PM regrets slurs but no apology

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has written to Opposition Leader David Cameron and other Conservatives slurred in a smear campaign orchestrated by a trusted senior aide - but stopped short of issuing an apology.

In an attempt to limit the damage inflicted on him by the row, which led to the resignation of Damian McBride at the weekend, the Prime Minister has written to Sir Gus O'Donnell, the head of the civil service.

He asked him to tighten up the code of conduct governing special advisers, who are paid by the taxpayer but act as political advisers to ministers.

Although he stopped short of personally apologising for the emails, which included invented stories designed to smear members of the Conservatives, he said they were a "matter of great regret" and has written to the MPs targeted, including the party's leader, Cameron.

Downing St said the contents of the letters were private, but a Tory source confirmed they did not contain a personal apology.

Brown moved to counter any suggestion that the emails formed part of a broader smear campaign being orchestrated by his inner circle by stating that no other ministers or special advisers were involved.

"Any activity such as this that affects the reputation of our politics is a matter of great regret to me and I am ready to take whatever action is necessary to improve our political system," he said.

"I also think it right to make it a part of the special advisers' contract by asking our political advisers to sign such an assurance and to recognise that if they are ever found to be preparing and disseminating inappropriate material they will automatically lose their jobs."

The code for special advisers, drawn up in 2001 after concerns over their growing influence, also piles pressure on Brown to make a personal apology.

A spokeswoman for Cameron said the Tory leader welcomed the letter and the fact that he had "finally recognised the gravity of what has been happening in Downing St".

McBride, who advised Brown on strategy, resigned after he was found to have sent the emails.

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