Blog:Demanding or Bullying
From Bolton Interweb
Bob Slaye, Special Correspondent, 22nd February 2010
There was a very simple issue on the table on Saturday. Andrew Rawnsley claimed in a serialised book that Gordon Brown had bullied staff in No.10, and Sir Gus O'Donnell had a private word with him over his treatment of staff. It was an easy one to deal with. All they had to say was that an allegation had been made and would be investigated. If substantiated then training would be given and apologies offered. No offence has ever been intended in what is undoubtedly the most pressurised workplace in the land. That would kill the story.
Instead we have absolute denials, Gordon is a pussy cat who wouldn't harm a fly. Alan Johnson, Home Secretary goes on the BBC and says he has never even heard Gordon raise his voice. Of course, we all know that Gordon has a temper and Mr Johnson's statement lacks all credibility unless, of course, he goes around with his iPod permanently blocking out the real world. Gradually, one by one, the story starts to change. Yes, Gordon does get angry, but only at himself. Mandelson says he and Gordon have "had their moments". Now he is passionate and driven and things do sometimes get heated. Even one suggestion that he isn't a bully because he doesn't mean it maliciously and doesn't enjoy it. No.10 denied two things Gordon had never been accused of. Gordon has never hit anyone. But no-one said he did so why deny it. Sir Gus has never launched a formal investigation into bullying. But no-one said he did. In fact it took two days of not answering the question before Sir Gus eventually said that he did not speak to Gordon about bullying or intimidation. Still he doesn't say he didn't have a word.
Into the fray comes Christine Pratt of the National Bullying Helpline revealing that some staff in Downing Street had called her helpline. Pratt claims she hasn't breached confidentiality but gave sufficient information for the alleged bullying victims to be potentially identified. That was her first mistake. Her second was having quite visible links to the Conservatives, giving an embarrassing opportunity for Mandelson to smell a fish, though quite how he can smell through his own eau de haddock is anyone's guess. Her third was a quite remarkable assertion that No.10 should be a stress-free workplace. I am sorry but I don't want the PM's Office to be a laid-back stress-free zone. They are dealing with an unprecedented economic disaster, war in Afghanistan, and a hundred other things. Lives, literally, depend on No.10 staff and you'd better count on being stressed if you work there. And you'd better count on the boss getting very irate when you don't do your job right first time every time. Ah, never mind, is not something that would fill me with warm fuzzy feelings over No.10. Pratt has lost all of her charity's patrons, there are serious complaints lodged with the Charity Commissioners, and the credibility and integrity of what should be a very important service has disintegrated. The charity she founded must be a goner.
I don't like Gordon Brown or his style or how he reached his position as our unelected leader. I think he is responsible (with others across the globe) for the economic mess we are in and since he is our culprit I don't believe he is fit to be our leader. However, realistically, no-one reaches the top of the political tree without stomping on others without compunction, and kicking a lot of people when they are down. When they are fellow politicians then then all is fair. A PM has to be totally ruthless or will fail to control all the other slimy snakes all slithering up the tree and trying to take the top branch. So we should not expect a warm, cuddly grandfather figure to lead us with wisdom and fairness for all. Such a leader has never existed although some have tried to adopt the persona. So work for the PM and you are working for a very dangerous and powerful creature that, from time to time, will snap and snarl and sometimes bite. You will be dealing in life or death situations, others that have thousands of livelihoods dependent on a quick and accurate decision. It is not for the fainthearted or sensitive soul. Bullying needs a victim, and there should be no victims working in such an important place.
Do I believe Gordon probably is an extreme and demanding boss who shouts at you if you make a mistake? Yep, on balance, probably. Is it bullying? No, not in the context of that workplace and his job is to get his own way or he is not a Prime Minister. It isn't a democracy you know; democracy only happens once every 4 or 5 years. Are there people working in No.10 that need a transfer to the Ministry of Milky Drinks, then probably. So, to my surprise, I reckon that I have a lot of understanding for Gordon's position assuming he does occasionally ball out staff that aren't up to scratch or don't say how high when he says jump. I wouldn't personally dream of such a managerial approach but then my job isn't life or death and the people that work for me are superb and stop me making mistakes.
But, as usual, when faced with a simple PR matter to solve, one that Blair and Campbell would have instinctively have knocked to one side, Brown and his cronies simply cannot stop themselves and have to spin themselves right into a corner from which escape is impossible. Even if innocent, all the story changing and lack of straight answers for two days makes Brown look guilty. A nothing story turns into some kind of major crisis all for the sake of not telling it straight in the first place. And who is king of spin, who was giving interviews on Sunday, changing the line ever so subtly and helping Brown look guilty as hell? Why Lord Mandelson of course. When will Gordon realise that Mandelson is not his friend but the perfect candidate for the next resident Governor of the Falkland Islands.
As an aside, getting the likes of John Prescott to go on Newsnight and lay into Rawnsley for writing a book for profit when Prescott has done the same thing is a bit rich and another mistake in the way Labour have handled this matter. Just when you think they can't make it any worse... This is still easily solved. As I said at the start, all they have to do is say they will investigate the allegations and take action as appropriate.
© Evrose, 2010
