Angry charity boss sees red on Brown

Feb 22 2010 By Joe Churcher, The Journal

THE head of an anti-bullying charity hit out at Gordon Brown last night after revealing several Downing Street staff have called its helpline.

Christine Pratt said she had "seen red" after ministers rallied round to deny claims in a new book that the Prime Minister had been warned over his treatment of staff.

Lord Mandelson said the Prime Minister was emotional, demanding and impatient but not a bully after a new book detailed a string of alleged outbursts.

But Mrs Pratt, who founded the National Bullying Helpline after being a workplace victim herself, accused them of failing staff by "going into denial".

"I have personally taken a call from staff in the Prime Minister’s office, staff who believe they are working in a bullying culture and that it has caused them some stress.

"We would have hoped Gordon Brown would lead by example. If an employer receives complaints they should investigate," she said.

"I am not saying Gordon Brown is a bully, I am not a judge. But I am appalled at the outright denial that is going on without due process being followed."

Mrs Pratt said there had been "three or four" contacts with the helpline from Downing Street staff in recent years, although others were received before Mr Brown took charge.

The book, by Observer political commentator Andrew Rawnsley, details a string of alleged incidents of verbal and physical outbursts by Mr Brown.

Extracts published by the newspaper yesterday featured accounts of Mr Brown pulling a secretary from her chair, "roughly shoving" an aide and four-letter word-filled rants that frightened staff.

Mr Rawnsley said Cabinet Secretary Sir Gus O’Donnell was so concerned he delivered a "verbal warning" to the PM, although the Cabinet Office denied this.

But Mr Rawnsley said he was "100% sure", based on first-hand evidence, that Sir Gus had looked into Mr Brown’s behaviour and personally warned him to calm down. Lord Mandelson said yesterday of the Prime Minister: "There is a degree of impatience about the man. But what would you like, some sort of shrinking violet at the helm of the Government when we are going through such stormy waters?"

Mrs Pratt said: "I saw the Lord Mandelson statement that had a categorical denial that bullying was going on in Gordon Brown’s office. I saw red."

She said she could not give details of the allegations, such as whether Mr Brown himself was being accused of being part of the problem.

A Downing Street spokesman said: "At no time has the National Bullying Helpline contacted Number 10 about these allegations." He said procedures were in place to allow any member of staff to address concerns over treatment or behaviour, adding: "The Civil Service will continue to have a no tolerance policy on bullying."