FORMER British House Commons Speaker, John Bercow, has been deemed a “serial bully” and a “serial liar” who “repeatedly and extensively” bullied House of Commons staff, an investigation has found, Mirror, a British newspaper reports on Tuesday.
Mr Bercow, 59, had been accused of throwing a mobile phone, swearing at officials and making a sexually and racially discriminatory remark at a member of staff.
A scathing 89-page report published by the Independent Expert Panel into Mr Bercow’s conduct describes his behaviour as an “abuse of power” and concluded his behaviour had “no place in any workplace.”
The report said: “Members of staff in the House should not be expected to have to tolerate it as part of everyday life. No person at work however senior should behave in this way.”
Mr Bercow will be banned from holding a parliamentary pass for life.
Lord Lisvane, the former clerk of the Commons, and private secretaries Kate Emms and Angus Sinclair brought forward the allegations.
The report upholds the findings of Parliamentary standards commissioner Kathryn Stone’s own inquiry into Mr Bercow’s behaviour.
“His behaviour fell very far below that which the public has a right to expect from any Member of Parliament,” the report added.
“The respondent’s conduct was so serious that, had he still been a Member of Parliament, we would have determined that he should be expelled by resolution of the House.
“As it is, we recommend that he should never be permitted a pass to the Parliamentary estate.”
Mr Bercow has consistently denied the claims made and today claims he has been targeted by staff as “gossip from absent friends of the complainants has been treated as the absolute truth”.
Responding to the inquiry, Mr Bercow said: “Don’t fall for the Establishment spin that I have been banned for life.
“I can still attend debates with the help of a friendly pass holder or go as a member of the public.”
The Commons Speaker of 10 years added: “All I can say is that the case against me would have been thrown out by any court in the land since it is based on the flimsiest of evidence, rooted in hearsay and baseless rumour, and advanced by old school dogmatists once intent on resisting change at all costs and now settling some ancient scores with me.
“It is a travesty of justice and brings shame on the House of Commons.”
Ms Stone has said: “I am grateful to the Independent Expert Panel for their detailed and considered report regarding the conduct of Mr Bercow.
“Their report upholding my findings demonstrates my ongoing commitment to ensuring that the investigations under my oversight, and my subsequent decisions, are independent, impartial, thorough and fair.”
Mr Bercow stood down in 2019 and defected to Labour last year. He is the first Speaker in 230 years not to be offered a peerage. He was nominated for a peerage by Jeremy Corbyn, but it was blocked due to the bullying probe.
