Anti-bullying helpline reopens

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The charity at the centre of a row over claims of bullying at Downing Street has reopened.

The National Bullying Helpline was suspended on Wednesday amid a row after chief executive Christine Pratt said staff from No 10 had contacted her.

Ms Pratt was widely criticised for going public and has offered to resign.

The Charity Commission has said it will prevent any more details of calls being disclosed and is also investigating the helpline after getting 160 complaints.

Mrs Pratt spoke out last weekend following allegations in a book about Gordon Brown's temper and behaviour towards staff.

'Public trust'

She insisted the calls she received from No 10 did not relate to Mr Brown but all four patrons of the helpline resigned in protest at her actions, saying she had breached the confidentiality of those involved.

The helpline was temporarily suspended on Wednesday, after the charity said it was considering its future, but a message on its website said it had now reopened.

Announcing its inquiry on Thursday, the Charity Commission said it had a duty to "promote public trust and confidence in charities".

It said it would ensure the helpline's trustees "continue to protect this confidential and sensitive information" and would not allow any information to be disclosed, including details about the nature and source of the confidential calls it has received, without its approval.

On Tuesday, the publicist Max Clifford said he had spoken to Mrs Pratt and told her she needed to provide evidence of her allegations.

The row began on Sunday with a story in the Observer - based on a book by journalist Andrew Rawnsley - alleging that Mr Brown grabbed staff by the lapels, shoved them aside and shouted at them.

No 10 has flatly denied Mr Brown ever acted in a bullying or intimidating way towards civil servants.