Two things struck me about the allegations about Gordon Brown’s temper, bullying and violence. Firstly – if Rawnsley has written something untrue – why doesn’t Brown sue? Probably too simplistic.
Secondly and perhaps more interestingly is what constitutes bullying? If a ‘boss’ shouts at an employee because they’ve done something wrong – something serious that puts the firm or organisation in jeopardy – is that bullying or is that just the sign of someone who is passionate about their work, firm or reputation?
My mother, who ran a small chain of shops in London’s West End was from the old school. The customer was always right – for a start. She was definitely paternalistic (I know – it needs to be maternalistic really) and when employees erred grievously they would be called into her office. She would lecture them and tell them exactly what she thought of their actions and what would happen if such an occurrence recurred.
She was much loved and respected by her employees, most of whom stayed with the firm all their working lives. Was she a bully – or a good boss?
Lynne Featherstone 
A good boss is acting to improve their staff and operation. A bully is just looking to feel better by picking on somebody. A vague description of both of them will sound very similar; you’ll find the difference in the details of what they do.
I think the point is to be `firm but fair` and not hold grudges – just say this can be done better like this ensuring that if it really is just a mistake that you know there was no malice intended.
I recently ran a formal disciplinary procedure against a member of my staff. Part of the allegations against the employee were that the person had bullied other members of staff.
Although I knew this to be the most serious part of the allegations, and also very strongly believed them to be true, in fact it was the hardest part to make stick, because people were so vague in their statements. I withdrew that part from the hearing – I felt there was insufficient evidence.
In pursuing the rest of the case (successfully), part of the defence presented was that I was conducting a concerted campaign of bullying against that person. There was no evidence presented for this.
Part of the defence of a bully is often to tar the accusers with the same brush so that it becomes difficult to tell who is doing the lying and who is doing the bullying.
One thing I do know is that when a chance arises to take a bully out of the equation once and for all, then people tend to go for it wholeheartedly. There have been at least two occasions when Gordon Brown’s party could have done just that – but chose not to – which suggests to me that the allegations against him are not based on fact.
I also can not possibly imagine Peter Mandelson allowing ANYONE to bully him.
I hear that No. 10 have just issued a statement denying the “malicious allegations”.
A (controlled) temper can at times be a positive trait as it can show that someone doesn’t suffer fools gladly. However, if the claims are true then what irks me is not the fact that Brown has momentary fits of anger but rather that this is a side to him that has been kept from the public for years. To the electorate, he comes across as someone who is almost robotic in his outlook to life.
Some “personality” could actually win him some votes.
Maybe the story is a plant by Mainman Gordon, to give him street cred with urban gangs, showing he’s a player that don’t take no dissin from his crew. It certainly would be in line with New Labour’s soon to be released centerpiece video for the forthcoming British national election, which draws heavily on rap culture and its often associations with power, dominance and aggression.
Now you can say you’ve seen it here first, before it hits the streets, the centerpiece video for New Labour’s election campaign in the forthcoming British national election. Staring Mainman Busta Rhymes Gordon Brown and Wadmeister Alistair Darling for the Hoes.
About 15 years ago, Mr Brown when he was Shadow Chancellor, used to be one on my regular clients, I worked as a telesales operator at a tour operators and he used to regularly fly to Nice (S.France) for whatever reason.
On one occassion he reduced me to tears when I was unable to find a flight for him. He turned up at Heathrow (last minute) and demanded me to get him onto a flight immediately to Nice. When I was unable to do so, due to it being a Friday and flights being completely full, he launched into the most unbelievable tyrade of abuse I had ever experienced. This was not controlled anger and I saw first hand the terror he can cause, let me assure anyone he can be very scary – what I experienced was rage fuelled by not getting his own way yet it was not bullying in my opinion as it was an isolated incident – his rage is not malicious, it is passionate rage as I also found him to be warm and courteous prior to this incident and typically Scottish.
So 15 years on and he is my Prime Minister and remember this episode like it was yesterday, apart from nearly losing my job for putting the phone down on him and my language back to him – I was called in to the MDs office but cleared of misconduct due to the nature of his call and the abuse I received.
I always wondered if this was an isolated incident and perhaps I caught him on a bad day – should I have apologised for my language, should he have to me, for the way he spoke?
All things aside I would far rather have a strong personality running the country than a shrinking violet and assume he uses the fear factor as a tool in what must be a fairly stressfull job – I am sure that a lot of this story is pre election banter and if it were not this then it would be a n other story.
I also now have the ultimate dinner party story of having told the PM to FO!
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