Bercow in ‘some difficulty’ over tirade, says Labour MP

JOHN BERCOW’S hold on the Speaker’s chair is looking increasingly tenuous after a Labour frontbencher said he was “in some difficulty” over his alleged tirade against Andrea Leadsom.

Andy Mcdonald, the shadow transport secretary, said allegations that Mr Bercow called Mrs Leadsom, a Cabinet minister, a “stupid woman” in the House of Commons last week were evidence of “totally inappropriate language”.

Mr Bercow is under intense pressure after the claims – which he did not deny – emerged that he aimed the insult at Mrs Leadsom, the Leader of the House of Commons, and muttered that she was “f------ useless”.

Mr Mcdonald’s intervention is significant because Mr Bercow’s continuation as Speaker is largely attributed at Westminster to his support on the Labour benches.

Mr Mcdonald told Sky News: “It is clearly totally inappropriate language for somebody to use if he has.

“If that is the case he is probably in some difficulty but we’ve got to go through the proper processes and in the first instance let’s have the evidence that it’s actually happened.”

Mr Bercow has previously said that he will quit at the end of his nine-year term on June 22.

Asked if he should step down, Mr Mcdonald told the Sophy Ridge on Sunday show on Sky News: “He has said he will – he has indicated he has got a fixed term he has set himself so he will be stepping down.

“I am not sure he needs any encouragement from me. He is a good Speaker in that he does protect the interests of parliament against the executive and he is not frightened of standing up to the executive when they misbehave.

“I think John Bercow has been an excellent Speaker and I hope he carries on for a little bit longer.”

Female MPS at the weekend called for Mr Bercow to apologise over the alleged remarks. Kate Hoey, the Labour MP, said: “If the Speaker did say this, it is totally unacceptable and there is no excuse. He must apologise tomorrow.”

Mr Bercow has said that it had been an “unusual and controversial day” in the Commons in which “strong and differing views” were expressed.