Call for inquiry into Gordon Brown 'bullying' claims

Labour says it wants proof that there has been bullying in the PM's office

Tory leader David Cameron has called for an inquiry into claims of bullying in Downing Street.

It's after the head of an anti-bullying phoneline revealed they have had calls from the prime minister's office but Labour says it wants proof.

The claims, which started in a Sunday newspaper, claim that Gordon Brown had intimidating, even aggressive moments with some of his staff.

Journalist Andrew Rawnsley knows Labour very well and says the prime minister was warned by his top civil servant to calm down.

He says his source for the claim is 24-carat but Downing Street denies there was a warning.

He said: "He was angrily impatient with one of the garden girls as they're known, because their room overlooks the back garden at number 10."

'Demanding'

Late on Sunday, the National Bullying Helpline got involved, with founder Christine Pratt saying there had been several calls from staff in the prime minister's office.

She said: "I knew that there were two from the deputy prime minister's office and another two or more from the PM's office."

But speaking on Monday's Today programme on Radio 4, Christine Pratt said no one had come forward to specifically say Gordon Brown had bullied them.

"Absolutely not. Nor have we said that Gordon Brown is a bully."

His people have been out defending him over the weekend, even Peter Mandelson.

He's now a top minister but in the past he's told people that Gordon Brown was out to destroy him.

"He knows what he wants to do," he said. "He does not like taking no for an answer. I don't think he so much bullies people as is very demanding of people.

"He's demanding of himself. He's demanding of people around him."

The focus now is on the National Bullying Helpline. It is little known but has praise from Conservative politicians on its website.

There are questions of why it decided to break the rule of anonymity for the people who called.

At the heart of the whole issue is character.

Gordon Brown is trying to soften up his image - there was a touchy feely TV interview with Piers Morgan last week that went well but this could set that back.

Meanwhile, a patron of National Bullying Helpline has resigned.

Professor Cary Cooper says the decision to get involved in a political row breached confidentiality.