• Insider: ‘Brown constantly on verge of an explosion...'
• ES Comment: The PM cannot shrug off these allegations
• Blog: Gordon Brown and bullygate
• Comment: Brown says character matters. How right he is

Reader views (97)

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Kerry, Purley - your comments would be amusing if they weren't so sad, and not a little arrogant.

"Tory puppet"? How so? Because she revealed a truth that proved detrimental to the "Beloved Leader"? If something is automatically a Tory plot in your seething mind, for no other reason that it doesn't praise the alleged glories of socialism and its demi-gods and their own hand-puppets in demagoguery, then it suggests a well and truly bridled intellect for all of your ability to toggle up a spell-checker.

About the only thing I would agree with you on is that the woman should not have responded to the doubtless unending onslaught by the press and others demanding a response. I will not go so far as to sneer and cast aspersions however. That would be rather rude, I think.

- Rogan, Irving, 22/02/2010 23:24
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Anew slogan for Labour. If it's Brown flush it down

- Mo, witham uk, 22/02/2010 20:48
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I had the misfortune to watch two news channels today on which that utter buffoon John Prescott appeared. He is the one rolled out when there is a story to hide, spin or decieve over. His hysterical, shouting, blustering and tongue tied performance did Labour more damage than ten allegations of Brown's bullying. The two interviewers, one on Sky the other on Channel 4 were insulted, shouted down and subjected to listening to potential libellous comments which both commented on to Prescott. With Brown as our PM and this idiot Prescott as the ex Deputy PM what more can one say about this Labour Government - bring on the election, then they can both bully each other - hopefully in retirement in the Outer Hebrides, or further away if at all possible.

- M. Clift, Worcester. UK., 22/02/2010 19:52
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I am quite amazed when the labour tribalists get into shouting mode about 'a lack of policies' from the Conservatives. Labour are shouting from the rooftops that they have NO PLAN to deal with the deficit, claiming that the mess they caused is so confusing that they have to wait until the end of the year to see what happens to the economy. And this is supposed to be the team in charge.

- John Bell, Nottm, UK, 22/02/2010 18:02
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If Brown is innocent, why hasn't he stated that he would welcome an enquiry? My feeling is that he IS a bully, and has always been a bully. I also believe he needs urgent psychiatric attention. The true sadness and tragedy are that our nation has deteriorated so awfully since 2nd May 1997. The country is ruined, thanks to the incompetence of (New) Labour.

- John Blenkinsop, West Yorkshire ENGLAND, 22/02/2010 18:02
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Someone is being economical with the truth.However is it really relevant to the vast majority in the country that our leader "kicks the furniture"?

- Jim, London, 22/02/2010 17:38
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This is going to back fire on the Tory spin machine...silly sods , look at our other Gordan, Mr Ramsey, getting the job done means getting the job done and if someone takes it the wrong way every now and again so be it...its a tough life, and there are tough situations, I for one am glad we have someone in power that doesn't shirk from that just in case they are seen in a bad light...I'm sure Junior Cameron would've not raised his voice, maybe he would of asked his mummy what she thought..

- Richard Cassar, London, UK, 22/02/2010 17:12
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Leaving aside Rawnsley' book and the charity helpline's disclosure,I note that the Standard's report mentions that a former No 10 aide has told them that staff were frequently "stunned" by Brown's abusive behaviour. Lord Mandelson's accusation against the Tories, offered without any evidence, begins to look just a little bit desperate. Is he really trying to suggest that everyone is lying or aligned with the Tories to smear Brown? Saying that Brown is passionate, but difficult to work with, is not an excuse for bad behaviour, including bullying. If our PM cannot control his temper, it is legitimate to ask if he is in the right job.

- James Elliott, Eastbourne, UK, 22/02/2010 17:07
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so mandelson denies what is plainly obvious and a charity involved complains ....I'd say shot himself in the foot rather than tory tricks ..

- Kevin, Chichester, 22/02/2010 16:51
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What was life in No 10 like with Maggie Thatcher? I don't imagine it was a picnic.

- Andy, london, 22/02/2010 16:43
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Oh it's so good to see all the new labour trolls doing what precisely they say Brown is not doing!!

After a succession of ministers, elected and unelected, try to spin and bully their way out of another fine mess I, and hopefully the majority of the country, look on wistfully and wish there was an election tomorrow to get rid of these wasters and abusers for ever

- Oggy Oggy Oop, uk, 22/02/2010 16:32
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I think Christine Pratt is right to have spoken up, organisations do cover up, and particularly if say a chief, or senior staff are involved. Someone has to breakdown the culture of lies about bullying, and internal procedures that totally miss the psychological dynamics and nature of bullying.

- Fran, Eastbourne, 22/02/2010 16:02
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Because we are the party of fairness for all rather than the few, everyone will be bullied and hectored regardless of background, gender or class. You can't say fairer than that!

- David S., Burgess Hill UK, 22/02/2010 15:50
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black arts, machavalian pots calling kettles black,
a trio of witches sitting in cobwebbed caves stirring
steaming, spewing cauldrons of eyes of newts,toads tales,
roadkill remains and puppy dog tails while recanting ancient oaths of honesty,loyalty, hypocracy,platitudes, myth and magic with fingers crossed behind backs and false faces of ingrity.

- M.O'Brien, london.uk, 22/02/2010 15:50
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The clunking fist in its truest form

- Dominique, london, 22/02/2010 15:50
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Yes nothing to worry about here. The man in charge of the country prone to irrational outbursts and fits of uncontrollable rage. What could possibly go wrong?

- East, London, 22/02/2010 15:48
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infamy..infamy..they've all got it in for me

- Bernard Hazell, gibraltar, 22/02/2010 15:44
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An inquiry, perhaps the Tory party could fund this exercise because it is obviously a national emergency.

- Bob, London, 22/02/2010 15:42
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Janicebyrne makes a very good point about a stitch up which is much more worrying than "is he or is he not a bully"-it is this:Can anyone who can be harassed in this way publicly be trusted with such high office?Does it not show somewhere that he is his own worst enemy with not very much support?Do we want a leader so disrespected that he can be stitched up in this way?

- Amoreno, Luxembourg, 22/02/2010 15:41
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Seems like a lot on here think that the 'one eyed son of the Manse' is innocent. Downing Street has more liars in it, especially when the Cabinet attends, than anywhere else in the UK.

- Roy Lewis, Swindon, 22/02/2010 15:18
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Is he a bully, Isn’t he a bully, is now almost irrelevant. There has been strong anecdotal evidence to suggest that all is not sweetness and light within No 10, pointing vaguely that Brown had a rather “unpleasant” side to his nature; so that none of this should surprise any balanced and reasonably well informed elector. All that Rawnsley’s book does was to give a tad more credence to this vagueness. What is surprising was the weekend reaction of the New Labour spin dept, and Brown himself trying to “contradict” and “deflect” something that most people vaguely accepted. If, for once, Mandy had kept his gob shut, the bullying helpline (Mrs Pratt) would not have so completely contradicted him.
There is now a much stronger belief that Rawnsley underreported what he wrote and that Brown has been “proved” to be unpleasant.
Certainly, any floating voter will
a) now tend to believe it and
b) not give a damn about the morality of Mrs Pratt's contradiction, if it proves to be correct. It becomes the truth.
Shame Piers Morgan! all your hard work to get the man perceived as soft and cuddly and most electable, has been blown up by Mandy’s Mouth.
Now there is the next conspiracy theory, why would Mandy want to politically shaft Gordon just before an election ???!!!

- D. West, Templecombe. UK, 22/02/2010 15:14
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Worth remembering that the Civil Service Code points people at the Health & Safety Executive's website for further help on bullying at work & the HSE site RECOMMENDS the National Bullying Helpline - so yes, it is quite likely that civil servants in number 10 rang the adviceline.

- Sarah, The North, 22/02/2010 15:13
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Cameron needs to be much more subtle on this one. What is the point of asking Downing St for an inqury into itself? I am sure he can milk this one steadily right through the election campaign if he is clever enough. It will be interesting to see how PMQs tomorrow pan out, or will Brown duck it and leave it to Harperson?

- Sandy, Ealing, London, 22/02/2010 15:04
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I agree with Brian G - and to see John Prescott insulting the newscaster interviewing him this morning, and Peter Mandelson jabbing his finger repeatedly at the journalists in front of him just now, is quite creepy. Perhaps it all comes from insecurity because their leader wasn't actually voted in by the people.

- Pip, London, 22/02/2010 15:01
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New election slogan: Brown is a Pussy Cat

- Sandy, Ealing, London, 22/02/2010 14:56
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The Punch & Judy show arrive at Saatchi Gallery.

- Frank, Copenhagen, Denmark, 22/02/2010 14:44
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forget Rawnsleys book think of when Browns mental stablity was questioned by members of his own party years ago so if you want to blame anyone for revealing the real Gordon Brown then look no further than the likes of Mandelson and the rest.
Browns mental stability was never a Tory subject.

- Pat, Sussex, 22/02/2010 14:43
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Just look at all the agitated Labour supporters. Methinks a nerve has been hit.

- Kevin T, Beckenham, Kent, 22/02/2010 14:39
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Pratt by name, Prat by nature. This charity needs closing down, it has abused the trust of clients who rang in confidence (if in fact they did). the rules have been broken or at least not strictly adhered to, by a Tory puppet. This farce says more about the shallowness and vileness of the Tories than it does about Brown. of course the Tory apologists who regularly appear on here will no doubt spew forth their invective, (without using the spellcheck/grammer check), but all it has done is prove the paucity of any political argument the Tories have. It's pathetic and frankly disturbing.

- Kerry, Purley, 22/02/2010 14:32
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So now its Camerons fault that a left wing labour person wrote a book about what was happening in office.

I think that the cabinet should stop blaming the tories and take a good look at themselves.

As for the tories stick to the policies please.

- C Cusano, Bedford, 22/02/2010 14:16
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I think that there is more to this story than meets the eye. No doubt that Brown is a difficult man to work with. He is not a team player and has poor person management skills. But what of the motivations of Mrs Pratt? There is some question whether she was in contact with the Conservatives prior to the allegations being made public. Secondly, these matters should have been treated with the strictest confidentiality. Her credibility and reputation is somewhat tarnished after making this public.

- Bleeding Heart Liberal, London, 22/02/2010 14:05
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Poor old Gordon Brown has become a victim of the NuLabour work place he helped create. In a previous life you could raise your voice to your staff and tell them they were doing a poor job (if they were), clear the air...and move on.
It is almost certain that like their boss, his staff & cabinet ARE doing a poor job....and we the public would also like a chance to say so.....Its called an election. BRING IT ON!!!

- Clifftop, London, 22/02/2010 14:02
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"I expect Brown's private office are hoping that he loses the elction,(sic) just so that some decency and calm enters their office."

It'll be just bread rolls and champagne bottles ala Bullingdon Club.

- Delboy, London, UK, 22/02/2010 13:58
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So this is what's become of politics in modern day Britain. Tit for tat slanging matches that have nothing to do with policies. It's all so juvenile in the extreme.

- Simon, LDN, 22/02/2010 13:32
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An inquiry, would you expect anything better from Cameron?

- Graham, London, 22/02/2010 13:28
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Now we know what to expect from David Cameron in the run up to the general election. Nothing on the economy, the country's debt management, unemployment, crime but plenty on bullying, women only shortlists and the likes. Bendy buses next? Worked for Boris, apparently.

- Come Up And See Me Sometimes, London, 22/02/2010 13:27
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Delboy London UK - don't upset yourself so, go and lie down in a darkened room to try and calm down.

- Dee Jay, Fleet Hampshire, 22/02/2010 13:24
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So now we have a one eyed megalomaniac with handwriting issues and strange facial mannerisms pretending to be Prime Minister storming around Downing street chucking his weight about and threatening his advisers every five minutes?,personally I dont think he is a bully,just totally deranged and in urgent need of a wraparound jacket and a one way plane ticket back to Scotland ASAP......he's probably homesick!!.

- Jacob, You can't argue with a sick mind Britain., 22/02/2010 13:17
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What are these two looking so happy about. They have lead britain to the brink of economic disaster. I have to watch the British pounds performance again other currencies. I must tell you its a disaster.
Top menm like Weis famous for the bank rating agency has been writing for the last twenty years ever more desperate warnings that this man ignored. Wiliam reece Mogg Dale McAlavaney and many other highly respected Financial annalysts have been sounding ever more like the great prophets of old. Everything they have said is coming to pass.
The very next thing in this scenario predicted by these and othetrs is hyper inflation because food prices go through the roof and taxes are going to shoot up.
So I ask you. Why are they laughing? They have destroyed Britian.

- Jas, Camberley UK, 22/02/2010 13:15
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Great photo of a couple of clowns.

- Dee Jay, Fleet Hampshire, 22/02/2010 13:15
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Anyone who believes this rubbish should read 'Smear!' by Stephen Dorril and Robin Ramsay. It seems the smears of the 70's against a Labour government are being resurrected. Less than a week after Brown's personal image was given a boost by the Morgan interview someone crawls out of the woodwork to unethically abuse their position and spread stories. That is all they are without proof which will never arrive. Cameron keeps saying the government is in its final days then says this story is actually very important and the PM should be investigated, fancy that.

- Dan, London, 22/02/2010 13:10
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Thats right Cameron,lets have yet another Inquiry that the TAX payer can foot the bill for.These rich boys think the working and middle class can be taxed to death so he can gain some political points.

- Dave, london, 22/02/2010 13:10
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Have these complaints been recorded as a 'grievance' by the employees, in accordance with ACAS guidelines? This step in the mandatory procedures has either not been completed, or has unaccountably been overlooked!

- Stewart, West Yorkshire, 22/02/2010 12:58
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Oh Gord, after all that effort to emote with Piers Morgan last week... To show that you were like the poor minions whom you rule. It must make you want to cry.... Or rant.

But, as one who has been bullied for years by Labour's stiffling culture of political correctness, 4000 new criminal offences since 1997, 'elf & safety rules etc etc I really find I can only laugh at the irony.

- David, London, 22/02/2010 12:58
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I think it was Tony Blair who warned us about Gordon's 'clunking fist'! I did not take it literally at the time, but he now looks like a beast who is capable of hitting at anything and anybody who gets in his way. Even his forced smile is that of a cartoon viper.

- Beatriz, London, 22/02/2010 12:43
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This sideshow is taking all the focus off the key issues that dramatically affect the country.

We've had years of spend spend spend in boom times with little to show for it apart from a phenomenal national debt. We've seen nothing competent to curb the banking excesses, the bloated public sector is out of sync with the private sector etc. The list is endless.

All this character assasination of Brown detracts from his 'achievements' as Chancellor/Sub-Prime minister by which he should truly be judged.

- Dave, London, 22/02/2010 12:42
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I expect Brown's private office are hoping that he loses the elction, just so that some decency and calm enters their office.

Blair has some responsibility for the matter of course - he unleashed this unsuitable man on Number 10 and on the country.

Brown is no leader and, in the real world outside politics, would be the subject of union criticism. What do the trade unions have to say about bullying politicians?

- Lester May, Camden Town, London, 22/02/2010 12:39
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I may be a bit dull. But what is the manner of the physical assaults which have been referred to in the same breath as the verbal assaults?

I could imagine the PM hurling phone books across the room
[but phone books are becoming inceasingly scarce].
Equally, I could imagine him poking a subordinate with a pencil or a ruler.
The PM is a big man, and it is possible that he has taken hold of a junior officer by the lapels and shaken him.
I recall a teacher at Studley [Warwicks] C of E school casually taking hold of one's ear when one was not paying attention.
The sooner we have a complete report, the better!

- Jeff Herbert, melbourne, Australia, 22/02/2010 12:31
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Ah, yes, this must be the clunking fist we've heard so much about, though, all this time I thought it was a metaphore, I think Blair was really trying to tell us something about this mentally inbalanced Scotsman.

- Dominique, london, 22/02/2010 12:31
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Interviewed by Channel 4, the lady who made the allegations has said that two of the calls came from the "Deputy Prime Minister's Office" in the last 18 months. She was then informed that there has been no Deputy Prime Minister's Office since Prescott left in 2007. Brown may well be a bully but this woman is harming herself, her charity and the public's trust in the charity sector. She also now appears to be making things up based on the "Deputy PM Office" reference.

- Stg, Peckham, London, 22/02/2010 12:11
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When a bully sits in Downing Street and has the gall and hypocrisy to lecture the country about fairness, it is not surprising that Ms Pratt feels unable to remain silent.

- Andrew, Hampton Hill, 22/02/2010 12:11
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I suspect it is nothing more than Gorrdon Brown setting himself high standards and expecting the same of those who work for him. Bear in mind these people are running the country; which is in a borderline depression and involved in a war. In Mrs Thatcher's era Ms Pratt's line would have ben melting with "handbagged" staff. Also Ms Pratt's timing smells of something rather nasty Just go away and take calls from Gordon Ramsay's staff!

- Michael De Ferrari, London, 22/02/2010 12:09
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If Mr Brown is being stitched up, perhaps that’s because he has destroyed the UK and upset a lot of people?

Alternatively, given that Mandelspin told us there has been no bullying inside Number 10, then I suspect the opposite is true.

Finally, it’s quite possible that this is all a big spin to show us that, after the crying on TV debacle, Brown is really quite tough.

All I know is that Brown is the worst PM this country has ever had and the sooner we are rid of him, the sooner the country can start moving forward.

- St, London, 22/02/2010 12:01
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Brown has, all his life, and it is becoming worse the older he gets, employed deceit, lying, obfuscation and bullying to gain the misnomer of competence.
History will record this individual as the worst Chancellor and worst Prime Minister this country has ever had to tolerate.

- Bingham Macnamara, lymington, hampshire, 22/02/2010 12:00
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So leader of Charity talks to Tories and then decides to go public. Then when asked about it on TV she denies having talked to the Tories before speaking out and then refuses to discuss it. Give her a safe seat and a job Dave she'll fit in well with your cabinet.

- Harold West, Acton England, 22/02/2010 12:00
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Typical Labour spin: their leader is a delusional bully and all they can think to do is blame the Tories for supporting the organisation that blew the whistle on the PMs management style.

Shame that Gordo can't bully his way to sorting out the economy, NHS, education and transport.

- Nobby Clark, Perth, the Scottish one, 22/02/2010 11:58
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Remember the moment Gordon Brown stood up at the Lord Mayor's Banquet at the Mansion House wearing a tacky lounge suit and crumpled shirt when everyone else was in their evening finery, all to make some political point about equality?
In those heady days of nascent Blairism, people chuckled and dismissed it saying "oh that's Gordon for you." We should have known better!
It was in fact a telling self-portrait of an arrogant, uncompromising, intolerant loner, totally unsuited mentally for the give and take of playing in a democratic team - let alone leading one, whatever his alleged intellectual capabilities.
That this man was allowed to get away with sabotaging the better ideas of Blairism while promoting his own statist objectives virtually unchallenged for so long is one of the biggest disgraces of NU-Labour's MPs.

- Martyn L, kingston, 22/02/2010 11:54
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Perhaps I have misreadf the sequence of events but why did she not try to contract No. 10 first and notify them of the issues/concerns and try and resolve the difficulties.

To come out into the press/media with this makes it all very dubious. Is this the way things are normally done and surely those who have complained should have been notified first?

- Richard, London, 22/02/2010 11:48
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Lets see Gordon (if he turns up) at PM's question time on wednesday, maybe the despatch box will break under his thumping?

- Tojo, Hythe, 22/02/2010 11:48
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All Mrs Pratt did was provide independent corroberation of some of the allegations in Mr Rawnsley's book, which is why Brown and his chums are so angry, as it spoils their denials. She named no names nor did she give dates which preserves individual anonymity. If no-one is allowed to say anything the bullies will win every time, which is why I think Prof Cooper was wrong to resign.

The story about links with the Tories is a complete red herring as no doubt such a helpline would talk to all the political parties.

All bullies are terrified of being found out and Brown has been comprehensively found out.

- Scottish Granny, St Albans UK, 22/02/2010 11:47
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Would someone please do us a favour and make an appointment for Gordon Brown to see a Therapist. How can we mend broken Britain when its Prime Minister can't even mend himself. For months he has promised he'll change: he hasn't because he can't. The psychological flaw is too deep and he is in denial. The staff in No.10 Downing Street shouldn't have to be working in an environment of fear and intimidation because of his personal problems. The serious problems of the country shouldn't be secondary to such an inadequate Prime Minister.

- Janet, London, UK, 22/02/2010 11:46
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He is a bully, look how he has bullied the electorate as well as his own staff and colleagues. I dont want his finger any where near the nuclear button. Its time this bully was expelled.

- Nigel, Tunbridge Wells, 22/02/2010 11:45
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I notice the evil and nasty spinners and smearers at number 10 (we all know who they are) have wasted no time in trying to destroy and ruin any reputation Mrs Pratt may have had. I call that bullying! It really is amazing - any opposition to them, and the labour party will destroy you with spin and smears. How evil is that?

The irony is that by being so quick to demonise Mrs Pratt, labour have just proved AGAIN to the public that they really are unfit for office and their behaviour is that of the gutter. These idiots keep shooting themselves in the foot and tripping over their own lies and deceptions. It is shameless and they behave like spoilt children. Mr Mandelson thinks he is sooo clever but one can read him like a book.

- Margy, London, 22/02/2010 11:40
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Wait a minute. A left-wing journalist writes a book that is serialised by a left-wing newspaper and says categorically that his allegations are 100% true.
End of story I would think everything else is a smoke screen. 5 Live this morning had the office seducer John Prescott on this morning defending Captain Queeg, says it all really!

- James, Braintree UK, 22/02/2010 11:32
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I find Christine Pratt and her self-righteous statements repulsive. Time to resign. As for the allegations, working in Downing Street is not a vicarage tea party, no doubt the Prime Minister is tetchy at times, so what.

- Sheila, london uk, 22/02/2010 11:32
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No one is going to contact this helpline with any confidence that their anonymity will be protected. The lure of the television studio and flattery from conservative MPs appear to be more important to Ms Pratt than the reputation of this organisation. Her comments this morning that there is no proof that any of these allegations against the PM are true make her decision to go public all the more surprising

- Tracy, London, 22/02/2010 11:28
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Yes of course Brown is a monster,but even King Kong got the sympathy vote in the end...so lets get this into context shall we?,..its the Labour party thats rotten and corrupt,not necessarily Kommissar Brown,he's just a scapegoat figurehead.

- Jacob, Bolshevik Britain...land of the shackled., 22/02/2010 11:24
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Andy, London - I cannot agree more. All the Tories have now are sound bites and personal attacks, when a credible policy statement from them would eliminate this school playground mentality. Come on Dave, what are you actually going to do to help this country and its inhabitants; it will be seen in time that it really wasn't Labour's fault for the dreadful economic situation and they have actually done everything they could to avert even more misery. Ok, I am not a fan of Gordon either but the alternative seems much worse. TELL US YOUR POLICIES DAVE!!!

- Rod, Epping, UK, 22/02/2010 11:20
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Does this mean that this Pratt woman is going to release the names of people who called her? No one will ring help lines after this. Thank God it was not Childline or the Samaritans. She should have kept her comments to herself - and I am not a Labour supporter either. Just feel a bit sorry for him now.

- Amber In Mitcham, Mitcham Surrey, 22/02/2010 11:19
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The more Beown is attacked by this nasty cabal of Blarites and "modernising" Tories, the more I think I might just vote for him after all!

- Deborah, London, 22/02/2010 11:17
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I neither like nor dislike Mr Brown so I have no personal axe to grind....but I don't believe these stories. I believe Mr Brown is being well and truly stitched up and shame on those resorting to this kind of tactic to try to score voting points.

- Janicebyrne, sussex, 22/02/2010 11:14
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If you look up the National Bullying Helpline website, you'll see that one of its patrons is Anne Widdcecombe MP, another is Hillingdon's Councillor Mary O'Connor and it has an endorsement from David Cameron - all Conservatives. Not exactly a politically impartial organisation then - and not surprising that it is caught up in a row with Labour

- C Nichol, London, 22/02/2010 11:09
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Groan - All of this and blubbing on T.V is trying to take our minds off the very real and dire issues that face this country.

- Mark H, London England, 22/02/2010 11:04
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You just apply Occam's razor here. These stories are coming from the media, from politicians and from civil servants. Now it could be that there is a vast conspiracy to make GB look like a bully, but it's a lot easier to make sense of all these stories from so many sources if they are - in fact - true.

- Paul, Twickenham, 22/02/2010 11:00
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Not everyone is suited to a leadership position, especially one with such responsibility. If you're a weak person, or one with a serious personality disorder like Brown appears to have, you are not cut out to be a leader. It was always a mistake to let him have the PM's job by default. Who runs this country should not be decided by a deal between 2 career politicians. This is the result.

- Kevin T, Beckenham, Kent, 22/02/2010 11:00
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There is a danger that we're all becoming a bit too soft. Who hasn't had someone raise their voice at them at SOME point in their careers (and indeed, in turn, done the same on occasion)? I can tell you that I've worked with people whom our clients regarded as unflappable but whom I've seen 'lose it' entirely in front of colleagues.

- Kevin Lynch, Dublin, 22/02/2010 10:54
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GB does sound a bit unstable, I am not sure he is the right person to be leading the country.

- Londoner, London, 22/02/2010 10:50
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Aren't calls to help lines supposed to be confidential? This woman is a disgrace for what appears to be trying to score political points against Brown (is her charity funded by the Tories?). I don't trust her for a second.

It seems that whenever the Tories are having problems in the polls (mainly because they have no discernable policies) something unpleasant seems to be pushed into the public about Brown. I'm not a fan of Brown but I am fed up with these personal attacks - talk about bullying!!

- Andy, london, 22/02/2010 10:50
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I am not a Labour voter (never have been) but I do have some sympathy for GB in this one. What is a politically neutral organisation doing giving away confidentialities to the media - and within sight of an election. What are they doing chatting to the opposition? Finally - if Brown is ambitious and impatient for results behind closed doors isn't this what we ask from our govt?

- Coys Switz, switzerland, 22/02/2010 10:50
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Now the charity is being bullied. But the most public example of bullying was when Blair and Straw had all the UK Ambassadors brought to London. They all sat in the Queen Elizabeth Conference centre and where berated by New Labour management speak; if one of them had talked about the elephant in the room the Iraq War they would have been sacked. When bullying impacts policy we have a serious problem Britain.

- Andrew, London, 22/02/2010 10:33
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While I feel on balance that the allegations of bullying are probably founded, Mrs Pratt has done a disservice to all help lines. While she may not have breeched any actual confidentiality, she has breeched a moral one.

It does expose Mandelson for the liar that he is.

- Adam, London, 22/02/2010 10:26
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Time for Mrs Pratt to stand down. Her foolish and ill considered remarks have caused a lot of damage - mainly to her charity

- Carl, London, 22/02/2010 10:24
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Obviously the Tory boys/Bullingdon Club are getting very worried and calling in, via Andy Coulsdon. Remember Howard's "dog whistle" campaign last election lead by the Australian guy, Crosby? A sex offender has been released early and lives next door to you or similar rubbish. I've never voted Tory before and now I know why.

- Delboy, London, UK, 22/02/2010 10:20
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I never vote as I do not trust any party, but the Conservative party are about to hand the keys to the national treasure chest to a man that has never had job! or even have headed a PLC finance department and this is the best they can come up with.
No wonder people choose not to vote.

- P.Smith, London, 22/02/2010 10:20
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I don`t think Labour are doing themselves any good on this story - trying to shut it down by bullying tactics of their own. The usual Ministers going around the studios saying that they had never seen Brown lose his temper etc etc which is stretching credulity too far. There have been too many stories circulating for far too long now about Brown`s mood swings for anyone to believe these denials. If Rawnsley`s stories about Brown were utter garbage then No10 would have taken legal action; but they haven`t, which says it all. For No10 to make denials about things Rawnsley never accused Brown or Gus O`Donnell of has also added credibility to the things Rawnsley has accused Brown of doing. This story will inevitably die off, of its own accord, if no more accusations are made about Brown and No10; but these accusations will stick to Brown as has Ann Widdicombe`s one liner about Michael Howard who she said had, "something of the night about him".

- Brian G, Norfolk Gorleston, 22/02/2010 10:11
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Pratt by name pratt by nature. How can someone with such a sensitive charity go public? Bring on childline chiefs!

- Delboy, London, UK, 22/02/2010 10:11
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When will Politician and the media wake up to the fact that the public are not interested in this mindless point scoring. The public are interested in having a job and generally feeling safe and happy.

All this type of story reinforces is the perception that politicians and civil servants live in a silly little infantile bubble.

- Hansel, London, 22/02/2010 09:57
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In speaking to the news media, and stating that Downing Street staff have contacted her organisation, Christine Pratt has broken her charity's commitment to treating calls from concerned individuals as confidential. That undermines its credibility and trustworthiness - damage she needs to repair a.s.a.p.

- Austen, London, 22/02/2010 09:50
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1 word

Monster !

- Wayne, London, uk, 22/02/2010 09:42
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Poor GB is being stitched up like a kipper! If this agency hurls itself into the public spotlight so easily I'd question it's ethics and wonder about the confidentiality of my call before contacting this anti-bullying charity.

I smell a big fat rat here, the anti-Brown campaign is indeed upping the anti!

- Goggs, London, 22/02/2010 09:40
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on the television this morning she stated that she spoke to the conservatives after releasing the information not before.Please step forward jackie smith with a statement because she is implicated in this

- Anon, leicestershire, 22/02/2010 09:35
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Unsubstantiatable allegations from self-righteous charity workers with a blinkered perspective, such as Miss Pratt, have no place in democratic politics. She has soiled her own nest by a serious breach of confidentiality, the seriousness of which she does not even recognise, which has damaged the credibility not only of her own organisation but that of other organisations who provide confidential helplines, such as the Samaritans and Child-Line.

- Bloke, Lambeth, 22/02/2010 09:30
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He who look and sounds like a bully, usually is a bully.

- Totally Confused, Ex London, 22/02/2010 09:23
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Brown obviously got fed up with being Mr Bean and decided to revert to Stalin

- Harry, Surbiton, 22/02/2010 08:59
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If Gordon Brown did bully his Civil Service staff, it makes me want to vote for him.

- Gourmet, hove, 22/02/2010 08:58
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They keep blagging about 'transparacy' so lets have some truth here, not a goverment cover up.

- C Cusano, Bedford, 22/02/2010 08:38
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Gordon Brown is a seriously flawed individual, as is evidenced by his mannerisms, nervous tics, and general demeanour at the despatch box. Unable and/or unwilling to answer any questions posed he resorts to what labour do best - he hurls insults at the opposition. Such behaviour is akin to a thug on a sink estate.

- R.F.York, Yorks, UK, 22/02/2010 08:33
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