Bercow could face ‘bullying’ inquiry

SPEAKER John Bercow could face an investigation into historical bullying allegations made against him by Commons staff.

Parliament’s ruling body, the House of Commons Commission, has agreed to consider such claims after a damning report into bullying and sexual harassment.

The recommendation of the inquiry headed by Dame Laura Cox was adopted by the Commission yesterday. Her report said the senior management of Parliament had allowed a culture of bullying and harassment to ‘thrive’.

The blow for Mr Bercow came as the chairman of the women and equalities committee, Maria Miller, quit a diversity group led by the Speaker in protest that he had not resigned. She said senior figures had ‘failed to address the crucial matter of culture change and Dame Laura Cox’s clear call for a change in senior management to make that culture change happen’.

Mrs Miller is the fourth Tory to quit the Representation and Inclusion committee.

The Speaker’s former private secretary, Angus Sinclair, has claimed that Mr Bercow shouted and swore at him, and attempted to physically intimidate him – claims Mr Bercow strongly denied.

Other former members of staff have also complained about him. The Parliamentary Standards Committee originally declined to investigate because the claims dated back more than seven years.

And there were more allegations unrelated to Mr Bercow yesterday as a former parliamentary assistant fought back tears as she told how an MP assaulted her and stalked her for years while the authorities did nothing.

Lisette Whittaker said she was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder after years of harassment and bullying by the unnamed MP before she quit her job in Westminster in the 1990s.