Bercow criticises ‘unjust’ process after being ‘found to have bullied staff’
The former speaker said the ruling, which has yet to be published, that he bullied three staff members was ‘unsound’.
Your support helps us to tell the story
This election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.
The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.
Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.
John Bercow has called the Commons standards investigation process “grievously unjust” after revealing he has been found guilty of bullying allegations.
The former Commons speaker told the Sunday Times that he has been found guilty on 21 counts out of 35 by parliamentary standards commissioner Kathryn Stone in a result that has yet to be published.
The allegations were brought about by Lord Lisvane, the former clerk of the Commons, and private secretaries Kate Emms and Angus Sinclair.
Two claims brought by Lieutenant-General David Leakey a former Black Rod, were rejected by the 18-month inquiry, the press report stated.
To call it a kangaroo court is unfair to kangaroos
Mr Bercow, who stood down as speaker in 2019 and was replaced by Sir Lindsay Hoyle told the newspaper he is appealing against the ruling.
The report said a final verdict, from an appeals panel, is expected by the end of the month and could see him banned from Parliament for life or face a censure motion by MPs.
He told the Sunday Times: “I’m appealing on the basis that the investigations are materially flawed and that the decisions are unsound.
“I resent massively my reputation being put through the wringer on the basis of a protracted, amateurish and unjust process.”
“To call it a kangaroo court is unfair to kangaroos,” he added.
Mr Bercow, who switched from the Tories to Labour last year, alleges that Ms Stone found him guilty of seven cases where investigators had pronounced him innocent, despite not interviewing him or new evidence being supplied.
“I think the odds are stacked against me,” he said. “The dice are loaded. It is grievously unjust.”
The speaker of 10 years admitted he was “a Marmite figure” but appeared to suggest that there had been hostility towards him because of his reforms to parliamentary procedure and attempts to modernise the Commons.
The commissioner’s office has been contacted for comment.
In a statement published by the Sunday Times, Lord Lisvane accused Mr Bercow of breaking a strict confidentiality requirement by choosing to speak out about the probe before the findings had been made public.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.