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Brown - I have never hit anyone PM denies mistreated staff claims
(about 5 hours later)
Prime Minister Gordon Brown has denied claims in a new book that he once hit a Downing Street adviser and swore at other members of his staff. Downing Street has rejected claims in a Sunday newspaper that Gordon Brown mistreated staff and was investigated over the issue by a top civil servant.
In an interview with Channel 4 News, Mr Brown was asked to respond to reports he was prone to outbursts of rage. The PM's spokesman said the Observer's claim a probe was ordered by Cabinet Secretary Sir Gus O'Donnell was "without foundation" and "malicious".
He said sometimes things were said "in the heat of the moment", but added: "I have never hit anyone in my life." Mr Brown admitted he could get angry, but denied he has ever been violent.
The interview came as Labour unveiled its election campaign themes under the slogan "a future fair for all". At a rally earlier, Mr Brown unveiled Labour's election campaign themes under the slogan "a future fair for all".
On Sunday, the Observer is to serialise extracts from a new book by its chief political commentator Andrew Rawnsley. Claims of staff being intimidated by violent outbursts from Mr Brown are made in extracts from a new book by the Observer's chief political commentator Andrew Rawnsley.
People who vote at an election have got a right to know who they are voting for Gordon Brown Earlier reports had suggested the prime minister would be accused of hitting staff, but no such allegation was made in the extracts published on Sunday.
Mr Brown, interviewed by Channel 4 News presenter Krishnan Guru-Murthy after giving his speech at Warwick University, was invited to respond to the reports including claims he had thrown objects. The PM's official spokesman said: "These malicious allegations are totally without foundation and have never been put to No 10."
Every morning I get up with a determination to do my best for this country Prime Minister Gordon Brown
A Cabinet Office spokesman added: "It is categorically not the case that the cabinet secretary asked for an investigation of the prime minister's treatment of Number 10 staff.
"These assertions have been put to the cabinet secretary who has rejected them."
'Unwelcome distraction'
In an interview with Channel 4 News, Mr Brown said things were sometimes said "in the heat of the moment", but added: "I have never hit anyone in my life."
The prime minister said: "If I get angry, I get angry with myself... I throw the newspapers on the floor or something like that, but please."The prime minister said: "If I get angry, I get angry with myself... I throw the newspapers on the floor or something like that, but please."
Pressed on whether he had ever hit anyone, Mr Brown said: "Let me just say, absolutely clearly, so that there is no misunderstanding about that: I have never, never hit anybody in my life." Mr Brown told Channel 4 News: "Of course you do get angry, mostly with yourself. But I'm very strong willed, I'm very determined.
'Completely untrue' There was speculation the election date might be announced at the rally class="" href="/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8526041.stm">Iain Watson's analysis
Mr Brown said: "Every morning I get up with a determination to do my best for this country. "I think the country wants someone that will push things forward, and not allow things to be stagnant and stale, and every morning I get up with a determination to do my best for this country."
The event resembled a Jerry Springer-style chat show; with an invited audience of "real people" and a few audience "plants" - in this case cabinet members Iain WatsonBBC political correspondent class="" href="/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8526041.stm">Iain Watson's analysis Mr Brown faced the newspaper allegations just hours after addressing a major rally at the University of Warwick, Coventry, where he urged voters to take "a second look" at Labour.
"Any allegations that have been made about hitting people or anything are completely untrue." BBC political correspondent Laura Kuenssberg said: "On the day when Labour was trying to tell the country that Gordon Brown deserves another chance to govern for another few years, it's at the very least an unwelcome distraction."
Mr Brown said he did not regret the candid TV interview with Piers Morgan earlier in the month. In his speech to party activists, Mr Brown said Labour would be "change makers" who stand up for "the many not the few" and pledged to address issues such as the economy and protect "frontline services".
"People who vote at an election have got a right to know who they are voting for, what they think, what lies behind the views they take, what are they about".
In his speech before party activists, Mr Brown urged voters to take "a second look" at Labour.
He said Labour would be "change makers" who stand up for "the many not the few" and pledged to address issues such as the economy and protect "frontline services".
Conservative leader David Cameron said the description of Labour as a party of fairness for all was "simply untrue" as it had "badly damaged" the UK.Conservative leader David Cameron said the description of Labour as a party of fairness for all was "simply untrue" as it had "badly damaged" the UK.
Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg said it was a "gratuitous insult for him now to claim the Labour Party cares about fairness when it has so spectacularly failed to deliver it".Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg said it was a "gratuitous insult for him now to claim the Labour Party cares about fairness when it has so spectacularly failed to deliver it".