Gus O'Donnel obliged to tell Gordon Brown to curb his temper

Gordon Brown has had to face a series of claims by former Labour insiders that he presides over a "reign of terror" in Downing Street. The serialisation by The Observer of parts of a new book by Andrew Rawnsley are expected to cause his image further damage just as he starts to pull himself out of deep unpopularity by baring his soul and weeping about family matters during carefully scripted television interviews designed to make him appear more human.

Among incidents investigated by Rawnsley, a serious and respected journalist, were that Brown hit a member of his staff, pulled a typist from her chair when she couldn’t type fast enough for his dictation, and used four-letter words in a rant at aides, including Mervyn King, whilst at a conference in the United States. It is also reported that the Cabinet Secretary (which has a different meaning in England from here) was obliged to talk to him about the way that he dealt with staff. Gus O’Donnell told him to curb his violent outbursts after staff in Downing Street complained to him.

Channel 4 News’s journalist and presenter Krishnan Guru Murthy asked Brown if he had ever hit anyone. He replied: "Let me just say, absolutely clearly, so that there is no misunderstanding about that: I have never, never hit anybody in my life." Fine, that is quite clear, but it is a dangerous statement to make as there may well be someone who is angry enough to call him out on this.

Asked further whether he might have pushed someone, Brown said: "No, I don't do these sorts of things. Look, I was brought up - my father, I never heard him say an unkind word about anyone and I always think when you're - the heat of the moment you say things sometimes.” I’m not entirely sure what that all means but perhaps he’d like to try English, and sentences... just an idea.

He went on: "Of course you do get angry, mostly with yourself. But I'm very strong willed; I'm very determined. I think the country wants someone that will push things forward, and not allow things to be stagnant and stale, and every morning I get up with a determination to do my best for this country. Any allegations that have been made about hitting people or anything are completely untrue." Well, that’s fine. We believe you...... don’t we? No, not really. And what on earth does what the country wants have to do with that question.... why did you bring that up? We don’t want to know what you do when you get up every morning. We want to know if you push your staff around.

In the past there have been reports of the PM throwing objects, including a mobile phone. "I throw the newspapers on the floor or something like that, but please..." he said. Please what Mr Brown? Do you or don’t you throw Nokias around, and if not why are there all these people that used to work with you who say that you do? Why do they hate you so much?

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