Pressure is growing for the embattled Labour spin doctor Jo Moore to resign, Ms Moore, a special adviser to the Transport Secretary Stephen Byers sent a memo just one hour after the September 11 attacks suggesting that it would be "a very good day to get out anything" the government wanted to "bury".
The Labour MP John Cryer was one of several who have called for her to step down. He described her as a "disgrace to the Labour party". Others have defended her. The Ealing MP Stephen Pound told Today she could not have realised the enormity of the attacks when she sent the controversial email.
Ms Moore has also been accused of trying to force a senior servant at the Department of Transport to "spin" unfavourable stories about London's transport commissioner Bob Kiley in order to undermine his campaign against the government's plans for part privatisation of the Tube.
Ms Moore apologised for her action just after the attack on the World Trade Centre saying "it was wrong to send the e-mail and I accept responsibility for doing so." She was reprimanded for sending the message and Downing Street said the Prime Minister, Tony Blair, was sorry for any offence caused to victims and their families. 91热爆 Secretary, David Blunkett, said that it was "an extraordinarily stupid thing to do."
Despite pressure for Ms Moore to resign both Mr Byers and Downing Street say that she still retains their confidence.
The government has denied rescheduling difficult announcements to take advantage of the media focus on the terror attacks. Ms Moore's email suggested issuing a controversial consultation document on councillors' allowances which was released the following day. However Downing Street insist that decisions to expand the Sellafield nuclear plant, cancel the Pickett's Lock athletics stadium and place Railtrack under administration were simply the "normal business of Government". The Conservative Chairman, David Davis, has urged Cabinet Secretary Sir Richard Wilson to investigate.
