Now stubborn Mr Squeaker says he may quit next year

JOHN Bercow could finally stand down as Speaker of the House of Commons as early as next year after ten years in the job, he has told friends.

The controversial Speaker has come under pressure to quit following bullying allegations from former staff. His allies have suggested he is under pressure from his family to walk away but is determined to go on his ‘own terms’.

A source told the Sunday Times: ‘ His wife Sally and their children have grown tired of living in Parliament and have been urging him to call it a day. But he has no intention of letting anyone push him out of the job, so has indicated that he will go on his own terms next year when he has served ten years.’

Last night critics of the Speaker dismissed the report, saying he has failed to fulfil a promise to quit after nine years.

Tory MP James Duddridge said: ‘ Bercow is getting friends to brief he will go next year. But why should we trust him given he ignores his own manifesto promise when he became Speaker to go by June 22, 2018?’

MPs opposed to the Speaker – or Mr Squeaker as he has been described – have compiled a dossier of his outbursts in a bid to pile pressure on him, the Sun on Sunday reported.

They are understood to be compiling television footage of him mocking MPs in what they hope will prompt officials to extend the independent inquiry by Dame Laura Cox into alleged bullying by MPs to cover his behaviour.

Downing Street has called for an investigation into his behaviour while a group of Tory MPs have reportedly vowed to ‘throw the kitchen sink’ at him via a series of Commons calls for him to stand aside.

Mr Bercow denies the claims made against him. His spokesman said: ‘The Speaker was elected by the House in 2017 for the course of the Parliament. In the event he has anything to say on his future plans, he will make an announcement to the House first.’