Scott McClellan sought yesterday to justify writing a excoriating tell-tale account of his time as one of President Bush’s closest aides, saying that he had been guided by a “higher loyalty”.

Critics, including close colleagues and friends, have accused the former White House press secretary of betraying Mr Bush.

Others have described his book as “pathetic” or a desperate effort to make some money having become virtually unemployable since leaving his post.

Mr McClellan began a book promotion trawl through the TV studios yesterday, claiming that it was with deep reluctance that he had decided to vent his views. “The White House would prefer that I did not talk openly about my experiences,” he said.

“These words didn’t come to me easy — I’m disappointed that things didn’t turn out the way we all hoped they would.” Describing how he grew “increasingly dismayed and disillusioned” during his final year as press secretary, Mr McClellan pinpointed the controversy over the leaking of a CIA operative’s name — and the way he had been “deceived” over the involvement of White House officials — as his tipping point.

In his book, he wrote that the Bush Administration had decided “to turn away from candour and honesty when those qualities were most needed” in the build-up to the Iraq war. The President “almost guaranteed that the use of force would become the only feasible option”.

Trent Duffy, who worked as Mr McClellan’s deputy, said: “Here’s a man who owes his whole career to George W. Bush, and here he’s stabbing him in the back. He appears to be dancing on his political grave for cash.”

Mr McClellan said: “I have a higher loyalty than my loyalty necessary to my past work. That’s a loyalty to the truth.” He added: “The larger message has been sort of lost in the mix.”

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