A series of questions for Sir Gus O'Donnell

Francis Maude has written to the most senior member of the Civil Service, Sir Gus O’Donnell, with a series of questions about the smear campaign proposed by former Government aide Damian McBride.

In the letter, Francis stressed that the episode is of “fundamental importance
to the integrity of the conduct of government” and raised questions about the extent to which the Government thinks it can simply “ignore the rules”.

He went on to point out that Damian McBride was directly appointed by (and responsible to) the Prime Minister, and was therefore “hardly a peripheral figure” in the Government.

Francis, Shadow Minister for the Cabinet Office, closed the letter by asking for assurances that the “relevant codes are being rigorously enforced” to ensure there will be no similar episodes on the future.