Former Commons Speaker John Bercow has been branded a “serial bully” and banned from parliament forever after an independent investigation into his behaviour.
A report into allegations of bullying against the Speaker from his ten year term from 2009 to 2019 accused Bercow of being a “serial liar” and said “his behaviour fell very far below that which the public has a right to expect” from an MP.
Bercow was 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 on the 59-year-old's conduct described his behaviour as an "abuse of power" which had "no place in any workplace."
The Independent Expert Panel upheld the earlier findings of Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards Kathryn Stone and said he should never again be allowed a parliamentary pass.
The report said: “It is for historians to judge whether the respondent was a successful reforming Speaker of the House of Commons.
“However, there was no need to act as a bully in order to achieve that aim. A great office can be filled forcefully and effectively without descending to such behaviour.
“The findings of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, which we have upheld, show that the respondent has been a serial bully.”
Bercow’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”.
Lord Lisvane, the former clerk of the Commons, and private secretaries Kate Emms and Angus Sinclair brought forward the allegations.
John Bercow said the investigation by Parliamentary Standards Commissioner Kathryn Stone was a “travesty of justice” and described it as “amateurish”.
In a statement, he said: “Parliament is supposed to be the highest court in the land. This inquiry, which lasted a ghastly 22 months at great cost to the taxpayer, has failed it dismally.
“At the end of it, the panel has simply said that I should be denied a parliamentary pass which I have never applied for and do not want. That is the absurdity of its position.
“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 passholder or go as a member of the public."
He 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. Add to that a dash of personal spite and you have some idea of the vengeful vendetta mounted against me."
“It is a travesty of justice and brings shame on the House of Commons."
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