Bercow may face historical bullying claims

Chief political Correspondent

JOHN BERCOW could face abuse claims going back several years after Parliamentary authorities opened a formal complaints process just 10 days before he quits as Speaker.

Any findings against him could jeopardise his expected elevation to the House of Lords, following the precedent set by other retiring Speakers to become independent peers.

In 2018 David Leakey, who was Black Rod for seven years until 2017, accused Mr Bercow of “intolerable” rudeness and “explosive” behaviour which left his subordinates terrified.

Commons authorities said the independent grievance scheme “is now open to receive complaints from any member of the parliamentary community, present or former, who wishes to make a complaint about bullying, harassment or sexual harassment, that occurred at any point”.

A spokesman for the Speaker’s Office said: “Mr Speaker has nothing to add to his earlier statement that he strenuously denies there is any substance to any of these allegations.”

A year ago Mr Bercow’s friends said he intended to stand down as Speaker this summer after a report found bullying and sexual harassment in Parliament had been allowed to “thrive” because of a culture of “deference, subservience, acquiescence and silence” – accusations he strenuously denies.

♦a select committee is to investigate the role of the Speaker following Mr Bercow’s alleged bias against Brexit, Sir Bernard Jenkin, told MPS last night.