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Bully helpline boss ‘a prat of a woman’
Reporter: Lobby Correspondent
Date online: 24 February 2010
AN OLDHAM MP has waded into the Downing Street bullying row branding the charity boss who alleged No 10 staff had called a helpline a “prat of a woman”.
Oldham East and Saddleworth MP Phil Woolas said claims made by Christine Pratt, head of the National Bullying Helpline, about receiving complaints from inside No 10, were backfiring on her.
At the weekend, Andrew Rawnsley in his book alleged Mr Brown was a bully — claims immediately refuted by cabinet ministers. Mrs Pratt then made her claims, which she later was forced to take back, saying she had never suggested Mr Brown was a bully.
It also emerged Mrs Pratt had been in touch with Conservative politicians about the claims.
Mr Woolas said: “It‚s a tough business, politics. It’s 18, 20 hours a day that people like the Prime Minister work.
“I think this attack on him by this prat of a woman down in — where’s she from, Swindon? — is backfiring on her.
“Most people think that Gordon Brown, even if they don’t agree with his politics, think that he’s a decent man and I can tell you in my experience, he’s a very decent man.”
The National Bullying Helpline, based in Swindon, has been thrown into chaos after all its patrons quit in protest at Mrs Pratt going public with her allegations.
Conservative MP Ann Widdecombe, TV presenter Sarah Cawood and stress expert Professor Cary Cooper all severed ties with the National Bullying Helpline after criticising Mrs Pratt for breaching confidentiality. Tory councillor for Hillingdon Mary O’Connor also reportedly resigned.
Mr Brown’s close ally and friend of 20 years schools secretary Ed Balls said: “I know it is something which personally Gordon feels very upset about because he knows there is no truth to these allegations.
Mr Brown’s wife Sarah also spoke out in his defence.
She said: “Gordon’s the man that I know and the man that I love. I know him as a strong, hard-working, decent man and he isn’t anything else. What you see is what you get with him.”
Mrs Pratt insisted she did not breach confidentiality by going public with her comments and said she felt “slightly intimidated” by some of the reaction to her allegations.
Comments
If it is not true then sue. The problem is it most likely is true and you can see it when he loses it on TV and storms off. As for Woolas, just do us all a favour and go away.
I think that for this tawdry initation of a decent MP to call anyone a PRATT is beyond credibility.
Phil - It takes one to know one and that is perhaps what you were basing your judgement on.
BTW - pratt is too good for you. 11 weeks to go......
A stupid and ignorant comment by a pratt of a useless MP. I'm sure he's not proud of his epithet - Phil Useless, but he's quite happy to poke fun at other people.
It's very sad and disturbing that rather than any concern for people who may be the victims of bullying, useless phil leaps to the PMs defence with out a though (nothing much of a change!)
What about the victims of bullying phil, don't you care or is it different when your party are the bullies?
Ed Balls and Phil Woolas are two of the most odious career politicians you could wish to encounter, their words carry no credibility. Balls is a bully himself, and Woolas is the most duplicitous politician Oldham has ever had foisted upon it. Let's hope the people of Oldham East & Saddleworth wake up to this horrible man and show him the door.
"It's a tough business" - thats why Woolas threatens people with solicitors if he doesn't like what they say. Christine Pratt should sue him for defamatory and offensive remarks and see how he likes it.
Of course MP's never breach confidentiality - ever !!
Quick to use the woman's name as a play on words there Phil!How unfortunate that you didn't remember you're called WoolAS!
These are disgraceful comments by Phil - Woolas.
Show some dignity
Woolas and pratt in the same report,this time the report is spot on,11 weeks and counting.
The clock's ticking Woolas, then it's back to richly deserved obscurity.
Yes, Phil's a naughty boy for his silly remarks. But Mrs Pratt broke the rules - she has broken confidentiality, and broken the law regarding Charities involving themselves with party politics. The hsrity's patrons - Ann Widdicombe included - are the ones who have done the right thing here.
Why did a busy MP feel the need to wade into this matter - sucking up to the PM perhaps? His language is not becoming his role as a Member of Parliament.
Have Your Say
It's to be hoped that Woolas and Mrs Pratt don't meet in the same room otherwise we'll have the situation of two pratts being in one place.
By Road Rocket @ 24/02/2010 13:23:24