As I posted yesterday I predicted that those posting the smear e mails about the Opposition parties from within Downing Street would resign.

At 5p.m today the first casualty.

I fully expect BROWN to be under pressure to go by Wednesday to be replaced by probably Ed Balls as leader of Labour and then a snap election with Balls as leader promising to clean up the mess.

The NotW is to publish the story tomorrow ( today ). A big exclusive for Murdoch.......

I dont think this is a good way for UK politics - the News of the World possibly toppling the Prime Minister of the country - but it seems very possible.

So JK - you will say "good story" but when does a good story become something which undermines the country ?

BR - don't get me wrong; I hate the fact that "it's a good story" is the morality that governs everything this century, meejah, justice, politics...

But it's true. These days that's the only thing that is.

I don't think Brown will resign. He has too many fall guys.

Prime Minister Balls? Cant ever see that one myself. The man himself once said in a Guardian Q and A that it could have been worse. is mother could have called him Claude!!

Of course he won't resign. He can't control what emails his staff are sending, it has nothing to do with him whatsoever.

Actions of a Downing Street adviser have nothing to do with the PM whatsoever?

We don't really know what his personal involvement was, if any. But it's not just this. There has been a string of unacceptable behaviour by Labour officials since Brown came to office. The ultimate responsibility rests with the man at the top. He has failed as a leader.

You are right JK.

I think that many will say it has nothing to do with him - actually I agree it probably has not.

The problem is acountability. Where does the buck stop ?

These e mails came out from HIS office. If that happened in any company or other situation the person whose office it was would be either sacked or forced to resign.

I can see a clamour for his resignation from the media ( not the Tories who desperately dont want an election this year to inherit the 3 million unemployed.....) so I think by Wednesday he may go. His silence so far has been a sign that he is deeply angry and upset by this himself.

that's true. Afterall Alistair Campbell really ran the country whilst Blair was PM without Tony having a clue what was going on.

Still rumbling on after a half hearted attempt to write letters. Still no comment by Cameron and Osborne.

This shows no sign of going away with revelations that Brown met the writer during the week of the "Plot".

This has surely damaged the credibility of a Downing Street run by Brown ? how can he survive ?

I'm afraid I consider this entire episode an example of "a good story" dominating the schedule instead of more serious and crucial matters.

This century it will always be so.

I don't care how many scurrilous and snide e-mails get sent, I don't care whether anybody apologises and I don't care if anyone's feelings get hurt.

I do care that people are losing jobs, getting wrongfully convicted, making false allegations, starving to death, doing drugs...

And I care more about the erosion of civil liberties, the tapping of our phoes, the increased surveillance, the brutality of the police, etc. etc.

Why are the media so quiet about all this? It's a massive story, and it effects their freedoms as well as ours, but they treat it as no more significant than roadworks on the M6.

Yes - that's the most worrying thing of all; the total lack of backbone in all meejah outlets.
They dare not print the truth - even if it's actually A BETTER STORY!