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Clegg: Bullying claims 'serious' Cameron expects bullying inquiry
(about 1 hour later)
Allegations staff at Gordon Brown's office contacted an anti-bullying charity are "very serious", says Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg. Tory leader David Cameron has said there should be an inquiry into claims of bullying in Downing Street.
Mr Clegg told the BBC the allegations had to be "cleared up by No 10". He said he was sure that Number 10 and the civil service would want to "get to the bottom" of the "serious matters".
Charity boss Christine Pratt said she had not said staff had accused Mr Brown of being a bully but was concerned about a denial of any problem by No 10. It follows a row about claims made in a book about Mr Brown's behaviour towards staff and separate allegations from the head of an anti-bullying charity.
But a patron of the National Bullying Helpline has resigned, saying she had breached confidentiality of callers. Downing Street has dismissed the book's claims as "malicious" and "without foundation".
Workplace stress expert Professor Cary Cooper said it was "really important for any helpline or any counselling service is to retain confidentiality of the people calling up". And in a separate row, a patron of the National Bullying Helpline has stood down in protest at a breach of confidentiality by its chief executive Christine Pratt.
She said some people who worked at No 10 had contacted them - she said they had not accused Mr Brown himself of bullying.
'Fresh start'
Mr Cameron said: "I'm sure that Number 10 Downing Street and the civil service in some way will want to have some sort of inquiry to get to the bottom of what has happened here.
"One way for that to happen is for Sir Philip Mawer, who is in charge of policing the ministerial code, to be asked to look into this and to find out what has been happening and get to the bottom of it.
"To me, all of this just says we need to get on, have a general election and have a fresh start."
Earlier, Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg also said the allegations from the National Bullying Helpline were "very serious" and had to be "cleared up by No 10".
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 Patron quits over 'bullying' row
The row follows allegations about Mr Brown's behaviour towards staff, in a book by the Observer's chief political commentator, Andrew Rawnsley, published in the newspaper on Sunday.The row follows allegations about Mr Brown's behaviour towards staff, in a book by the Observer's chief political commentator, Andrew Rawnsley, published in the newspaper on Sunday.
'Demanding'
Mr Rawnsley said the head of the civil service had been so concerned about the reports that he had a private word with the prime minister about his behaviour.Mr Rawnsley said the head of the civil service had been so concerned about the reports that he had a private word with the prime minister about his behaviour.
'Demanding'
The stories have been denied by Downing Street and the Cabinet Office, and Business Secretary Lord Mandelson told the BBC on Sunday Mr Brown was "demanding" but "doesn't bully people".The stories have been denied by Downing Street and the Cabinet Office, and Business Secretary Lord Mandelson told the BBC on Sunday Mr Brown was "demanding" but "doesn't bully people".
But National Bullying Helpline chief executive Mrs Pratt contacted the BBC to say a flat denial was "non-credible" and sent out the wrong message to bosses facing bullying accusations. But National Bullying Helpline chief executive Mrs Pratt contacted the BBC to say a flat denial was "non-credible" and sent out the wrong message to bosses facing bullying accusations. She said on Monday she "saw red" when she heard Lord Mandelson's comments.
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 Patron quits over 'bullying' row
She said her charity had been contacted - by phone and through people downloading information from its website - by staff within Gordon Brown's office.She said her charity had been contacted - by phone and through people downloading information from its website - by staff within Gordon Brown's office.
Asked if anyone who contacted her had said Mr Brown had bullied them, she told the BBC on Monday: "Absolutely not, and nor have we said that Gordon Brown is a bully. But she told the BBC on Monday she did not know exactly how many calls were made, saying: "I knew that there were two or more from the deputy prime minister's office and another two or more from the PM's office. The number is irrelevant."
Asked if anyone who contacted her had said Mr Brown himself had bullied them, she told the BBC on Monday: "Absolutely not, and nor have we said that Gordon Brown is a bully.
"Our concern here is the public statement from No 10 of denial."Our concern here is the public statement from No 10 of denial.
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"We would just want Gordon Brown and No 10 to lead by example."We would just want Gordon Brown and No 10 to lead by example.
"We would have hoped that Gordon Brown would have said that he was looking into this, that due process was being followed, and that he takes these issues seriously.""We would have hoped that Gordon Brown would have said that he was looking into this, that due process was being followed, and that he takes these issues seriously."
Confidentiality Mr Brown's parliamentary aide Anne Snelgrove, who has had links with the charity, criticised Mrs Pratt.
Mr Brown's parliamentary aide Anne Snelgrove, who has had links with the charity, also criticised Mrs Pratt.
The Labour MP said she had severed those links when separate allegations had been made about the charity to her and Mrs Pratt had refused to meet her privately to discuss them - something Mrs Pratt denies.The Labour MP said she had severed those links when separate allegations had been made about the charity to her and Mrs Pratt had refused to meet her privately to discuss them - something Mrs Pratt denies.
Mrs Snelgrove said Mrs Pratt should demonstrate that "these calls really have come from staff at No 10" and questioned why she was going public with them. 'Character with passion'
Christine Pratt: Staff have concerns Mrs Snelgrove said Mrs Pratt should demonstrate that "these calls really have come from staff at No 10" and questioned why she was going public with them when she had not raised them with her or neighbouring MPs.
"At no point in the past, has Christine ever raised those allegations with me," she told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. Former deputy prime minister John Prescott said previous complaints about bullying in government departments had centred on civil servants not politicians.
"And I don't believe she's done that with my neighbouring Labour MP, and obviously not with [Conservative MP and patron of the charity] Ann Widdecombe." He said Mr Brown was "a character with passion, even he admits that, and sometimes he gets annoyed - a bit of my own personality I might say" but he added: "He gets things done."
She added: "I would've expected Christine to have raised them with at least one of us so that those allegations could have been taken up seriously because I take bullying at work seriously, as does the government, as does the civil service and we would want to react on any allegations of that type."
'Voiceless staff'
Mr Clegg said: "The allegations that junior staff, voiceless staff, have been going to a national bullying hotline seems to me to be very important.
"Bullying is wrong, it is totally out of order in whatever walk of life you work, however important you are."
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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.
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. Miss 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 Mrs Pratt's decision to go public, saying the helpline was supposed to be confidential.
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. Mrs Pratt told the BBC: "I am not political in any way."
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.
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