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| PM denies mistreated staff claims | PM denies mistreated staff claims |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Downing Street has rejected claims that the head of the civil service held his own investigation into claims Gordon Brown mistreated staff. | Downing Street has rejected claims that the head of the civil service held his own investigation into claims Gordon Brown mistreated staff. |
| The PM's spokesman said the claim in a book by the Observer's chief political commentator Andrew Rawnsley were "without foundation" and "malicious". | The PM's spokesman said the claim in a book by the Observer's chief political commentator Andrew Rawnsley were "without foundation" and "malicious". |
| Mr Brown admitted he could get angry, but denied he has ever been violent. | Mr Brown admitted he could get angry, but denied he has ever been violent. |
| His close ally Lord Mandelson told the BBC Mr Brown was "demanding of people" and himself but "doesn't bully people". | His close ally Lord Mandelson told the BBC Mr Brown was "demanding of people" and himself but "doesn't bully people". |
| Claims of staff being intimidated by outbursts from Mr Brown are made in extracts from a new book by Mr Rawnsley. | Claims of staff being intimidated by outbursts from Mr Brown are made in extracts from a new book by Mr Rawnsley. |
| 'Malicious allegations' | 'Malicious allegations' |
| 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. | 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. |
| The PM's official spokesman said: "These malicious allegations are totally without foundation." | The PM's official spokesman said: "These malicious allegations are totally without foundation." |
| Every morning I get up with a determination to do my best for this country Prime Minister Gordon Brown | 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. | 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." | "These assertions have been put to the cabinet secretary who has rejected them." |
| 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." | 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." |
| 'Very determined' | 'Very determined' |
| 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." |
| Mr Brown went on: "Of course you do get angry, mostly with yourself. But I'm very strong willed, I'm very determined. | Mr Brown went on: "Of course you do get angry, mostly with yourself. But I'm very strong willed, I'm very determined. |
| "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." | "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." |
| Brown is not a bully - Mandelson | |
| Business Secretary Lord Mandelson also dismissed the claims saying the Observer wanted to "flam up" its front page. | Business Secretary Lord Mandelson also dismissed the claims saying the Observer wanted to "flam up" its front page. |
| "They have all got books to sell, we in contrast have got a country to run and that's what we are going to get on with," he told BBC One's Andrew Marr Show. | "They have all got books to sell, we in contrast have got a country to run and that's what we are going to get on with," he told BBC One's Andrew Marr Show. |
| He said the book showed a "man who is quite emotional, who is quite passionate in what he believes and is doing ... who gets angry but chiefly with himself, who doesn't bully people". | He said the book showed a "man who is quite emotional, who is quite passionate in what he believes and is doing ... who gets angry but chiefly with himself, who doesn't bully people". |
| He added: "I don't think he so much bullies people as he is very demanding of people, he's demanding of himself, he's demanding of people around him. | He added: "I don't think he so much bullies people as he is very demanding of people, he's demanding of himself, he's demanding of people around him. |
| "He knows what he wants to do, he does not like taking no for an answer from anyone. | "He knows what he wants to do, he does not like taking no for an answer from anyone. |
| "On the way yes, there is a degree of impatience about the man, but what would you like? Some sort of shrinking violet at the helm when we are going through such stormy waters?" | "On the way yes, there is a degree of impatience about the man, but what would you like? Some sort of shrinking violet at the helm when we are going through such stormy waters?" |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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". | 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". |
| 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". |