Britain’s top civil servant has said he did not confront Gordon Brown about “acting in a bullying or intimidatory manner” towards Downing Street staff.
Cabinet Secretary Sir Gus O’Donnell also said there was no need for an inquiry following newspaper stories about the PM’s treatment of colleagues.
The Tories and Lib Dems have called for the situation to be cleared up.
Mr Brown said the story was “completely wrong” and that he had received no “private message” from Sir Gus.

In an interview with The Economist magazine, Mr Brown said: “The cabinet secretary has made it clear that he’s had no inquiries, there’s been no reprimand, there’s been no private message to me… (the) story is completely wrong.”
The row began with a story in the Observer, based on a book by journalist Andrew Rawnsley, detailing incidents in which Mr Brown allegedly grabbed staff by the lapels, shoved them aside and shouted at them.
Mr Rawnsley claimed Sir Gus had been so concerned about the situation in Downing Street that he had had a private word with the prime minister about his behaviour.
But a Downing Street spokesman said: “The cabinet secretary would like to make clear that he has never raised concerns with the prime minister about him acting in a bullying or intimidatory manner in relation to Number 10 staff, let alone giving him any sort of verbal warning.”
Sir Gus did not feel there was any need for an inquiry into the allegations in Mr Rawnsley’s book, the spokesman added.
However, Mr Rawnsley told the BBC he stood by his story, adding: “This is the third different statement Downing Street has put out in the last 48 hours and I note with interest that they still don’t deny that a conversation took place between the prime minister and the cabinet secretary about the prime minister’s behaviour.”
He also said: “You will note that their careful choice of words in their latest statement still doesn’t preclude the cabinet secretary going to the prime minister and warning him about his behaviour.”
Conservative leader David Cameron described the situation as an “unseemly mess” and said: “I’m sure that Number 10 Downing Street and the civil service in some way will want to have some sort of inquiry to get to the bottom of what has happened here.
“One way for that to happen is for Sir Philip Mawer, who is in charge of policing the ministerial code, to be asked to look into this and to find out what has been happening and get to the bottom of it.”

Shutter Island, Martin Scorsese’s new film with Leonardo DiCaprio, has topped the US and Canada box office chart with first weekend takings of $40.2m (£26m).
The dark thriller stars DiCaprio as a cop investigating a disappearance at a hospital for the criminally insane.
It had been scheduled for release last October before being abruptly bumped to February by its distributor Paramount.
Last week’s top movie, romantic comedy Valentine’s Day, fell down to two, with Avatar still going strong at three.
Worldwide, James Cameron’s sci-fi epic has now made just short of $2.5 billion (£1.6 billion).
Shutter Island’s better than expected performance represents a personal best for Scorsese, the Oscar-winning director of Taxi Driver and Raging Bull.
His biggest opener in North America before this weekend came in 2006 when crime drama The Departed made $26.9m (£17.4m) in its first weekend on release.
Paramount’s vice-chairman Rob Moore has defended putting Shutter Island’s release back, a decision that made it ineligible for this year’s Academy Awards.
“We knew more time was only going to help us get the word out and get a broader audience,” he said.
As well as Scorsese’s film performed, however, it was trounced on a screen-for-screen basis by Roman Polanski’s latest The Ghost Writer.
Opening at just four cinemas in New York and Los Angeles, the political thriller made $179,000 (£115,686) over the weekend – an average of $44,750 (£28,921) per screen.
In contrast, Shutter Island – which opened in almost 3,000 cinemas – made an average of just $13,440 (£8,686) per screen.
Polanski’s arrest in Switzerland last year may have stoked interest in the title, which tells of a writer hired to “ghost” a former Prime Minister’s memoirs.
Ewan McGregor and Pierce Brosnan star in the film, to be released in the UK on 16 April as The Ghost.
Shutter Island is out in the UK on 12 March.

Tim Burton’s new film version of Alice in Wonderland will not be screened at Odeon cinemas in the UK, Irish Republic and Italy, the cinema chain says.
The move is in response to the Disney studio’s plan to reduce the period in which it can be shown only in cinemas from the standard 17 weeks.
The plan would allow Disney to release the film on DVD at the end of May.
Odeon said it would “set a new benchmark, leading to a 12-week window becoming rapidly standard”.
Cineworld cinemas will show the movie, however, after reaching an independent agreement with the Disney studio.
The Vue chain is also understood to have reached an agreement with Disney, details of which are due to be announced shortly.
Odeon’s decision will not affect the film’s Royal premiere on Thursday, which is coincidentally set to take place at the Odeon Leicester Square in central London.

Nor will it affect its plans to show the film in Spain, Germany, Portugal and Austria – territories where Disney intends to observe the normal DVD release window.
Starring Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter, Alice in Wonderland sees the novel’s heroine return as a teenager to the magical kingdom for more surreal adventures.
Inspired by the works of Lewis Carroll, the film also stars Helena Bonham Carter, Anne Hathaway and Britain’s Matt Lucas.
The Odeon & UCI Cinema Group is Britain’s largest cinema chain with more than 100 sites nationwide. Cineworld and Vue are the second and third biggest.
Together they represent just under two-thirds of all cinema screens in the UK.

Former US Vice-President Dick Cheney has been taken to hospital in Washington after experiencing chest pains, his office has said.
They said Mr Cheney, 69, was “resting comfortably” at George Washington University Hospital and his doctors were evaluating the situation.
Mr Cheney, who left office in January last year, has a history of heart problems.
He has had four heart attacks and quadruple bypass surgery.
Hospital doctors told NBC News that the former vice-president was stable and may receive additional treatment on Tuesday.

The television network said that Mr Cheney had had an angiogram test so that doctors could look into his coronary arteries, and that the results showed he might need more treatment.
AFP reported that Mr Cheney was due to meet former US President George W Bush and other members of the Bush administration on Friday, for the first time since they left office in January 2009.
Mr Cheney has undergone several operations to clear blocked arteries and was fitted with a pacemaker in 2001.
In October 2008 he underwent treatment to correct an abnormal heart rhythm.

A woman in the US state of Maryland has been convicted of murdering two adopted daughters whose bodies she kept in a freezer, moving them from home to home.
Renee Bowman, 44, was found guilty of two counts of first-degree murder and three of first-degree child abuse.
The two bodies were found in a freezer in her home in Lusby in September 2008 after a third girl escaped.
Authorities do not know exactly when the two girls, who would now be 11 and 12 had they lived, were killed.
But Bowman moved home three times in the past three years, bringing a large freezer along with her.
Her crimes were uncovered when the surviving girl was found, aged seven, half-naked and covered in blood after escaping from the Bowman home.
Inside Bowman’s freezer were the frozen bodies of Minnet, the eldest, and Jasmine.
Bowman had received subsidies for all three children from the District of Columbia, where the girls were adopted.
The subsidies are given to parents who adopt special-needs children from foster care, the Associated Press news agency notes.
Bowman has already pleaded guilty to abusing the surviving girl and was sentenced to 25 years in prison in that case.
The girl, now nine and living with new foster parents, testified in the murder trial last week.
Bowman is due to be sentenced over the new convictions on 22 March. Prosecutors said they would ask for life in prison without the possibility of parole.

A copy of the first comic to feature caped hero Superman has been sold on the internet for $1m (£646,000).
The 1938 edition of Action Comics No 1 – which originally sold for 10c – was sold by a private seller to a private buyer, neither of whom was named.
Stephen Fishler, co-owner of the US auction website Comic Connect, said it was “the Holy Grail of comic books”.
The sale smashes the previous record price for a comic book of $317,200 (£205,000) in 2009.
That was also a copy of Action Comics No 1, but in poorer condition.
Mr Fishler said the transaction happened minutes after the issue was put on sale at around 1030 local time (1530 GMT) on Monday.
He said that the seller was a “well-known individual” in New York with a pedigree collection, and that the buyer was a known customer who had previously bought an Action Comics No 1.
“The opportunity to buy an un-restored, high-grade Action One comes along once every two decades. It’s certainly a milestone,” said Mr Fishler.
He added: “It is still a little stunning to see a comic book and $1m in the same sentence.”
About 100 copies of Action Comics No 1 remain in existence and only two of those have a grading of 8.0 – very fine – including the one sold on Monday.
The previous record-holder had a grading of 6.0.
The cover of the rare issue pictures Superman lifting a car over his head.

NATO has confirmed a number of civilians in an airstrike in southern Afghanistan killed Sunday.
Twenty-seven people were killed and 10 wounded in attack in Uruzgan province, said Governor of the BBC.
NATO said it struck a convoy of suspected insurgents, but the ground forces later found several people injured and killed, including women and children.
The civilian casualties from air strikes have caused resentment in Afghanistan and embarrassment for NATO.
Last year, General McChrystal Stanley, who has U.S. and NATO commander in Afghanistan, much stricter rules for use in an effort to minimize losses.
Chris of BBC Morris in Kabul said they have three cars on the road affected by the strike Sunday morning.
A NATO statement said that he thought the convoy of Taliban insurgents on their way to attack Afghan and foreign forces.
But Sultan Ali, the governor of Uruzgan province, told the BBC the dead were civilians.
He said the raid took place in an area under Taliban control.
Uruzgan province where the Dutch mission in Afghanistan had been rejected since 2006, with nearly 2,000 staff.
During the weekend, the Dutch government sparked controversy within the ruling coalition to expand activities in Afghanistan since August this year.
General McChrystal, President of Afghanistan Hamid Karzai apologized and promised a full investigation into the recent deaths.
The NATO commander said in a statement: We are very concerned saddened by the tragic loss of innocent lives.
I made it clear to our forces that we are here to protect the Afghan people, and accidentally killed or injured civilians, undermining their confidence in our mission.
We re-establish our efforts to build trust again. Our correspondent says that the strike was not related to the ongoing NATO-led operation in Helmand province Moshtarak.
In the last week 12 civilians killed in attack – whose name means Together – which launched missiles hit a house.
More than 15,000 are NATO and Afghan forces involved in Moshtarak, now in its second week, and the largest since the overthrow of the Taliban in 2001.
The head of US Central Command, General David Petraeus said Sunday that it was part of a revised strategy to combat the rebels, which would probably take up to 18 months.

A Scottish brewery has launched controversial what he described as the strongest beer in the world – with 32% alcohol content.
Tactical nuclear Penguin revealed by BrewDog of Fraserburgh.
BrewDog was formerly known as irresponsible for a beer brands 18.2%, Tokyo, once called beer with low alcohol content Nanny State.
CEO James Watt, said a limited number of tactical nuclear Penguin each will be sold for 30.
He said: This beer is for exceeding the limits is to ensure innovation in the beer to a whole new level. Mr. Watt added that a tactical nuclear Penguin beer as the spirit must be drunk measures to comply.
The warning label reads: This is a very strong beer should be enjoyed in small doses and with a touch of aristocratic indifference. In the same way you can enjoy a good whiskey, Frank Zappa’s albums, or visit follow the fear of a friendly spirit. But Jack Law, Alcohol Focus Scotland, described a cynical marketing ploy and said: We want to know why a brewery producing beer almost as strong as the whiskey. Beer started the day in life is to drink alcohol at the head of the political agenda with the introduction of alcohol, the Scottish bill, including proposals for minimum quantities.
Meanwhile, BrewDog have been authorized to develop plans for a new home for millions of bottles of beer a year from Aberdeenshire Council.
The decision was taken at a meeting of full Council, but recommended for refusal by officials as the place Potterton, near Aberdeen, is in the green belt.

The funeral of Georgia Nodar Kumaritashvili Luger – who died during a training run for Olympic Winter Games – in his hometown.
The officers were among the hundreds gathered for the service Bakuriani.
The 21-year-old off the track in Whistler at high speed and crashed into steel pillars hours before the opening ceremony in Vancouver, Canada.
Georgian Olympic Committee has said that the safety standards were not met, and the decision to take action.
Grief, like the Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili to resign outside the home of sportsmen gathered under a clear sky, to flowers and pay their respects.
Previously, family and friends gathered for a feast of traditional funeral at the family home Kumaritashvili, where a small choir sang songs of Georgia.
The athlete’s father, David Kumaritashvili, looks at a photo of her son and said: I wanted to throw a wedding for you.
Instead, we have a funeral. As athletes for next year have reached the smallest winter Olympic glory, has lost the people in the city, the Luger have the feeling of a sports hero, and part of their community, says Tom Esslemont BBC in the city.
Unanswered questions still surround the accident that caused the death Kumaritashvili.
The luge athletes hit within the last lap of the track during his career as the sixth and final training, sending his body into the air and on a concrete wall.
The race of the men walked in Vancouver were later made after changes to the track.
The average speed of drivers were significantly reduced to reduce the exit door, which is normally reserved for the competence of women.
Georgia Kumaritashvili Olympic officials say that death was due to a lack of attention, causing the safety standards.
But to tell the parents of the athletes that they do not want the blame, but simply someone Nodar long be remembered.
A visibly annoyed by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Jacques Rogge said the President had the tragedy cast a shadow over the Games.
Average speed 15 mph Whistler is higher than elsewhere in the course tracksAverage Whistler is 28 m higher than the competition from other Runs took place on Saturday after probes by the Coroners Service of British Columbia and the International Luge Federation (FIL) came to the conclusion that the route were not lacking, but the athlete is unable to compensate adequately entering a curve.
The trail of Whistler, which is shared by the sport of luge, skeleton and bobsled, already has a reputation as one of the fastest – and most dangerous – in the world.

Jeremy Bowen assesses the decline in the Middle East since the killing of Hamas leader Mahmoud al-Mabhouh by Mossad agents in a luxury hotel in Dubai.
It’s a shame they do not shoot on a Friday, said a local resident has.
Jimmy was the BBC cameraman tried to get decent pictures of the skyline of Dubai, but there was a fog that helped them.
Why on Friday? We asked.
Well, there is less to create, a Friday, he said, so that the air is so dusty. Are known, even with Dubai and economic problems, there is still much construction under way by the rules of most other places.
This is my first real visit to Dubai from the late 90s and is unrecognizable.
In the 1960s, after my uncle who was here with the British Army, the lights of the runway burning tar barrel of Dubai Airport.
When I arrived here on his way to Afghanistan in the late 80s, a fairly compact city was surrounded by a sweep of the desert, they are simply no more.
You need to have ten million tons of cast concrete to build the city-state expansion.
As I write this, I see a burnt-orange sun behind the Burj Khalifa, the new skyscraper, the building is the world’s highest. Is extremely high.
Acres of gardens and golf courses in Dubai are green and lush, extremely expensive in a city with almost no rain, through desalination plants.
The weather is wonderful today, but in summer it is terribly hot and humid.
Regardless, it has air conditioning, especially the indoor ski slope, where the snow is real and lasting black for experts.
Love him or hate him, nature has dampened build an amazing city.
Perhaps never thought they could dominate the Middle East, and although the mind could imagine Burj Khalifa, is not lacking in ambition.
The assassination of Hamas, Mahmoud al-Mabhouh official shows that it was a dream.
The long war may be the century of conflict between Arabs and Jews were not defeated by the developers.
His ability to produce and export the unprecedented violence in the world today.
Mr. Mabhouh assassinated by Mossad, the Israeli secret service?
I do not know. But there are indications that he was.