Sleaze claims Advisers warned Blair over loss of cabinet's moral authority
The Guardian|December 30, 2021
The extent of New Labour infighting, and of Tony Blair's struggle with allegations of sleaze, has been underscored by Cabinet Office papers that show No 10 aides privately thought Gordon Brown could have breached the ministerial code.
Kevin Rawlinson, Caroline Davies
Sleaze claims Advisers warned Blair over loss of cabinet's moral authority

Files released to the National Archives show that in 1998, Blair's chief spin doctor, Alastair Campbell, urged him to privately rebuke Clare Short, then the international development secretary, after she publicly denounced colleagues as “vultures”.

And Blair's chief of staff, Jonathan Powell, warned him in the same year that he needed to get to grips with what he saw as a lack of discipline among government ministers, expressing concern about ministerial probity.

So grave was the problem thought to be that No 10 considered creating a "commissioner for ministerial ethics” to shore up public trust.

Powell even went so far as to suggest in writing to Blair that there was reason to suspect that his closest political friend and, ultimately, greatest political rival, Gordon Brown, was breaching strict rules on ministerial standards, an offence for which a cabinet member would usually be expected to resign.

Denne historien er fra December 30, 2021-utgaven av The Guardian.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra December 30, 2021-utgaven av The Guardian.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA THE GUARDIANSe alt
Bentancur to get long ban over alleged racist remark
The Guardian

Bentancur to get long ban over alleged racist remark

Tottenham are resigned to Rodrigo Bentancur being given a lengthy ban of at least six matches by the Football Association for making an allegedly racist remark about Son Heung-min.

time-read
1 min  |
November 14, 2024
Kane faces Carsley axe Shock as captain set to be left out for crunch Greece match
The Guardian

Kane faces Carsley axe Shock as captain set to be left out for crunch Greece match

Harry Kane is set to be a shock omission from Lee Carsley's England team for tonight's must-win Nations League match against Greece in Athens.

time-read
3 mins  |
November 14, 2024
Infantino to avoid scrutiny with virtual 2026 draw
The Guardian

Infantino to avoid scrutiny with virtual 2026 draw

Gianni Infantino will avoid any scrutiny of the controversial decision to give the 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia next month after Fifa opted to stage the qualifying draw for the 2026 tournament as a virtual event.

time-read
2 mins  |
November 14, 2024
Gordon heeds England's call as no-shows hinder Carsley
The Guardian

Gordon heeds England's call as no-shows hinder Carsley

While a depleted side face tricky tests against Greece and Ireland, there will be big opportunities for some

time-read
4 mins  |
November 14, 2024
Lawrence caps quick Chelsea comeback after Agnew's early strike
The Guardian

Lawrence caps quick Chelsea comeback after Agnew's early strike

Chelsea's aspiration of claiming this season's Women's Champions League was hardly in danger as Murphy Agnew handed Celtic a shock lead.

time-read
3 mins  |
November 14, 2024
Paul's big-money fight is a circus but the YouTuber is no clown
The Guardian

Paul's big-money fight is a circus but the YouTuber is no clown

Despite the absurd persona, his business savvy and support of female fighters must be acknowledged

time-read
4 mins  |
November 14, 2024
Tyson offers reminder of boxing's glory days before weary return
The Guardian

Tyson offers reminder of boxing's glory days before weary return

Former Baddest Man on the Planet is reflective but determined in open workout as he gears up for inglorious fight with YouTuber, reports

time-read
4 mins  |
November 14, 2024
Lineker leaves second BBC presenting role
The Guardian

Lineker leaves second BBC presenting role

Gary Lineker has stepped down from his role as presenter of Sports Personality of the Year (Spoty), the BBC has confirmed.

time-read
1 min  |
November 14, 2024
Coe pulls no punches with his IOC pitch
The Guardian

Coe pulls no punches with his IOC pitch

Sebastian Coe has promised to introduce an \"uncompromising and clearcut\" policy to protect women's sport and to look into awarding prize money to all Olympic medallists if he is elected International Olympic Committee (IOC) president.

time-read
2 mins  |
November 14, 2024
Slade vows 'not to shut up shop' against Springboks
The Guardian

Slade vows 'not to shut up shop' against Springboks

England are looking to banish their autumn frustrations at South Africa's expense this Saturday and have vowed \"not to shut up shop\" against the reigning world champions.

time-read
2 mins  |
November 14, 2024