THE recent bullying debate involving Gordon Brown has been very interesting.

Society tends not to want the people in charge to be wishy-washy ditherers.

On the contrary, those people charged with appointing new leaders tend to nod in approval when candidates emphasise their forceful natures and capacity for strong action and a willingness to force change.

After they get the job, such qualities are useful in some circumstances and counter-productive in others.

Some underlings respond to such an approach, but there will always be people who feel disinclined to take what they regard as abuse or bullying.

Powerful personalities become legends in their field — football managers such as Sir Alex Ferguson or Brian Clough — or they fail and move on to cause chaos elsewhere. In some rare cases people like this learn to adapt and widen their management skills.

I have no idea if there is fire with the smoke surrounding our Prime Minister, but it is hardly surprising that a job with appalling stresses leads to outbreaks of bad temper.

There is no reason to believe things would be any different if that nice David Cameron were to win the forthcoming election. A job that is virtually impossible must be a challenge to all human beings.

The temptation to let rip at perceived incompetence must be overwhelming for all Prime Ministers.

For some reason, great swathes of the population approve when football managers address bad performances on the pitch by ranting at players and throwing tea trays or boots.

They are less tolerant of the same sort of thing in their workplace or in politics. That’s life.