Bullying helpline boss under fire

Professor Cary Cooper announced his resignation after National Bullying Helpline head Christine Pratt claimed that members of Mr Brown's team had been subjected to physical and verbal abuse by the Prime Minister's office.

"I am resigning now on the grounds that I think she breached confidentiality," said Mr Cooper.

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

Speaking to Channel 4 News yesterday, Ms Pratt could not give much concrete information about how many complaints her organisation had received from No 10.

She said that she had taken one personal call from someone and did an "audit trail" to prove they genuinely worked directly for Gordon Brown.

The helpline head also repeated her allegation that she had taken calls from two people who work "in the deputy prime minister's office" in "the last 18 months" - despite there having been no deputy PM since John Prescott left the post in 2007.

Although Ms Pratt did not reveal any specific names of people she claimed had called the helpline, simply naming the employer had breached confidentiality, insisted Prof Cooper.

"I am involved in a range of charities, none of whom do that kind of thing. It is not the way you behave," he said.

The row over the allegations threatened to spiral out of control after Tory leader David Cameron said he "expected an inquiry" into the matter.

But Business Secretary Lord Mandelson swiftly dismissed the calls and claimed they were part of a "political operation" to undermine the Prime Minister.

Former home secretary Jacqui Smith weighed in on the PM's side, writing a letter to the helpline expressing "absolute amazement" at the breach of confidentiality.

"I have previously advised constituents facing difficult bullying situations about your service. I will never do that again," she said. The letter was forwarded to Tory MP Ann Widdecombe, another of the organisation's patrons.

Labour MP Anne Snelgrove, who helped Ms Pratt launch the helpline, said yesterday she had severed all links with it after receiving complaints in 2008 about the way it had referred calls to her husband's consultancy.

The Unite union's political officer - and close Brown ally - Charlie Whelan said he thought there was an ulterior motive behind the allegations.

"No wonder some people want to smear Mr Brown now, with a poll lead down to six points," he said.