Bully helpline boss ‘a prat of a woman’

HE’S a decent man . . . Phil Woolas with Gordon Brown

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.