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Cameron expects bullying inquiry Cameron expects bullying inquiry
(about 1 hour later)
Tory leader David Cameron has said he expects there will be an inquiry into claims of bullying in Downing Street.Tory leader David Cameron has said he expects there will be an inquiry into claims of bullying in Downing Street.
He said he was sure that Number 10 and the civil service would want to "get to the bottom" of the "serious matters".He said he was sure that Number 10 and the civil service would want to "get to the bottom" of the "serious matters".
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. It follows separate claims in a book about the PM's temper and by a bullying charity about the culture at No 10.
Downing Street has dismissed the book's claims as "malicious" and "without foundation". Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg said claims should be "cleared up". Lord Mandelson said they were unfounded and a "political operation" against the PM.
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. The National Bullying Helpline's chief executive Christine Pratt said some people who had worked at No 10 had contacted the charity but had not accused Mr Brown of bullying.
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''Fresh start'
She said earlier she was "not political in any way" but "saw red" on Sunday when Lord Mandelson had denied any bullying at No 10, following allegations in the Observer. She said she would expect Downing Street to follow "due process" and investigate complaints.
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.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."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.
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
"To me, all of this just says we need to get on, have a general election and have a fresh start.""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".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 class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/nickrobinson/">Read Nick's latest blog in full class="" href="/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8527881.stm">Patron quits over 'bullying' row But Business Secretary Lord Mandelson, said: "This whole affair is starting to acquire a slight odour.
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. "I assumed that this was a storm in a teacup manufactured by somebody who wanted to get some good headlines for his book.
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. "It now looks like more of a political operation that's under way directed at the prime minister personally."
He said there had been no evidence of bullying at Number 10 adding: "There is zero tolerance for bullying in the government as a whole, and certainly at the centre of government."
'Demanding''Demanding'
The row began with 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.
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.
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. She said on Monday she "saw red" when she heard Lord Mandelson's comments. But National Bullying Helpline chief executive Mrs Pratt contacted the BBC to say his comments sent out the wrong message to bosses facing bullying accusations.
She said her charity had been contacted - by phone and through people downloading information from its website - by staff within Gordon Brown's office.
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.
FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programmeFROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme
"We would just want Gordon Brown and No 10 to lead by example. She said her charity had been contacted - by phone and through people downloading information from its website - by a small number of staff within Gordon Brown's office.
But she told the BBC on Monday she did not know exactly how many calls were made and 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.
"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."
Mr Brown's parliamentary aide Anne Snelgrove, who has had links with the charity, criticised Mrs Pratt. Mr Brown's parliamentary aide, the Labour MP Anne Snelgrove, who has had links with the charity, criticised Mrs Pratt and asked how she could have known the calls had come from No 10 staff.
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. And one of the charity's patrons, Professor Cary Cooper, resigned saying Mrs Pratt had breached callers' confidentiality - something she denies.
'Character with passion''Character with passion'
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.
Former deputy prime minister John Prescott said previous complaints about bullying in government departments had centred on civil servants not politicians.Former deputy prime minister John Prescott said previous complaints about bullying in government departments had centred on civil servants not politicians.
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."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."
FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programmeFROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme
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. Miss Widdecombe said it would be "quite a good idea" for Sir Gus to take "an informal look" at workplace conditions at No 10. 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 has criticised Mrs Pratt's decision to go public, saying the helpline was supposed to be confidential.
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.
Mrs Pratt told the BBC: "I am not political in any way."
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