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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| No 10 hits out at Brown accuser | No 10 hits out at Brown accuser |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Downing Street has criticised a former head of the civil service who said Chancellor Gordon Brown operates with a "Stalinist ruthlessness". | Downing Street has criticised a former head of the civil service who said Chancellor Gordon Brown operates with a "Stalinist ruthlessness". |
| Lord Turnbull also told the Financial Times that Mr Brown had a "very cynical view of mankind and his colleagues". | Lord Turnbull also told the Financial Times that Mr Brown had a "very cynical view of mankind and his colleagues". |
| He added that he would not allow "serious discussion" with colleagues. | He added that he would not allow "serious discussion" with colleagues. |
| But Tony Blair's spokesman praised Mr Brown's record and said it was "in the interests of good government that civil servants should not become the story". | But Tony Blair's spokesman praised Mr Brown's record and said it was "in the interests of good government that civil servants should not become the story". |
| He added: "The prime minister made very clear yesterday his admiration for the chancellor's record as chancellor." | He added: "The prime minister made very clear yesterday his admiration for the chancellor's record as chancellor." |
| 'Very insulting' | 'Very insulting' |
| Lord Turnbull, who was also Mr Brown's permanent secretary at the Treasury for four years, said of discussions with Cabinet colleagues: "His view is that it is just not worth it and 'they will get what I decide'. | Lord Turnbull, who was also Mr Brown's permanent secretary at the Treasury for four years, said of discussions with Cabinet colleagues: "His view is that it is just not worth it and 'they will get what I decide'. |
| "And that is a very insulting process." | "And that is a very insulting process." |
| Lord Turnbull said this strategy had enhanced Treasury control but had come "at the expense of any government cohesion and any assessment of strategy". | Lord Turnbull said this strategy had enhanced Treasury control but had come "at the expense of any government cohesion and any assessment of strategy". |
| He's (Lord Turnbull) a bit of a stickler for convention and doesn't like things done in a rude way Michael PortilloEx-Tory MP Lord Turnbull profile How damaging is attack? | He's (Lord Turnbull) a bit of a stickler for convention and doesn't like things done in a rude way Michael PortilloEx-Tory MP Lord Turnbull profile How damaging is attack? |
| He added: "You can choose whether you are impressed or depressed by that, but you cannot help admire the sheer Stalinist ruthlessness of it all." | He added: "You can choose whether you are impressed or depressed by that, but you cannot help admire the sheer Stalinist ruthlessness of it all." |
| He said "the chancellor has a Macavity quality. He is not there when there is dirty work to be done". | He said "the chancellor has a Macavity quality. He is not there when there is dirty work to be done". |
| However, he praised Mr Brown for his move to allow the Bank of England to be independent. | However, he praised Mr Brown for his move to allow the Bank of England to be independent. |
| He added that what surprised him about the Treasury was "the more or less complete contempt with which other colleagues are held". | He added that what surprised him about the Treasury was "the more or less complete contempt with which other colleagues are held". |
| Departments were told only at the last minute what their Budget settlement would be, he added, claiming the man who expected to be the next prime minister used denial of information as an "instrument of power". | Departments were told only at the last minute what their Budget settlement would be, he added, claiming the man who expected to be the next prime minister used denial of information as an "instrument of power". |
| 'Strong leadership' | 'Strong leadership' |
| But Constitutional Affairs Minister Harriet Harman defended Mr Brown, telling the BBC: "Not all civil servants admire strong political leadership." | But Constitutional Affairs Minister Harriet Harman defended Mr Brown, telling the BBC: "Not all civil servants admire strong political leadership." |
| She added: "But if you want to change things for the better you need strong political leadership." | She added: "But if you want to change things for the better you need strong political leadership." |
| Ms Harman went on: "He is demanding of his colleagues, but he is demanding of himself because he wants to change things for the better." | Ms Harman went on: "He is demanding of his colleagues, but he is demanding of himself because he wants to change things for the better." |
| International Development Secretary Hilary Benn - who like Ms Harman is bidding to be Mr Brown's deputy if he becomes Labour leader later this year, also defended the chancellor. | |
| "He is prepared to take tough decisions and I think we should welcome that in a chancellor and a future leader," Mr Benn told the BBC News website. | "He is prepared to take tough decisions and I think we should welcome that in a chancellor and a future leader," Mr Benn told the BBC News website. |
| Lord Turnbull's comments, unprecedentedly outspoken for such a senior civil servant, came the day before what is expected to be Mr Brown's final Budget before he succeeds Tony Blair as prime minister. | Lord Turnbull's comments, unprecedentedly outspoken for such a senior civil servant, came the day before what is expected to be Mr Brown's final Budget before he succeeds Tony Blair as prime minister. |
| Lord Turnbull declined to discuss his comments on BBC Radio 4's Today programme because he thought he had done "enough damage already". | Lord Turnbull declined to discuss his comments on BBC Radio 4's Today programme because he thought he had done "enough damage already". |
| 'Coherence' | 'Coherence' |
| In the past Lord Turnbull has been highly critical of civil servants who broke confidences, telling MPs in 2005 that "derogatory comments in relation to elected politicians" was not "airy-fairy old 'good chap' stuff", but could do "concrete" damage. | In the past Lord Turnbull has been highly critical of civil servants who broke confidences, telling MPs in 2005 that "derogatory comments in relation to elected politicians" was not "airy-fairy old 'good chap' stuff", but could do "concrete" damage. |
| BBC political editor Nick Robinson said he had been told that Lord Turnbull thought he was talking off the record during his conversation with the FT. | BBC political editor Nick Robinson said he had been told that Lord Turnbull thought he was talking off the record during his conversation with the FT. |
| Former Conservative defence secretary Michael Portillo said Mr Brown's "personality and qualities have led him (Lord Turnbull) to be outraged". | Former Conservative defence secretary Michael Portillo said Mr Brown's "personality and qualities have led him (Lord Turnbull) to be outraged". |
| He added: "He's (Lord Turnbull) a bit of a stickler for convention and doesn't like things done in a rude way and perhaps he thinks Gordon Brown does things in these ways." | He added: "He's (Lord Turnbull) a bit of a stickler for convention and doesn't like things done in a rude way and perhaps he thinks Gordon Brown does things in these ways." |
| Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesman Vince Cable said the peer's comments confirmed what his party had been saying for a "long time" about Mr Brown. | Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesman Vince Cable said the peer's comments confirmed what his party had been saying for a "long time" about Mr Brown. |
| "There is excessive micromanagement, with far too many decisions being taken in the Treasury by bright young things who have no feel for the practical problems on the ground," he added. | "There is excessive micromanagement, with far too many decisions being taken in the Treasury by bright young things who have no feel for the practical problems on the ground," he added. |