More evidence of Brown’s bullying
From the Daily Mail:
Gordon Brown hurled a torrent of abuse at EU Foreign Minister Baroness Ashton in a row over the way she is doing her job, it was disclosed last night. The Prime Minister swore repeatedly at the Baroness over the telephone, leaving her shaken, according to well-placed sources. Details of Mr Brown’s latest bullying outburst prompted claims that Baroness Ashton, 53, is losing the confidence of her own Government, as well as Brussels. According to one source, he accused her of ‘letting Britain down’.
The disclosure came amid mounting criticism of the way the Labour peer is carrying out her role as the EU High Representative for foreign affairs. It is the latest in a series of developments to undermine the former Cabinet Minister since she won the prestigious £250,000-a-year post late last year – with Mr Brown’s backing. The sniping started in Westminster where allies of Peter Mandelson, who was upset not to have won the EU role himself, were accused of launching a whispering campaign against the Baroness. They said she was ‘too dull and too dim’ to succeed. It spread to Brussels, where bureaucrats said she had become the ‘mediocrity everybody loves to hate’.
Criticism of her conduct erupted into the open after she failed to visit Haiti in the immediate aftermath of the earthquake there. She was upstaged by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton who jetted in within days but the Baroness hit back, stating she refused to take part in ‘disaster tourism’. There were also reports she was neglecting her duties by returning to the UK most weekends to be with her family and refusing to take calls after 8pm. Her aides say she prefers ‘behind the scenes’ diplomacy. But critics say her low-profile style and lack of political experience has proved to be a handicap. ‘She’s never been elected to anything and has spent the last few years in the Lords, hardly the cutting-edge of politics,’ said one. Baroness Ashton hit back in the European Parliament promising to be more ‘assertive’. In an attempt to answer jibes at her inability to speak foreign languages, she briefly switched into French and German.
Baroness Ashton and Downing Street declined to comment.
Interesting last sentence – no comment from Downing Street. Remember how quick they were out of the blocks when Rawnsley launched his bullying claims? Remember how the whole No 10 press team jumped into action and the rebuttals came thick and fast? Not this time. Brown the Bully strikes again….
Who’s more culpable for a subordinate’s incompetence?
That subordinate, or the person that put them in a role for which they lacked the skills?
I think European tears are all of the crocodile variety as wasn’t all the commentary subsequent to her and van rumpey’s appointments that they had both been selected precisely because of their suspected ineffectiveness?
Furthermore the EU and British governments are always harping on in a pious manner about the importance of women being able to work flexibly and part-time at all levels of government and business. If a business came out and publicly question the suitability and commitment of a woman for a job on the basis that she didn’t work week-ends or take calls after 8pm the criticism from govt and the media would be deafening. It’s a further case of Govt’s imposing rules on business that they have no intention of applying to themselves.
Julia, I think it’s fair to say that Brown is far from blameless!
MarkyMark, interesting perspective. Unfortunately Labour won’t publicly criticise Ashton because they appointed her and the Conservatives won’t either because they don’t want to talk about Europe. In effect, her job is safe regardless of how unbelievably incompetent or unsuitable she may be.
Mmmm, the European Commission president had quite a say in Catherine Ashton’s appointment. And in who was not appointed it is suspected.
And there was me thinking this was an “AFTER” shot of Caroline Flint….
Yeuchh.
But the similarities are there.
About as effective as Flint too.
Perhaps Downing Street’s keeping a low profile when any rebuttal would appear alongside the shameful story of migrant workers being ill-treated by their superiors. Outrageous misconduct include examples of workers being ’shoved’, ‘verbally abused’ and having ‘things thrown at them’.
At least the workers aren’t likely to have their managers conducting vicious private briefings against them to the national media as well.
So a known sociopath earning £200 grand insults a done-nothing incompetent earning £250 grand. Ho hum. Plus ca change (as the Baroness might/might not say).
So when are the recordings of these temper tantrums going to start to emerge? We aren’t living in the 19th century any more. There are all sorts of cheap devices that record sound these days. I’ve got about half a dozen myself. Just one would be enough to sink Brown. Unless Dave regularly bawls people out too. In which case it’s a nuclear option, and Mutual Assured Destruction.
Go for it, I say.
I blame Brown for promoting baroness Ashton, and for making me feel sorry for her.
@Man in a Shed – I blame Brown for promoting baroness Ashton, and making me feel not a bit sorry for her.
I agree, Julia. You can’t get someone a position if you know they are not up to it, then start swearing at them.