The Daily Telegraph

MPS call for Bercow to quit over ‘bullying’

- By Kate Mccann

MPS are calling on the Speaker of the House of Commons to stand down amid bullying claims, as it emerged he has vowed to cling on in post despite damaging accusation­s against him.

Sources have told The Daily Telegraph that John Bercow has appealed to close allies in the Labour Party to support his decision to stay, and they have begun making phone calls to other MPS on his behalf.

MPS who want to see Mr Bercow removed plan to table an Early Day Motion of no confidence in him today, and others are calling for a formal investigat­ion. A number of Labour MPS are also said to be planning to table Urgent Questions in the Commons, but it is up to the Speaker whether or not he grants permission for them to be heard.

One MP told The Telegraph that a Labour member had been trying to shore up support for Mr Bercow over the weekend, telling colleagues that now is not the time to elect a new Speaker, in the midst of Brexit legislatio­n.

Conservati­ve MPS will today publicly call for Mr Bercow to stand aside and demand a formal investigat­ion into whether or not he bullied staff.

Andrew Bridgen said: “It is said that if you want to judge a man’s character then give him power.

“That the Speaker is a bully is obvious to anyone who watches his performanc­es in the Chair. The Speaker behaves like a pint-sized Wackford Squeers, lashing out at elected MPS as if they were schoolchil­dren in need of the benefit of his chastiseme­nt.”

Mr Bercow has vehemently rejected claims that he bullied a female member of staff.

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