‘Explosive’ behaviour by Speaker ‘terrified’ people in Parliament
A FORMER senior parliamentary official has branded the behaviour of Commons Speaker John Bercow “unworthy of someone in such public office”.
David Leakey, who retired in 2017 after seven years as Black Rod, told the PoliticsHome website that he had personally experienced “intolerable” rudeness from the Speaker.
It increases the pressure on Mr Bercow, who is already facing bullying allegations from two former members of his office staff, all of which he strenuously denies.
Downing Street has said that Prime Minister Theresa May regards the allegations as “concerning” and thinks they should be properly investigated.
A spokesman for Mr Bercow’s office acknowledged the Speaker had fundamental disagreements in the past with Mr Leakey, who was responsible as Black Rod for maintaining order in the House of Lords, but denied the allegations made by him.
“Mr Speaker refutes all the allegations levelled by Mr Leakey,” said the spokesman.
“John Bercow and David Leakey are two very different people with very different backgrounds, perspectives and ideas.
“They had fundamental disagreements in 2011 and 2012, but interacted adequately after that.”
Mr Leakey said that the issue risked bringing Parliament into disrepute unless it was rigorously investigated.
He told the PoliticsHome website: “His explosive and intemperate behaviour is legendary, objectionable and unworthy of someone in such public office – conduct which may not stand up to the standards expected in public life. There were lots of people who were, frankly, terrified of the Speaker.”
Mr Leakey said that on one occasion when “the red mist suddenly descended”, Mr Bercow had erupted into a rage, banging the table and making extremely rude remarks to him, describing it as “quite disproportionate and unreasonable by any standards”.