kerkko.fi

Gordon Brown's abusive behaviour and volcanic eruptions of foul temper left Downing Street staff so frightened that he received an unprecedented reprimand from the head of the civil service, the Observer's Andrew Rawnsley reveals today.

Sir Gus O'Donnell, the cabinet secretary, became so alarmed by the prime minister's bullying of staff that he gave the prime minister a stern "pep talk" and ordered him to change his behaviour. "This is no way to get things done," he told Brown.

Rawnsley's book, The End of the Party, charts Labour's second and third terms in power and is based on hundreds of interviews with witnesses to the key events in the government's life, including cabinet ministers, No 10 officials and senior civil servants.

When briefed about the loss of confidential data discs, containing the personal details of more than 20 million people, Brown leapt across the room and grabbed his deputy chief of staff by the lapels. Brown snarled into Kelly's face: "They're out to get me!"

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/feb/21/gordon-brown-abusive-treatment-staff