Gordon Brown row: Bullying charity patron resigns

A charity at the centre of the Gordon Brown bullying row was dealt a blow today when one of its patrons resigned – accusing its boss of breaching confidentiality.

Professor Cary Cooper, a celebrated expert on workplace stress, said he had sent an email to Christine Pratt telling her he was resigning as a patron of the National Bullying Helpline.

He said: "I am resigning now on the grounds that I think she breached confidentiality.

"One of the things that is really important for any helpline or any counselling service is to retain confidentiality of the people calling up."

Prof Cooper's move comes after Mrs Pratt, the founder of the National Bullying Helpline, revealed yesterday that its helpline had received several calls from Downing Street.

Lord Mandelson today dismissed calls for an inquiry into the bullying allegations against Mr Brown, claiming they were part of a "political operation" to undermine the Prime Minister.

The First Secretary said he understood that Tory press officers were yesterday guiding journalists to contact Mrs Pratt.

Lord Mandelson said he initially thought the row was a "storm in a teacup".

But he went on: "It now looks like more of a political operation that's under way directed at the Prime Minister personally."

He said there had been no actual evidence of bullying at Number 10 and that it would not be tolerated if it were to take place.

"There is zero tolerance for bullying in the Government as a whole, and certainly at the centre of government," Lord Mandelson said.