Brown denies bullying as angry patrons quit charity over claims

THE head of the Civil Service has denied raising concerns with Gordon Brown over his behaviour and ruled out an investigation as patrons of an anti-bullying charity quit in anger over its founder's claims it had been contacted by Downing Street staff.

A spokesman for Mr Brown issued a fierce denial of allegations made in a new book by Andrew Rawnsley that the Cabinet Secretary Sir Gus O'Donnell had been forced to warn Mr Brown that his conduct towards some staff was unacceptable.

And in an interview with The Economist magazine, Mr Brown gave his first direct response since Mr Rawnsley's allegations were published.

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"The Cabinet Secretary has made it clear that he's had no inquiries, there's been no reprimand, there's been no private message to me... (The) story is completely wrong," he said.

The denials came as the National Bullying Helpline charity was plunged into crisis after its boss took the unusual step of going public with revelations it had received contact from stressed Downing Street staff.

The claims from Christine Pratt sparked the resignations of most of its leading patrons, including Tory MP Ann Widdecombe, TV presenter Sarah Cawood, and Yorkshire Post columnist Professor Cary Cooper, who all quit on the grounds Mrs Pratt betrayed the confidentiality of callers. A fourth, Mary O'Connor, is also believed to have stepped down.

Lord Mandelson claimed it was part of a "political operation" to undermine the Prime Minister.

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Among the allegations in Mr Rawnsley's book were that he pulled a secretary from her chair, shoved aside an aide, and yelled four-letter-words at frightened staff.

Downing Street last night said Cabinet Secretary Sir Gus O'Donnell saw no need for an inquiry into the allegations.

Mr Brown's spokesman said: "The Cabinet Secretary would like to make clear that he has never raised concerns with the Prime Minister about him acting in a bullying or intimidatory manner in relation to No 10 staff, let alone giving him any sort of verbal warning."

No complaints about Mr Brown had ever been made through the formal procedures during his time as Prime Minister, said the spokesman.

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Mrs Pratt had earlier claimed the helpline had received two calls from the Deputy Prime Minister's Office and two or more from Number 10 – although she acknowledged none referred to Mr Brown himself.

She said she was speaking out because she saw red" after Lord Mandelson categorically denied bullying in Mr Brown's office.

Mrs Pratt said: "Our concern here is the public statement from No 10 of denial, we would just want Gordon Brown and No 10 to lead by example."

Once her statement was made, Prof Cooper, a celebrated expert on workplace stress, announced he was standing down.

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"I am resigning now on the grounds that I think she breached confidentiality. One of the things that is really important for any helpline or any counselling service is to retain confidentiality of the people calling up."

And the director of the charity Bullying UK, Liz Carnell, supported him, stating she was "horrified" by Mrs Pratt's response. She added: "We suggest Mrs Pratt considers her position, given the damage she has caused to the anti-bullying sector, where confidentiality is paramount."

The Charity Commission said it would be contacting the National Bullying Helpline after receiving a number of complaints over the weekend.

Tory leader David Cameron called for Sir Philip Mawer, who polices the ministerial code, to investigate the "very serious" allegations.

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And Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg called on Downing Street to clear up exactly what had been going on to cause calls to a bullying helpline.

figures released last year said that there had been "fewer than five" cases in the previous three years of staff in the Cabinet Office – which includes Downing Street – being disciplined for bullying or harassment.