Speaker told to quit his anti-bullying role
JOHN BERCOW has been branded unfit to lead a Commons antibullying drive – after he himself was accused of intimidating staff.
He has been challenged by senior Tory MP and chairman of the Commons’ women and equalities committee Maria Miller to quit as head of a review on behaviour at Westminster. The row comes amid mounting anger from Bercow critics that he has ‘broken’ a promise to step down after nine years in the job – a deadline that ended last Friday.
Mrs Miller’s call came at a meeting of the special ‘reference and inclusion’ group chaired by Mr Bercow, set up to implement a 2016 ‘Good Parliament’ report on improving transparency and standards of behaviour at Westminster. Sources say at a meeting of the group last month, Mrs Miller told Mr Bercow that as the group would be examining ways to improve how the Commons dealt with bullying, he should not chair it.
Mr Bercow has faced a series of allegations over his conduct, including claims from former Speaker’s Secretary Angus Sinclair who accused him of foul-mouthed tirades. Earlier this month, the Speaker was also accused of ‘sexist and demeaning behaviour’ by Energy Minister Claire Perry.
Last night, Mr Bercow refused to comment. But his allies insisted that as there were no formal bullying allegations against him – and as he had denied previous accusations – there was no reason he should step down from the group.
Mrs Miller declined to comment last night.
Her intervention comes amid mounting anger from some Commons officials at claims from a senior Commons officer that Mr Bercow is the victim of a ‘witch hunt’.