies of all emails between Derek Draper and Damian McBride have been made public along with their distribution lists, I would say that many questions still remain unanswered.

I understand that Cabinet Secretary Sir Gus O’Donnell has ruled out an inquiry into whether Tom Watson knew about the "Smeargate" emails. Apparently he is happy to accept the minister’s denials and so the case is closed. Is anyone else (apart from Gordon Brown and Tom Watson) happy at this verdict? Do I smell the whiff of whitewash?


The prime minister added: "I take full responsibility for what happens. That's why the person responsible went immediately."