Speaker pressured to quit after report on bullying

Speaker John Bercow was told the “fish rots from the head” as MPs lined up to call for him to quit after an independent probe revealed the bullying culture in the Commons.

Mr Bercow said he wants an outside body to investigate complaints of bullying, harassment and sexual misconduct in the Commons.

But he is facing intense pressure to stand down over his leadership on the issue, as well as claims he bullied officials, which he strongly denies.

Mr Bercow was expected to quit in summer next year after steering Brexit legislation through the Commons.

A spokeswoman for his office said: “The Speaker has made no announcement about his leaving date.”

High Court judge Dame Laura Cox lifted the lid on a toxic environment in Westminster, that included staff having their bottoms and breasts touched in an atmosphere fuelled by ready access to alcohol.

Her report found a culture of “deference, subservience, acquiescence and silence” had let the mistreatment of staff in the House of Commons thrive.

In the report, Dame Laura said it was “difficult to envisage” how the reforms needed could be delivered under the current senior House administration.

In a Commons debate on the report, during which Mr Bercow was in the chair, MPs said it was time for him to stand down.

Tory former minister Maria Miller, who chairs the women and equalities committee, said: “The report is clear that there needs to be a complete change in leadership at the most senior level, including you Mr Speaker.”

Anne Main, Tory MP for St Albans, said: “It’s the old adage that the fish rots from the head, and the leadership failings that have been highlighted in this report are extremely worrying.”

Mr Bercow said he had read Dame Laura’s report with “great care” and believed an independent outside body should assess all the allegations and rule on how far to investigate past misconduct.

John Bercow