Commons staff gave Bercow help in bullying storm
COMMONS staff helped MPs ‘spin’ John Bercow’s defence against claims of office bullying.
The use of staff to provide research to brief friends of the Speaker could be a potential conflict of interest, union representatives said.
Mr Bercow faces a number of complaints of bullying against him by former members of staff who have accused him of intimidating and demeaning them.
Commons media staff worked with him to provide briefings on the allegations for MPs who were friends of Mr Bercow as he tries to avoid a formal inquiry.
The disclosure has prompted concerns about conflicts of interest and a possible misuse of public funds. Mr Bercow had pledged to quit his role next month, after nine years, but appeared to backtrack following last year’s election. There has been growing speculation he will quit in the next year following criticism from MPs.
Tory MP Sir Peter Bottomley, who ‘dragged’ Mr Bercow to the Speaker’s chair in 2009 in the traditional ritual, told The Daily Telegraph he expected Mr Bercow to leave on June 22 as planned. He said reneging on the pledge to serve only nine years would be a ‘challenge to the principles of public service’.
Unions say Mr Bercow’s use of Commons staff should be investigated as a conflict of interest.
Dave Penman, the head of senior civil servants’ union the FDA, told The Guardian: ‘The interests of the Speaker must be separated from the interests of the House of Commons, they are not indivisible.
‘ It is extraordinary that staff resources, funded by the taxpayer, could have been used to brief friends of the Speaker to appear in the media defending his personal conduct.’
Mr Penman said the Commons media team should not be used as ‘ personal PR advisers’ to the Speaker, adding: ‘How can staff have any confidence that their complaints will be treated fairly if the Speaker is able to deploy House resources, apparently without challenge, to help “spin” his side of any alleged behaviour? This once again raises the issue of a conflict of interest.’
One MP to defend the speaker, Labour ex-shadow chancellor Chris Leslie, said he had a ‘passing conversation’ with the Speaker’s office and was given a summary of news coverage and the Speaker’s public statements. He said he did not speak directly to Commons staff.
A Commons spokesman said the media team gives MPs background material ‘as is common practice’.
The Speaker’s office said Mr Bercow, who denies all bullying allegations, had not asked the Commons media team to do more than report his position, which was on record.
A spokesman said any comment on Mr Bercow’s future plans would be made to the House first.