Brown denies unleashing 'forces of hell' on Darling

Alistair Darling: 'It was a weekend you could have done without' (Courtesy of Sky News - Jeff Randall Live)

Gordon Brown has denied ordering any briefing against his chancellor, after Alistair Darling said "the forces of hell" had been unleashed against him.

Mr Darling said No 10 and the Tories had given him "a weekend you could have done without" after he had forecast the worst recession for 60 years, in 2008.

But Mr Darling rejected suggestions he had been bullied by the prime minister.

And Mr Brown told GMTV he "would never instruct anybody to do anything other than support my chancellor".

The PM, who again denied allegations of bullying, said he and Mr Darling and their families had been friends for 20 years and had "huge mutual respect".

Mr Brown was speaking on Wednesday morning after Mr Darling's comments in a Sky News interview on Tuesday evening.

A Conservative spokesman said: "The idea that Gordon Brown runs a happy and united team has been blown apart.

"This is amazing public confirmation from the prime minister's own chancellor that he ordered his henchmen to brief against him."

'Still here'

In August 2008, Mr Darling caused a political uproar when he said economic conditions were "arguably the worst they've been in 60 years".

I do not know why the briefers did what they did. One day maybe they will explain Alistair Darling

Following this, there were media reports that 10 Downing Street was unhappy with his analysis and his handling of the economy.

There were also suggestions Mr Darling might be reshuffled to make way for Ed Balls, the Schools Secretary and a close ally of Mr Brown.

Questioned by Sky News about the response to his comments, Mr Darling said that "the forces of hell were unleashed".

And asked whether that had been orchestrated by 10 Downing Street, he said: "The Tories as well. It was a weekend you could have done without.

The idea of Gordon instructing us to brief against Alistair Darling is totally wrong Damian McBride Mr Brown's former spin doctor

"I do not know why the briefers did what they did. One day maybe they will explain.

"What I do know is, unfortunately and it's not a great source of pleasure, but what I said did turn out to be true."

In an apparent reference to Mr Brown's former spin doctor Damian McBride, the chancellor added: "Frankly, my best answer for them is, I'm still here, one of them is not."

Mr McBride was forced to resign last year after a planned smear campaign against senior Conservatives emerged in leaked e-mails he had written.

'Robust exchanges'

Asked about Mr Darling's suggestions of a briefing campaign, the PM said: "I was never part of anything to do with this. Look, this was the most amazing time... and lots of things were happening in this time.

"But I would never instruct anybody to do anything other than support my chancellor, and I think Alistair will confirm that."

Mr McBride also told BBC Radio 5 Live the allegations were untrue, saying: "The idea of Gordon instructing us to brief against Alistair Darling is totally wrong. The idea of me briefing against Alistair Darling is totally wrong."

He added: "The Sunday papers were ringing up and asking us if we were angry with the chancellor and the answer was no."

Mr Darling rejected suggestions he had ever been bullied by Mr Brown, but said: "Of course, Gordon and I have some very robust exchanges.

"I can't imagine any healthy relationship between a prime minister and a chancellor where they don't have differences from time to time."

He admitted there had been "some bad days" in his relationship with the prime minister but insisted there was more that united the two men than would "ever divide us".

'Friendly, caring'

Mr Brown was also asked again whether he had bullied anyone: "No. I get angry sometimes, doesn't everybody? I get impatient. I'm driven to do the things.

Darling speaking about the economy in August 2008

"Actually, we work in an open plan office, we're a sort of family in Downing Street and like every family there's issues that come from time to time, but we've got a great working environment and we get things done."

Schools Secretary Ed Balls also told the BBC he did not "recognise this atmosphere" of alleged bullying at Number 10.

"Jeremy Heywood, who is the top civil servant, said the opposite was true - it was a friendly, caring, supportive environment. I think he is right," Mr Balls said.

Mr Darling's comments follow allegations in political journalist Andrew Rawnsley's book that Mr McBride and Charlie Whelan, another Brown supporter, had been behind the briefing.

Both Mr McBride and Mr Whelan, a senior official with the Unite union, had their names put to the chancellor in the Sky News interview, but he did not refer to either directly.

The Rawnsley book's allegations of bullying also led the chief executive of the National Bullying Helpline, Christine Pratt, to go on television to say they had received calls from Downing Street staff.

This prompted its patrons to resign in protest at what they described as a breach of confidence and in a statement on Wednesday the charity announced its helpline had been "temporarily suspended", with Mrs Pratt "prepared to resign if necessary".