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| Labour challenges bullying claims | Labour challenges bullying claims |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Labour has gone on the offensive over Gordon Brown's temperament after an anti-bullying charity said it had been contacted by staff from his office. | |
| The prime minister's Parliamentary aide called for evidence of the calls from the National Bullying Helpline. | |
| Charity boss Christine Pratt has said she spoke out in anger at government denials of staff mistreatment in No 10. | |
| The Observer had reported that civil service head Sir Gus O'Donnell warned the PM about behaviour towards staff. | The Observer had reported that civil service head Sir Gus O'Donnell warned the PM about behaviour towards staff. |
| Labour MP Anne Snelgrove - who is the prime minister's Parliamentary private secretary - said the charity "needs to demonstrate that these questions really have come from staff at Number 10". | Labour MP Anne Snelgrove - who is the prime minister's Parliamentary private secretary - said the charity "needs to demonstrate that these questions really have come from staff at Number 10". |
| "Why is she [Ms Pratt] going public with this rather than taking it up privately if these phone calls were genuine?" | "Why is she [Ms Pratt] going public with this rather than taking it up privately if these phone calls were genuine?" |
| In 'denial' | In 'denial' |
| The charity's chief executive told the BBC that its helpline had been called three or four times by Downing Street staff in the last three or four years. | The charity's chief executive told the BBC that its helpline had been called three or four times by Downing Street staff in the last three or four years. |
| Christine Pratt: Staff have concerns | Christine Pratt: Staff have concerns |
| Ms Pratt added: "Over recent months we have had several inquiries from staff within Gordon Brown's office. | Ms Pratt added: "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." | "Some have downloaded information; some have actually called our helpline directly and I have spoken to staff in his office." |
| She said she would expect any employer in this situation not to "go into denial, but to look into it, to follow due process". | She said 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 said. | Outright denial could "compound the stress of those who believe they are being bullied", she said. |
| "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." | "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." |
| What Labour had hoped would be a one-day story is getting wind in its sails BBC deputy political editor James Landale | What Labour had hoped would be a one-day story is getting wind in its sails BBC deputy political editor James Landale |
| Downing Street said it had never been contacted by the charity about the allegations, a No 10 spokesman adding that it had "rigorous, well established procedures" for "staff to address any concerns over inappropriate treatment or behaviour". | Downing Street said it had never been contacted by the charity about the allegations, a No 10 spokesman adding that it had "rigorous, well established procedures" for "staff to address any concerns over inappropriate treatment or behaviour". |
| "The civil service will continue to have a no tolerance policy on bullying," the spokesman said. | "The civil service will continue to have a no tolerance policy on bullying," the spokesman said. |
| Warning claim | Warning claim |
| Reports of Mr Brown's alleged mistreatment of staff appeared in extracts from a book by the Observer's chief political commentator Andrew Rawnsley. | Reports of Mr Brown's alleged mistreatment of staff appeared in extracts from a book by the Observer's chief political commentator Andrew Rawnsley. |
| The book includes details of incidents where it is alleged Mr Brown grabbed staff by the lapels, shoved them aside and shouted at them. | The book includes details of incidents where it is alleged Mr Brown grabbed staff by the lapels, shoved them aside and shouted at them. |
| Downing Street says the reports are "malicious allegations" that are "without foundation". | Downing Street says the reports are "malicious allegations" that are "without foundation". |
| I have not seen any of that behaviour in all the time I have been at No 10 or an MP Labour MP Anne Snelgrove | I have not seen any of that behaviour in all the time I have been at No 10 or an MP Labour MP Anne Snelgrove |
| Responding to the allegations, Business Secretary Lord Mandelson said: "I don't think he so much bullies people as he is very demanding of people." | Responding to the allegations, Business Secretary Lord Mandelson said: "I don't think he so much bullies people as he is very demanding of people." |
| Other members of the cabinet rallied to the prime minister's defence, with Home Secretary Alan Johnson saying that in 17 years he had "never" heard Mr Brown raise his voice. | Other members of the cabinet rallied to the prime minister's defence, with Home Secretary Alan Johnson saying that in 17 years he had "never" heard Mr Brown raise his voice. |
| A Cabinet Office statement said: "It is completely untrue to say that the cabinet secretary ever gave the prime minister a verbal warning about his behaviour". | A Cabinet Office statement said: "It is completely untrue to say that the cabinet secretary ever gave the prime minister a verbal warning about his behaviour". |
| Mr Rawnsley told the BBC his source for the story was "24 carat". | Mr Rawnsley told the BBC his source for the story was "24 carat". |
| 'Non-political' | 'Non-political' |
| BBC deputy political editor James Landale said Ms Pratt's claims had "put paid" to Labour's hopes that "allegations about Gordon Brown's temper would fade once the Sunday papers were forgotten". | BBC deputy political editor James Landale said Ms Pratt's claims had "put paid" to Labour's hopes that "allegations about Gordon Brown's temper would fade once the Sunday papers were forgotten". |
| "What Labour had hoped would be a one-day story is now getting wind in its sails and disrupting even further the party's election plans." | "What Labour had hoped would be a one-day story is now getting wind in its sails and disrupting even further the party's election plans." |
| Mrs Snelgrove questioned why the National Bullying Helpline had "popped up out of the blue when all of this is happening around Gordon". | Mrs Snelgrove questioned why the National Bullying Helpline had "popped up out of the blue when all of this is happening around Gordon". |
| NICK ROBINSON'S NEWSLOG The woman who told the BBC her National Bullying Helpline was called by three people who worked with the prime minister is now at the centre of a political storm Read Nick's latest blog in full | NICK ROBINSON'S NEWSLOG The woman who told the BBC her National Bullying Helpline was called by three people who worked with the prime minister is now at the centre of a political storm Read Nick's latest blog in full |
| She added: "Life is too short to work for someone who is a bully and I would not be working for Gordon if he was a bully. | She added: "Life is too short to work for someone who is a bully and I would not be working for Gordon if he was a bully. |
| "I have not seen any of that behaviour in all the time I have been at No 10 or an MP." | "I have not seen any of that behaviour in all the time I have been at No 10 or an MP." |
| Tory MP Ann Widdecombe is a patron of the charity, whose website also displays a statement of support from Conservative leader David Cameron. | Tory MP Ann Widdecombe is a patron of the charity, whose website also displays a statement of support from Conservative leader David Cameron. |
| Lord Mandelson's Department for Business recommends the helpline to businesses. | Lord Mandelson's Department for Business recommends the helpline to businesses. |
| The charity says it is non-political, and the BBC has found no evidence of any political involvement by Ms Pratt or the helpline. | The charity says it is non-political, and the BBC has found no evidence of any political involvement by Ms Pratt or the helpline. |
| Ms Widdecombe said it would be "quite a good idea" for Sir Gus to take "an informal look" at workplace conditions at No 10. | Ms Widdecombe said it would be "quite a good idea" for Sir Gus to take "an informal look" at workplace conditions at No 10. |
| But she criticised Ms Pratt's decision to go public, saying the helpline was supposed to be confidential. | But she criticised Ms Pratt's decision to go public, saying the helpline was supposed to be confidential. |