A couple of weeks ago I wrote of a politician in the Northwest US being sanctioned by her party and being urged to attend an anger management class. We've all heard stories of others such as Bill Clinton and John McCain having bad tempers and who could perhaps benefit from anger management classes. Now, comes this from The Columbus Dispatch about British Prime Minister Gordon Brown:

Does Britain's Prime Minister Need Anger Management Classes?

Government officials in Britain are denying reports that Prime Minister Gordon Brown regularly launches abusive tirades against his staff.

The head of the civil service reportedly met with Brown to discuss the prime minister's behavior, and the director of an anti-bullying hotline said several people in Brown's office have called the organization.

A press release from the prime minister's office called the reports "malicious allegations" that are "without foundation," the BBC reported.

Peter Mandelson, the cabinet secretary for business, told the BBC yesterday that Brown "doesn't bully people."

The Observer newspaper reported yesterday that Sir Gus O'Donnell, the head of Britain's civil service, launched an investigation after receiving complaints from those who worked in Brown's office. O'Donnell then gave the prime minister what was described as a stern "pep talk" and ordered him to change his behavior, the newspaper reported.

Christine Pratt, the director of Britain's National Bullying Helpline, told the BBC yesterday that "three or four" calls had been made to her organization from employees in the prime minister's office.

"Over recent months we have had several inquiries from staff within Gordon Brown's office," Pratt told the BBC.

"Some have downloaded information, some have actually called our helpline directly, and I have spoken to staff in his office," Pratt said.

Pratt said she was revealing the contacts because the prime minister's office denied the bullying allegations in the newspaper story.

Brown and his Labour government face an election this spring. Opinion polls currently place the opposition Conservative party ahead of Labour.