Bercow stands aside from Westminster bullying probe

JOHN BERCOW will temporarily step aside as chair of a powerful parliamentary commission to allow for a probe into bullying allegations.

The Speaker, who has faced calls to resign over claims he bullied his former secretary, made the decision after being warned by MPS that remaining in place would be a “clear conflict of interest”.

Mr Bercow faced criticism on Monday when he remained in the Speaker’s chair for a debate on the treatment of parliamentary staff. He was publicly challenged by James Duddridge, the Tory MP, who asked him if it was appropriate to remain in place whilst facing the allegations.

Mr Duddridge also accused Mr Bercow of using his taxpayer-funded legal team to send out letters to news organisations in order to “suppress” the allegations. A spokesman for the Speaker strongly denied the allegations and claimed that there was no additional cost for seeking in-house legal advice.

Meanwhile, The Daily Telegraph can reveal that the investigation due to examine allegations of bullying will not look at the conduct of individual MPS.

Sources last night revealed that the probe will instead look at the “culture of bullying” in Parliament.

A spokesman for the Speaker’s office said: “Mr Speaker informed House of Commons Commission members [yesterday] that he has decided to recuse himself from the agenda item concerning an Independent Complaints and Grievance Process.”

The committee will meet on Monday to discuss plans for a “short, independently led” inquiry into historic allegations of bullying.