Charity bullying helpline ‘temporarily suspended’
By Emmeline Saunders
A charity helpline which has been at the centre of a political storm this week over claims it had been contacted by Downing Street staff has been temporarily suspended.
The National Bullying Helpline said it was considering the future of the charity after its founder, Christine Pratt, went to the BBC with allegations that government staff had contacted the helpline with complaints about bullying.
A press release by the charity said Ms Pratt is prepared to resign if necessary and sought to assure the public that it is “not politically driven in any way”.
Ms Pratt was criticised for breach of confidentiality after she responded to Peter Mandelson’s denial that Gordon Brown had displayed aggressive or bullying behaviour to staff; claims made by journalist Andrew Rawnsley in his new book.
Her decision to go public with Downing Street bullying complaints sparked more than 60 complaints to the Charity Commission, and anti-bulling charity Bullying UK said it has received emails from people saying they would never contact such helplines again because the lapse in confidentiality.
The charity blamed “competitor anti-bullying charities” and those “with an axe to grind” for its decision to suspend the helpline.
