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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 separate claims in a book about the PM's temper and by a bullying charity about the culture at No 10.It follows separate claims in a book about the PM's temper and by a bullying charity about the culture at No 10.
Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg said claims should be "cleared up". Lord Mandelson said they were unfounded and a "political operation" against the PM. The Lib Dems said claims should be "cleared up". Business Secretary Lord Mandelson said they were unfounded and part of a "political operation".
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. The row began with a story in the Observer based on a book by its chief political commentator, Andrew Rawnsley, which detailed incidents where Gordon Brown grabbed staff by the lapels, shoved them aside and shouted at them.
'Fresh start' 'Due process'
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. Lord Mandelson told the BBC on Sunday Mr Brown was "demanding" but "doesn't bully people".
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. But the National Bullying Helpline's chief executive, Christine Pratt, contacted the BBC to say a flat denial sent out the wrong message and she would expect Downing Street to follow "due process".
She said some people who had worked at No 10 had contacted the charity but said they had not accused Mr Brown personally of bullying.
NICK ROBINSON'S NEWSLOG Peter Mandelson is now claiming that there is a 'political operation' to undermine the prime minister. He has yet to say what he means by that or to provide any proof of it. Read Nick's latest blog in full Patron quits over 'bullying' row
Mr Cameron described the story as an "unseemly mess" and 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".
But Business Secretary Lord Mandelson, said: "This whole affair is starting to acquire a slight odour. But Ms Pratt has been criticised by another bullying charity and one of her charity's own patrons, Cary Cooper, who resigned complaining she had breached callers' confidentiality.
'Storm in a teacup'
Lord Mandelson, said: "This whole affair is starting to acquire a slight odour.
"I assumed that this was a storm in a teacup manufactured by somebody who wanted to get some good headlines for his book."I assumed that this was a storm in a teacup manufactured by somebody who wanted to get some good headlines for his book.
"It now looks like more of a political operation that's under way directed at the prime minister personally." "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." 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' Lord Mandelson: "We've got better things to do in our lives"
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. And he claimed that Conservative press officers had "guided" journalists towards Mrs Pratt's charity, assuming she had "some fuel to throw on this fire".
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. But the Conservatives said Downing Street was trying to "smear the messenger as they have done so many times before" and denied Tory press officers had "guided" Mrs Pratt.
FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME class="" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/default.stm">More from Today programme BBC deputy political editor James Landale said the charity had contacted a local BBC station independently on Sunday, which had passed on the information to the national BBC.
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". Mr Rawnsley's book claimed that Sir Gus O'Donnell, 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. His stories have been denied by Downing Street and the Cabinet Office.
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. They say Sir Gus never gave Mr Brown a verbal warning or launched an official investigation - Mr Rawnsley says his source was "24 carat" and he never said a formal inquiry had been launched.
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. Mrs Pratt said her charity had been contacted - by phone and through people downloading information from its website - by a small number of staff within Mr 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. 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 said: "Absolutely not, and nor have we said that Gordon Brown is a bully."
class="lp" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=7525&edition=1&ttl=20100222124432">HAVE YOUR SAY class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=7525&edition=1&ttl=20100222124432">Strong leadership is about making tough decisions - it is not about shouting, pointing fingers or pushing people around Tim, UK class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=7525&edition=1&ttl=20100222124432">Send your comments She added: "Our concern here is the public statement from No 10 of denial."
"Our concern here is the public statement from No 10 of denial. Downing Street said it had never been contacted by the charity about the allegations and had "rigorous, well-established procedures" for "staff to address any concerns over inappropriate treatment or behaviour".
"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." On Monday the prime minster's spokesman said: "Mrs Pratt has said there were no allegations about the prime minister and she has made that clear consistently. We don't know any detail of what has been suggested by Mrs Pratt and I don't think it is appropriate to make any further comment at this stage."
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. Tory MP Ann Widdecombe is a patron of the National Bullying Helpline, whose website also displays a statement of support from David Cameron. Miss Widdecombe has criticised Mrs Pratt's decision to go public, saying the helpline was supposed to be confidential.
And one of the charity's patrons, Professor Cary Cooper, resigned saying Mrs Pratt had breached callers' confidentiality - something she denies.
'Character with passion'
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."
FROM 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".
"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 has 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.