Tempers flare in heat of the job

GORDON Brown hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons following claims he is a bullying boss. Claims were also made by an anti-bullying charity boss that its helpline had received several calls from within Downing Street.

The allegations have been strongly disputed.

Reporter BEATRIZ AYALA spoke to shoppers in Chadderton to find out their opinion and if they had ever suffered at the hands of a bullying boss.


Mike Kinsey (75), from Westwood said he did not believe the bullying allegations.

He said: “I don’t think its true, I don’t think he is that type of person.

“The charity have no right to speak out, they should respect people’s confidentiality.

“I’ve been a boss of 40 people in the clothing industry.

“I was a little bit like Brown, I lost my rag now and then.

“When you are the boss, you have to be a boss of people.

“Gordon Brown could take a few tips from me.”

Joan Winterbottom (75), from Chadderton, said it would be difficult to class the incidents as bullying unless they were witnessed.

She said: “The Prime Minister has got to be strong and people should do their work, but it is difficult for Gordon Brown.

“You always get some people who have stronger characters than others and sometimes work place problems are down to a clash of personalities, which can affect a lot of people.

“He might have a temper but then how does his wife put up with him?”

Gemma Whitworth (27), originally from Chadderton but now living in Windsor, is adamant that any form of bullying should not be tolerated.

She said: “Just because you are prime minister doesn’t give you the right to be a bully.

“If the allegations are true, then it is just not right.

“Bullying should not be tolerated in any form.”

Her sister Lisa Whitworth (21), said she was bullied at work when she was pregnant with her two and a half-year-old daughter Ellie Buckley Whitworth.

She said: “I worked as a part time play worker but used to work full time hours.

“When I found out I was pregnant, my hours were cut to just five hours.

“I was told that because I was pregnant, I couldn’t do the work, which wasn’t the case.

“There was no help for me at the time, I didn’t know anti-bullying charities existed.

“People end up putting up with it.”

Yvonne Wilson (41), from Coldhurst, said she would be disappointed if the allegations were true.

She said: “Unless it was actually witnessed, the people claiming he is a bully do not have a good case.

“It would bother me if the claims were true.

“His recent television interview with Piers Morgan showed a much softer side to him, that of a family man who prioritised education and kids.

“I’ve never experienced bullying bosses myself, I’ve worked for the civil services and I’ve always had good bosses.

“Everyone says I get on well with people.”

Robert Green (66) and wife Christine (63), both from Chadderton, said sometimes people in authority lose their temper.

Mr Green said: “I don’t find him too bad, it is a case of better the devil you know

“I should think the allegations have been taken out of context.

“I was a boss of 40 people in the dairy industry and I think I was quite fair.

“I occasionally shouted when problems happened.

“It is just part and parcel of the job to lose your temper occasionally.”

Mrs Green said: “You are going to lose your temper time and again with a job like his.

“With hindsight Gordon Brown could probably have dealt with it a bit better but we are all guilty of that.

“I worked for a public sector organisation and have experienced emotional bullying in a bid to get me to work longer hours.

“Emotional bullying is definitely worse.”

Pauline Speakman (61), from Chadderton, said Gordon Brown was lashing out because of his own mistakes.

He said: “The job he has got would turn anyone into a right toerag.

“Would you like to be blamed for everything bad in the country?

“Gordon Brown is lashing out at staff because of the mistakes he has made.

“If you get to his position and you are saying ‘vote for me, I can do the job’, then he should be man enough to take responsibility for his actions rather than blame others for his cockups.

“Anyone is authority must say to themselves ‘if I don’t treat people fairly, I won’t get them voting me back in’.

“I once ran a cafe and had to deal with both staff and the public but was never been a bully.

“Gordon should take more responsibility for his actions.”