Now Bercow in row over ‘stupid and useless’ jibe at Leadsom

JOHN Bercow called a Cabinet minister a ‘useless, stupid woman’, it was claimed last night.

The Speaker – who is already facing allegations of bullying – is said to have fired the jibe at Commons Leader Andrea Leadsom following angry exchanges on Wednesday.

A witness claims he saw Mr Bercow describe Mrs Leadsom as a ‘stupid woman’ under his breath, before adding that she was ‘f***ing useless’.

A source close to Mrs Leadsom, who was made aware of the alleged remarks by colleagues, said she was ‘stunned’ by the attack, but intended to ‘rise above it’.

A spokesman for the Speaker did not deny the allegation last night, but said it had been an ‘unusual and controversial’ day on which ‘some strong and differing views were expressed on all sides’.

The spokesman insisted Mr Bercow ‘treats his colleagues with respect’.

The controversy comes as the Speaker is battling separate allegations of bullying, which he strongly denies. It will put further pressure on him to keep to his previous promise to stand down next month, which he is now resisting.

Tory MP Andrew Bridgen last night called for him to quit.

Mr Bridgen, who reported him to the parliamentary standards watchdog over bullying allegations, said: ‘John Bercow claims to support feminism and diversity, and virtue signals at every opportunity, but obviously it’s not the case when it comes to Tory MPs.

‘I think it’s fair to say that his behaviour is becoming more strange by the day. John Bercow should go now before he damages our parliamentary democracy any further.’

Wednesday’s row came after Mr Bercow took Mrs Leadsom to task for timetabling a statement on the nationalisation of the East Coast Main Line on a day allocated for Opposition debates. Although the procedure is not unusual, Mr Bercow reacted angrily.

‘John Bercow should go now’