Bercow on the brink
May demands investigation into claims the Speaker bullied his aide
JOHN Bercow was under intense pressure last night after Theresa May demanded an investigation into claims he bullied an aide.
The Commons Speaker faced a call to quit after his former private secretary accused him of foul-mouthed tirades and attempts at physical intimidation.
Angus Sinclair said he was forced into early retirement with an £86,250 pay-off on condition he did not make any complaints. Mr Bercow has strenuously denied the claims.
But yesterday Downing Street said there should be a ‘proper investigation’ – and twisted the knife by outlining three ways in which this could be carried out.
Mrs May’s official spokesman suggested an existing inquiry into Commons bullying should have its remit widened to allow it to look at individual cases such as allegations against the Speaker.
‘The Prime Minister has been very clear from the start that there is no place for bullying or harassment of any kind in the workplace, including Parliament,’ he said.
‘It is a matter for Parliament to decide how to proceed, but the latest allegations are concerning and should be properly investigated.’ Andrea Leadsom, the Leader of the House, also called for the inquiry’s remit to be expanded, saying: ‘We must call out unacceptable behaviour.’
Mr Bercow has faced previous bullying claims after Kate Emms, Mr Sinclair’s successor as private secretary, was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder after less than a year of working for him.
The latest claims come just weeks after it emerged that the judge- led inquiry into alleged bullying and harassment of Commons staff would not investigate individual complaints.
It led to claims that the probe, chaired by Dame Laura Cox, will be nothing more than a whitewash.
Yesterday the Prime Minister’s spokesman said Dame Laura may wish to consider widening the remit to look at individual cases.
‘There are ways in which this could be done,’ the spokesman said. ‘The inquiry has set out its term of reference: this is something the chair may wish to consider.
‘Or the House authorities, as the employer of parliamentary staff, could consider the best way for this investigation to be carried out.
‘And also the Parliamentary Commissioner is empowered to investigate allegations that a named member has breached the rules of conduct.’
Mrs Leadsom said: ‘We must call out unacceptable behaviour and stand by the House staff who do so much for us. I am determined to stamp out all forms of bullying and harassment in Parliament, and separate to these allegations, I encourage any member of House staff who has experienced mistreatment to provide their confidential testimony to Dame Laura Cox.’
In a bombshell interview on Tuesday night, Mr Sinclair said he had been repeatedly undermined by Mr Bercow when he worked for him between 2009 and 2010, and found himself the victim of angry outbursts, foul-mouthed tirades and mimicry. On one occasion an incandescent Speaker threw down his mobile phone during a row, shattering it to pieces. The former private secretary said Mr Bercow was prone to ‘over-the-top anger’, adding: ‘I’m not sure he was completely in control of it. The arms would wave around.’
Tory MP Andrew Bridgen, a long-standing critic of the Speaker, said Mr Bercow should ‘consider his position’. The North West Leicestershire MP told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: ‘I think, at a time when we are looking for culture change in the House of Commons with regard to bullying and harassment, I think that’s very difficult if the titular head of that organisation is mired in these allegations. We don’t know whether he has misled the House unless there is a full investigation, but he holds such power in the House of Commons that it is very difficult to have an independent investigation.’
A spokesman for the Speaker’s office said that Mr Bercow ‘strenuously denies’ the claims, adding: ‘Mr Speaker has a superb team of dedicated, effective and long-serving staff – five of whom have worked for him very happily for a combined total of over 40 years.’
A senior Labour spokesman said last night: ‘Obviously we can’t comment on them; they are extremely serious allegations, but the details of them need to be investigated.
‘We’ve made clear that there needs to be action against bullying and harassment of any kind in the workplace, and that includes in the Houses of Parliament.’
‘Unacceptable behaviour’