After book by political journo points out Gordon Brown's abusive behaviour, it has been revealed that Downing Street staff called anti-bullying helpline
After book by political journo points out Gordon Brown's abusive behaviour, it has been revealed that Downing Street staff called anti-bullying helpline
The row over British Prime Minister Gordon Brown's 'volcanic temper' took an extraordinary turn last night as the head of an anti-bullying charity revealed a number of Brown's staff had contacted heru00a0 organisation asking for advice.
Christine Pratt, chief executive of the National Bullying Helpline, said three or four calls had been made in recent years. She added she would expect any employer in this situation not to "go into denial, but to look into it, to follow due process".
Outright denial could "compound the stress of those who believe they are being bullied", she added.
"We are not suggesting that Gordon Brown is a bully, what we are saying is staff in his office working directly with him have issues, and have concerns, and have contacted our helpline.'
Patt's revelations come ahead of a publication of a new book by a top British political journalist that alleges Brown of "abusive behaviour" and "volcanic eruptions of foul temper".
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| The Other Side |
| Last night Brown was asked by a Channel 4 News presenter about the claims in the new book. Brown said, "If I get angry, I get angry with myself." When asked if he throws things, he replied, "I throw the newspapers on the floor or something like that, but please... I have never hit anybody in my life." |
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The book, by Observer political commentator Andrew Rawnsley to be released on March 1, details a string of alleged incidents of verbal and physical outbursts by the British PM.
Demanding Brown Pratt's extraordinary statement came just hours after Business Secretary Peter Mandelson scotched claims that Brown had been abusive to his staff.
"I don't think he so much bullies people as he's very demanding of people. He's demanding of himself, he's demanding of people around him," Mandelson said on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show yesterday.
The charity chief described Mandelson's defence of the prime minister as a 'nonsense.'
