Douglas Alexander denies book’s claims about sister

Labour’s Douglas Alexander insisted he “always supported” his sister, despite claims from Gordon Brown’s former spin doctor that he “dispassionately” advised the then prime minister that she would have to quit her role as the party’s Scottish leader.

Wendy Alexander stood down from the post in 2008 because of a row about donations to her leadership campaign.

In his memoirs, Damian McBride claims that Ms Alexander’s brother told Mr Brown that his sister would have to stand down to “avoid further damage”.

Mr Alexander said he has not read Mr McBride’s book Power Trip and does not intend to.

“He was discredited when he left Downing Street and that’s really all there is to say.”

* Meanwhile Ed Miliband has come under pressure to reveal what he knew about the systematic smear campaigns which Damian McBride has admitted orchestrating to destroy the careers of Labour rivals.

Mr McBride has laid bare details of the methods he used to see off potential threats, including former home secretaries John Reid and Charles Clarke, at a time when he was determined to ensure that Mr Brown succeeded Tony Blair as prime minister.