According to his own statement, Derek Draper had a tendency to be overconfident and arrogant. This trait sometimes caused his downfall.
However, even individuals who may have been ashamed of his actions acknowledged that he possessed a unique enthusiasm. Two ex-prime ministers took charge of the political accolades, with Tony Blair stating that Draper was “a person you constantly wanted as an ally”.
Blair described him as a resilient and occasionally unyielding strategist in politics. However, despite his tough demeanor, he was known to be a warm, compassionate, and benevolent individual whom one would be lucky to call a friend.
He played a critical role in the New Labour narrative, being involved from the very start. But above all, he was a valuable coworker and close companion. We will greatly feel his absence.
Gordon Brown praised Draper’s intelligence, creativity, and versatility.
In 1998, Draper initially gained attention due to his involvement in the “Lobbygate scandal”.
He was caught bragging to an undercover reporter from Observer in a manner that implied his clients could purchase access to Blair and his close-knit group.
According to a recording, Draper claimed to be familiar with all 17 individuals in this government, but that is an extreme exaggeration. At that point in time, he was employed by the lobbying company GPC Market Access and had previously worked as a researcher for Peter Mandelson, a key figure in New Labour.
Draper admitted to the Guardian that it was justifiable that he faced consequences for his arrogant behavior. He was swiftly suspended from the lobbying company and fired from his positions as a columnist at the Express and editor of the Labour publication, Progress.
He referred to it as the conclusion of a period of indulgence, spent “lounging at the Groucho Club and using drugs” or “pursuing an attractive new researcher.”
After the controversy, Draper experienced a mental breakdown and withdrew from the public eye. Following a four-week stay at the Priory, he began undergoing therapy. He later pursued a career as a psychotherapist after completing his training in Berkeley, California.
In 2005, he tied the knot with TV host Kate Garraway in a wedding that was covered by the celebrity magazine OK!. They are proud parents to two children, Darcey and Billy.
In 2003, he stated to the Guardian, “I have no desire to return to politics.”
In 2008, he re-entered the political arena to serve as an unpaid advisor to the Labour party.
He established the LabourList website, with the intention of creating a leftist option to the Conservative Home website and other conservative blogs. He is the son of a shop steward for British Leyland.
During the period when Michael Gove was a shadow minister, he referred to Draper as “irrepressible”.
According to him, Derek is comparable to a character in a story who has a significant presence but then suddenly disappears for a few parts before returning again. This creates a sense of uncertainty and risk because his actions are unpredictable.
In less than a year, Draper was compelled to step down from his role as the original editor of LabourList due to his involvement in a smear scandal linked to No 10.
Damian McBride, an aide to Gordon Brown, sent him an email detailing a scheme to disseminate harmful rumors about George Osborne, David Cameron, and other individuals.
“Without a doubt, exceptionally clever,” Draper foolishly responded. In his statement of resignation, he acknowledged that his earlier reply had been “foolish and impulsive” and that he should have immediately dismissed the idea as incorrect.
He stepped back from the public eye for a second time, declaring his focus on his therapy practice and reducing his political engagement to distributing pamphlets for his nearby Labour party.
Following his resignation, he released a self-help guide titled “Life Support: A Survival Guide for Today’s Soul.” This book was a departure from his previous work, “Blair’s Hundred Days,” which was criticized as being overly flattering. Rather than praising Blair, Draper openly shared his animosity towards him in this new publication.
I am still reflecting on the significance of his presence in my life and why I have such strong negative feelings toward him. It is taking some time for me to understand. However, I never claimed it would be simple.
Source: theguardian.com
