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PM denies mistreated staff claims Brown not a bully, says Mandelson
(about 1 hour later)
Downing Street has rejected claims that the head of the civil service held his own investigation into claims Gordon Brown mistreated staff. Gordon Brown does not bully staff, Lord Mandelson has said, amid reports the PM was warned about his behaviour by the head of the civil service.
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 business secretary told the BBC Mr Brown was "demanding of people" and himself but "doesn't bully people".
Mr Brown admitted he could get angry, but denied he has ever been violent. The Observer said Sir Gus O'Donnell was so alarmed he had investigated claims Mr Brown's temper frightened staff.
His close ally Lord Mandelson told the BBC Mr Brown was "demanding of people" and himself but "doesn't bully people". Downing Street dismissed the "malicious allegations", the Cabinet Office denied Sir Gus had asked for an investigation.
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 Observer chief political commentator Andrew Rawnsley.
'Malicious allegations' 'Not the case'
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 they were "totally without foundation" and 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."
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
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."
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'
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.
"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.
Gordon Brown: "I have never hit anybody in my life" (Footage courtesy of Channel 4 News)
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 also received some support from former Home Secretary Jacqui Smith. She told the BBC: "He's never shouted and screamed at me and actually I haven't heard others saying that ... you can see sometimes when you look at him that he sort of looks slightly glowering. That tends to be when he's really focused on the sort of serious issues he has to deal with."
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". 'Very strong willed'
Earlier reports had suggested the prime minister would be accused of hitting staff, but no such allegation was made in the Observer.
Asked about those claims, Mr Brown told Channel 4 News things were sometimes said "in the heat of the moment", but added: "I have never hit anybody 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."
I say he made his own investigations and he gave a warning, a verbal warning to the prime minister about his conduct, and I am absolutely confident that happened, 100% sure Andrew Rawnsley
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."
Asked about Downing Street's denials of an investigation by Sir Gus on Sky News, Mr Rawnsley said: "I do not say he launched some formal inquiry, which would be an extraordinary thing for the cabinet secretary, I've no evidence of that.
"I say he made his own investigations and he gave a warning, a verbal warning to the prime minister about his conduct, and I am absolutely confident that happened, 100% sure."
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 and launched the party's election slogan "a future fair for all".
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".