Labour MPS ‘thwarted Bercow bullying investigation’
JOHN BERCOW is being protected from bullying allegations by Labour MPS who have a vested interest in keeping him in place, it has been alleged.
The Daily Telegraph has been told by Parliamentary insiders that two senior Labour MPS who sit on the powerful House of Commons Commission allegedly thwarted efforts to investigate Mr Bercow over claims he bullied two former private secretaries.
Senior sources alleged that Labour MPS Valerie Vaz and Dame Rosie Winterton resisted attempts to include historic allegations against MPS in an independent inquiry launched last month.
The commission, chaired by Mr Bercow – who has recused himself from matters involving his own conduct – handles Commons administration.
It is alleged that while Andrea Leadsom, the Leader of the House of Commons, had pushed for individual MPS to be investigated, Ms Vaz and Dame Rosie made clear that they would resist risking a “witch hunt”.
Last night Ms Vaz, the shadow leader of the Commons, refused to comment. Dame Rosie was unavailable for comment, although sources close to her rejected the claims. They added that the terms of the inquiry were set by two independent members and had been void of political interference.
The inquiry was launched last month after Mr Bercow faced allegations of bullying Kate Emms, his former private secretary, who is reported to have been signed off work sick and later moved from his office in 2011.
Since then, Angus Sinclair, Ms Emms’ predecessor, has come forward to accuse the Speaker of angry outbursts and of verbally abusing him. Mr Sinclair spoke out this week, despite signing a £86,000 settlement preventing him from speaking publicly.
Theresa May’s spokesman said she was concerned by the claims and endorsed calls for the inquiry’s scope to be widened. However, sources have alleged that attempts to launch a more comprehensive inquiry were hamstrung by allies of Mr Bercow.
One, who wished to remain anonymous, claimed Dame Rosie , had a “very good working relationship” with Mr Bercow and had reason to defend him. “It’s unfair,” they added. “To bring in all your friends to do you favours is no way to deal with it [the allegations].”
A spokesman for Dame Laura Cox, the QC leading the inquiry, said: “The inquiry is under way, with its existing terms of reference, and that’s it.”
While Downing Street has said that the inquiry could investigate specific allegations, Tom Brake, a commission spokesman claimed last night that it does not have the authority to investigate members. “As has been made clear, the commission does not have the power to investigate the conduct of members,” he said.