MPs plot to get rid of Bercow (at last!)

TORY MPs are plotting a fresh bid to topple Commons Speaker John Bercow amid growing disgust at bullying and sexism claims.

Conservatives are mobilising to depose him from the influential position and have been meeting behind closed doors to drum up names to add to a motion of no confidence.

MPs are furious after Mr Bercow refused to stick to a previous promise to step down when he had served nine years, a period which runs out this Friday.

He has instead signalled his desire to stay on for another four years until the next general election.

His time in the Commons chair has been rocked by claims that he has bullied several of his former parliamentary staff.

They claim that he flew into fiery rages and would talk down to, and harass, some of his aides. Mr Bercow strongly denies all the allegations against him.

Energy minister Claire Perry accused Mr Bercow of sexism and using demeaning language last week when he told her in the Commons to give shorter answers, saying she should avoid ‘dilation’.

It came weeks after he admitted calling Andrea Leadsom, the Leader of the House of Commons, a ‘stupid woman’ in a brutal off-mic rant.

Tory MP Andrew Bridgen told The Sunday Times: ‘The number of MPs who want him gone is growing by the day.’

It is understood that around a dozen MPs have signed up to the no confidence motion, which is expected to be tabled within a week if he does not voluntarily quit his post. Mr Bercow’s survival prospects suffered a blow last Wednesday after he ordered the SNP’s Westminster leader out of the Commons. Prime Minister’s Questions descended into chaos when the Speaker clashed angrily with Ian Blackford over claims that Scotland has been sidelined in the Brexit debate.

Mr Blackford, who leads the SNP’s 35 MPs, was eventually banished from Parliament for the rest of the day after refusing to sit down. The remaining SNP MPs then marched out of the Commons.

A rift with the SNP could prove perilous for Mr Bercow, who has relied on their support to head off previous Tory attempts to remove him.