British PM Gordon Brown Denies Bullying Staff

LONDON, Feb. 22, 2010 -- Britain's beleaguered prime minister, Gordon Brown, is once again embroiled in a political battle and this time, it's getting personal.

Today the prime minister faced accusations that he bullied members of his staff, both verbally and physically during his tenure in Downing Street. This charge, while vehemently denied, has been leapt upon by both his political rivals and will no doubt weaken his already vulnerable position in Britain's upcoming elections.

The allegations emerged this weekend in extracts of a book by British political journalist Andrew Rawnsley, which were published in a Sunday newspaper. Rawnsley claims that Mr Brown, well known for his irascibility, pulled a secretary from her chair, grabbed staff by their lapels, and went on four-letter-word rants that left colleagues cowering in fright.

According to Rawnsely, Brown's fits of rage were so bad that it caused Sir Gus O'Donnell, a senior government official, to consider an investigation into the prime minister's behavior. This was denied by O'Donnell in a statement. "It is categorically not the case that the cabinet secretary asked for an investigation of the prime minister's treatment of Number 10 staff."

Brown's allies also immediately came to his aid. Lord Peter Mandelson, business secretary and Labour Party stalwart, told a BBC talk show, "I don't think he so much bullies people as he is very demanding of people."

"He is demanding of himself, he is demanding of people around him, he knows what he wants to do, he does not like taking no for an answer from anyone, he will go on and on until he has got a policy and an idea in the best possible form which he can then roll out."

But these comments made by Mandelson to the BBC's Andrew Marr angered one viewer in particular: anti-bullying campaigner Christine Pratt. Chief executive of the National Bullying Helpline, Pratt told the BBC, "Over recent months we have had several inquiries from staff within Gordon Brown's office. Some have downloaded information; some have actually called our helpline directly and I have spoken to staff in his office."

No Tolerance Policy on Bullying

Pratt claimed that the denials of bullying from Downing Street could "compound the stress of those who believe they are being bullied."

"Now we are not suggesting that Gordon Brown is a bully, we're not in a position to judge or to comment in that respect. But we were concerned about the denials coming out of Number 10." Pratt said.

The prime minister's office today issued a response to Pratt's comments, quick to point out that no one from the anti-bullying organization had come forward to address the issues with them:

"At no time has the National Bullying Helpline contacted Number 10 about these allegations. We have rigorous, well established procedures in place to allow any member of staff address any concerns over inappropriate treatment or behavior. The Civil Service will continue to have a no-tolerance policy on bullying."

"This whole affair is starting to acquire a slight odor," Business Secretary Mandelson, told the press today. "I assumed this was a storm in a teacup, manufactured by somebody who wanted to get some headlines for a book, it now looks like more of a political operation that's underway directed at the prime minister personally".

Seizing an opportunity to score a political punch against Brown, Conservative party leader David Cameron today called a for an investigation into the claims and the Liberal Democrat leader, Nick Clegg, said the matter needed to "be cleared up."

"I even gather that Conservative Party press officers were active yesterday [Sunday], guiding journalists towards Mrs. Pratt, assuming that she had some fuel to throw on this fire," Mandleson said, hinting at the possible involvement of the opposition Conservative party in publicizing the allegation.

While the saga has caused political opponents to call for an investigation, Pratt's breach of confidentiality in going public with the allegations has caused uproar with other anti-bullying campaigners who say she acted inappropriately, even provoking the patron of the National Bullying Helpline, Professor Cary Cooper, to quit his position over her behavior.

Confidentiality Breach

"I am resigning now on the grounds that I think she breached confidentiality," said Cooper, a workplace stress expert. "One of the things that is really important for any helpline or any counseling service is to retain confidentiality of the people calling up."

This was later followed by another patron's resignation. TV presenter Sarah Cawood issued a statement saying that "in light of the recent events where confidential phone calls were made public, I feel it is no longer a campaign with which I would like my name to be associated."

The director of the National Bullying Helpline, Liz Carnell, said that she was horrified by Pratt's actions and would lodge a complaint with the British Charity Commission.

"Gordon Brown's office is small and the National Bullying Helpline's comment will almost certainly identify this person who turned to the helpline in despair," said Carnell. "We suggest Mrs. Pratt considers her position, given the damage she has caused to the anti-bullying sector, where confidentiality is paramount."

Downing Street would like to see an immediate end to the whole affair.

"We've got a country to run, that's what's important to us. Nobody bullies, nobody tolerates bullying in this government, in any part of this government, period, zero, and that's it, OK?" an exasperated Mandelson told reporters later today.

As Gordon Brown said in a recent interview, "I want to get things done, so I get up in the morning and say: 'Look, let's get this done.' And if that sounds grumpy, well, I don't think so."