London, Apr. 14 : Tom Watson is regarded as ruthless political hard man and a key ally of British Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

He sits feet away from Brown each day in his open-plan Downing Street war room.

The Cabinet Office minister has also been one of Labour’s leading bloggers — and was mentioned in one of shamed McBride’s emails suggesting dirty tricks against top Tories.

But Watson insists he knew nothing about the Internet smear conspiracy.

Despite his denials, he has form as a plotter. He was the driving force behind the “curry house coup” — a bid by Brownites to force Tony Blair to quit in 2006.

According to The Sun, he even visited Brown in Scotland the day before signing a letter with other plotters demanding Blair name his departure date. (ANI)