FREUDIAN CASE OF SPEAKER BERCOW

TO SIGMUND FREUD we owe the theory known as psychological projection.

This describes the actions of someone who can’t accept his own character flaws and deals with this by attributing them to others — which he can then condemn without mercy, or indeed a trace of self-reflection.

I am beginning to think that the Speaker of the House of Commons, John Bercow, is a classic study of this phenomenon.

Over recent days, former Parliamentary officials have described being at the receiving end of Mr Bercow’s epic tantrums. Angus Sinclair, who worked for Bercow until 2010, told the BBC how the Speaker had frequently bellowed at him, and even attempted to intimidate him physically, smashing a mobile phone to smithereens on his desk.

Sinclair was succeeded by Kate Emms, who left Bercow’s office after just a year, suffering, we are told, from posttraumatic stress disorder.

And the former Black Rod, David Leakey, revealed to the BBC that he had also been at the receiving end of Bercow’s tantrums, adding: ‘His explosive and intemperate behaviour is legendary, objectionable and unworthy of someone in such public office.’ And here’s the thing: John Bercow not only denies all this absolutely, but in 2017 called for ‘zero tolerance of bullying here at Westminster’.

Stranger still, he seems to take particular pleasure in questioning the mental stability of MPs who become over-excitable in the chamber, invariably telling them ‘to take a soothing medicament’ (ie, tranquilisers).

The Guido Fawkes website has unearthed many examples of this. Thus, to the Conservative MP Alec Shelbrooke three weeks ago: ‘You are overexcited and you need to contain yourself. If it requires you to take some medicament, so be it.’

To the Labour MP Khalid Mahmood, last July: ‘You seem to be in a very hyper condition today. I recommend that you take some sort of soothing medicament or go and lie down for a little while.’

Or indeed, to the entire House of Commons, also last July: ‘Members are shouting excessively. They must calm themselves. Take some sort of soothing medicament.’

Yet, to judge from what a number of his former staff say, if any MP is in need of a ‘soothing medicament’, it is the member for Buckingham, one John Bercow.