Fury as Remain MPs shield John Bercow from investigation in ‘establishment stitch-up!’
REMAINER Speaker of the House John Bercow, who has been accused of setting an “appalling example to the country” with his treatment of MPs, is being protected from an investigation in what has been deemed an “establishment stitch-up”, senior officials have said.
Brexit: MP appears to swear at John Bercow during debate
Former Black Rod David Leakey and Angus Sinclair, former private secretary to Mr Bercow, last year broke confidentiality agreements to speak out about the alleged bullying they endured at the hands of the Buckingham MP. The pair have slammed the parliamentary complaints process, saying its new rule allowing claims by ex-staff members to be investigated has come “too late”. Mr Bercow is due to step down this week after a decade in the chair.
Writing in The Sunday Telegraph, Mr Leakey said the Speaker had “escaped investigation, aided by the supine approach to dealing with misconduct and poor behaviour by the leadership of all political parties”.
He said Mr Bercow should not be awarded peerage as is the norm for former speakers.
He said Mr Bercow, who has been accused by MPs of failing to remain impartial during Brexit debates, had “set an appalling example to the country, not least in publicly demeaning MPs in the Chamber and on TV”.
Mr Leakey has in the past said the speaker mocked him in an outburst which saw him bang on the table and yell at the top of his voice.
A spokesman for Mr Bercow denied he had bullied parliamentary staff.
Mr Sinclair said the lack of investigation shows “as yet the House of Commons is not a safe place” in which to work.
He said the lack of action has convinced him that Parliament is prepared to overlook bulling if “it feels it’s got more important things to do”.
READ MORE:Bercow is actually STRENGTHENING Boris’s hand - says Robert Covile
He pointed to comments made by Labour’s Dame Margaret Beckett which saw her defend Mr Bercow’s conduct because Brexit “trumps bad behaviour”.
The former lieutenant general in the Army said: “The icing on the cake of an establishment stitch-up in the public perception would be for Mr Bercow to be given a peerage.
DON'T MISS
John Bercow: ‘Nothing's more dangerous than a diva on a farewell tour'[COMMENT]
John Bercow replacement 2019: Who will replace Speaker? [FORECAST]
Verhofstadt 'showering praise' on Bercow sparks rumours of collusion [ANALYSIS]
“It would be a scandal that Parliament would struggle to live down.”
Mr Leakey was one of the most senior officials in the Lords from 2011 to 2017.
Mr Bercow is due to step down on Thursday, when the UK is scheduled to leave the EU.
But with the EU set to grant a extension this week the deadlock over Brexit is set to continue.
A spokesman for Mr Bercow denied he would delay his departure if Brexit was pushed back.
A new speaker is due to be elected by MPs on November 4.