Bercow ‘must join Labour’ to become peer
No10 hints it will block Corbyn’s attempts to back former speaker for Lords unless he joins party
DOWNING STREET has hinted it will block any attempt by Jeremy Corbyn to nominate John Bercow for a peerage unless he joins the Labour Party.
The former speaker has not so far been nominated by the Government, following a series of rows over his alleged attempts to thwart Brexit. Mr
Corbyn has not denied reports that he is considering putting Mr Bercow’s name forward, but No10 stressed there was a “long-standing convention” that the leader of the opposition could only nominate members of their own party for peerages.
The other alternative would be for Mr Bercow to nominate himself for a peerage to the House of Lords Appointments Commission, but Boris Johnson would still retain the ultimate veto.
Mr Bercow has faced allegations of bullying, which he denies, as well as incurring the wrath of Brexiteers who say he used his former position to promote the interests of Remainers in his interpretation of parliamentary rules. After Mr Bercow was left out of the list of new peerages created after the election, Johnson allies said he would end the tradition of speakers automatically being offered peerages.
Asked whether No 10 would approve a nomination from Labour for Mr Bercow, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “It is a long-standing convention that leaders of the opposition can nominate individuals representing their party for peerages.”
Mr Bercow was elected as Tory MP for Buckingham before becoming the speaker in 2009. The Lords commission’s rules state that it will “consider self-nomination and nomination by another person or organisation”.
If Mr Bercow nominates himself for a cross-bench peerage, the sevenmember commission, which includes Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat peers and is chaired by cross-bencher Lord Bew, would have to decide if he fulfilled its criteria.
Candidates must demonstrate “a strong and personal commitment to the principles and highest standards of public life”, meaning the commission would be likely to examine the longstanding bullying allegations against him as part of the vetting process.
David Leakey, a former Black Rod, said last month there must be “no potential for a ... sort of stain on your reputation that might transmit into the House of Lords and bring it itself into disrepute”, adding: “One thing which Parliament needs more than anything at this stage, after the recent shenanigans – if I can put it that way – of the last year or two, is respect. There have been a number of allegations made ... for his [Mr Bercow’s] abuse and intimidation, insulting people.”
Senior Labour sources have declined to comment on reports about the nominations and it is understood that Mr Corbyn has not yet submitted any names to the commission.