Leadsom fuels the calls on Bercow to quit over ‘ bullying’
JOHN Bercow faced further pressure to quit last night after a senior minister said Westminster’s bullying culture ‘arguably begins at the top’.
Andrea Leadsom said the scandal surrounding the Speaker’s alleged treatment of his staff had left a ‘cloud hanging over Parliament’.
Mr Bercow has been reported to the standards watchdog over the claims. Tory MP Andrew Bridgen, who made the referral, said: ‘I think he should quit. It is a time when we are trying to tackle this culture of bullying and harassment, and I don’t think that’s deliverable while the Speaker is mired in these allegations.’
Mrs Leadsom, who is Leader of the House, said: ‘We’ve had examples of harassment and bullying across all levels, and you can certainly argue it begins at the top. Nevertheless there are examples of members of staff treating other members of staff badly.’ She added that ‘the allegations that have been raised with me have come as a shock’.
She also urged staff to come forward and give evidence to an independent inquiry led by Dame Laura Cox QC, a former High Court judge.
It was set up last month in response to claims that officials were being bullied by MPs, including Mr Bercow. A series of claims have been made against the Speaker by his former private secretaries, all denied.
When Mr Bercow stood for election as Speaker on June 22, 2009 he vowed to serve no more than nine years – and calls are growing for him to honour that as the June 22 anniversary nears.
Meanwhile, David Leakey, who retired in 2017 after seven years as Lords official Black Rod, compared Mr Bercow to shamed movie mogul Harvey Weinstein.
He said Mr Bercow was ‘not altogether a bad Speaker’ but – like Weinstein – had ‘stepped over the line and had to step down’. He has described Mr Bercow’s behaviour as ‘explosive and intemperate’.
A spokesman for the Speaker’s Office said: ‘This is a matter for the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner and Mr Speaker has no comment to make.’