Brown 'very upset' by bully claims, says Ed Balls
 Mr Brown has been upset by the claims, said Ed Balls |
Gordon Brown has been "very upset" by allegations about his behaviour towards staff, his ally Ed Balls told the BBC.
The schools secretary said there was "no truth" in claims that the cabinet secretary was so concerned he had to have a private word with the PM.
"I don't think it damages him, it hurts him personally," Mr Balls said.
Cabinet Secretary Sir Gus O'Donnell has denied speaking to the PM about him acting in a "bullying" manner and said there was no need for an inquiry.
The bullying allegations were prompted initially by Andrew Rawnsley's book which detailed incidents where it is alleged Mr Brown grabbed staff by the lapels, shoved them aside and shouted at them.
Cleared up
Then the head of the National Bullying Helpline said they had received calls from the prime minister's office - although she said they were not about Mr Brown personally.
The Tories and Lib Dems have called for the situation to be cleared up.
But on Monday, Sir Gus said there was no need for an inquiry and a Downing Street 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 Number 10 staff, let alone giving him any sort of verbal warning."
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Mr Brown also said the story was "completely wrong".
Mr Balls told BBC Radio 4's Today programme Mr Rawnsley's book had been incorrect on every allegation and said he had known Mr Brown for years and "at no point has it ever occurred to me that Gordon Brown is, or would ever be, a bully".
"It is something which personally he feels very upset about because he knows there is no truth to these allegations," said Mr Balls.
"I don't think it damages him, it hurts him personally."
'Fire in belly'
He said Mr Brown was "tough" and had "a strength of character and drive" adding: "That's what you want in a prime minister, you want people who are tough and can drive things forward."
His comments were echoed by Lord Sugar, star of The Apprentice and the government's enterprise champion, who told GMTV: "Do you want some docile type of person who is just not going to have any spirit about them or do you want someone who has got a bit of fire in their belly, who will react, who will get a bit emotional sometimes?
"That is not bullying as far as I am concerned."
Mr Rawnsley is sticking by his book, saying his source for the claim that Sir Gus had been moved to speak to the prime minister about his behaviour towards Downing Street staff was "24 carat".
He said the statement issued on Monday by Sir Gus had been a "careful choice of words".
But Lord Mandelson has suggested that the separate claims made by the National Bullying Helpline were part of a "political operation" directed by the Conservatives.
Charity row
The Conservatives accused him of trying to "smear" the charity's chief executive, Christine Pratt.
But the charity trustees are meeting on Tuesday to discuss the situation.
Mrs Pratt was heavily criticised by another bullying charity and some of her own patrons, including the Conservative MP Ann Widdecombe, who resigned saying she had breached the confidentiality of callers.
Mrs Pratt has said she did not name anyone or reveal details and has said she is "not politically motivated".
In a separate interview, former prime minister Tony Blair - whom Mr Brown has admitted having fierce battles with during his time as chancellor - was asked on the BBC World Service's World Today programme about the way prime ministers treated their staff.
Mr Blair replied: "Well I think I know what you're referring to and I honestly have absolutely nothing to say about that at all."
