22/02/2010

No 10 Rebuffs Bullying Inquiry Call

Labour has rejected calls for an inquiry into alleged bullying at 10 Downing Street.

Tory Leader David Cameron - responding to the admission by an anti-bullying helpline that it had been contact by Whitehall staff - said "serious matters" had been raised.

He said an inquiry should be launched to allow the civil service to "get to the bottom" of allegations.

However, Lord Mandelson said the entire reportage had been part of a "political operation".

He conceded Prime Minister Gordon Brown could be "demanding", but denied he is a bully.

National Bullying Helpline's Chief Executive Christine Pratt voiced her concern over Downing Street's denial.

Her charity said it had received calls and emails from distressed government workers.

She said No. 10 should follow "due process" as the highest powered office in the land.

Today the charity's patron Professor Cary Cooper resigned over what she called a breach of confidentiality. Ms Pratt has been criticised for going public with the allegations.

Lord Mandelson said: "This whole affair is starting to acquire a slight odour.

"I assumed that this was a storm in a teacup manufactured by somebody who wanted to get some good headlines for his book.

"It now looks like more of a political operation that's under way, directed at the prime minister personally."

Ms Pratt rejected Lord Mandelson's comments, claiming she had not accused the PM of bullying.

"The statement by Mandelson denying the bullying claims are occurring is nonsense and non-credible," she said.

"To deny the claims compounds the stress of those who believe they are being bullied. Whether it's real or imagined, to outright deny it is not conducive to a productive working environment."

Mr Cameron called the debacle an "unseemly mess" and said: "I'm sure that Number 10 Downing Street and the civil service in some way will want to have some sort of inquiry to get to the bottom of what has happened here.

"To me, all of this just says we need to get on, have a general election and have a fresh start."

(PR/BMcC)

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