Bercow is challenged in Commons over claims of bullying
Speaker is accused of using taxpayers’ money to suppress the allegations
JOHN BERCOW was fighting for his political career last night after being accused by MPS of using taxpayers’ money to suppress allegations that he bullied a former secretary.
The Speaker was personally challenged on the floor of the House of Commons by MPS over his decision to chair an urgent question over a bullying row in which he himself is embroiled.
Confronting Mr Bercow in the chamber, James Duddridge, a Tory MP, told MPS: “Is it appropriate for Mr Speaker to remain in his place while there are allegations against him, which he is trying to suppress using taxpayer-funded money by sending out letters through Speaker’s Counsel?”
It comes after Mr Bercow faced calls to resign over his treatment of Kate Emms, his former secretary, who was signed off work sick in 2011 and later moved from the Speaker’s office.
Ms Emms’s colleagues alleged that she was “undermined” by Mr Bercow and that he often shouted at her.
Mr Bercow is understood to have instructed his inhouse legal team, known as the Speaker’s Counsel, to send a number of letters to news organisations looking into the allegations.
His office has categorically denied the allegations over Ms Emms’s treatment.
A spokesman for the Speaker said: “When untrue or deliberately misleading allegations are made, the Speaker’s office and House officials seek advice from the in-house legal team. As they are salaried employees, there is no additional cost and their role expressly includes advising the Speaker.”
It followed calls from Andrea Leadsom, Leader of the House, to establish an independent inquiry into the allegations amid concerns that the respect policy is no longer “sufficient”.
Ms Leadsom told MPS that she would be recommending an inquiry that she hoped would be led by an official independent of the Commons Commission, which presides over complaints but is chaired by Mr Bercow.
A source close to Ms Leadsom said last night that it was a “matter in which Mr Bercow should not be involved”.
Her comments were echoed by Caroline Lucas, coleader of the Green Party, who said efforts to tackle bullying and harassment risked being undermined as the complaints system is run by a committee of MPS that “effectively hold all the power”.
It came as separate allegations against Karl Turner, the shadow transport minister, surfaced in the Financial Times yesterday, with the frontbencher facing allegations that he slapped the buttocks of a female party member in 2015.
Mr Turner has vehemently denied any wrongdoing.