John Bercow says he will be denied Parliamentary pass – ex-Speaker guilty of bullying

The investigation into John Bercow, former Commons speaker endorsed the finding that he was a “serial bully” and said he should never again be allowed a parliamentary pass.

The Independent Expert Panel upheld the findings of Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards Kathryn Stone.

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.”

The report accused Mr 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.

Mr 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”.

Tory MP Andrea Leadsom who back in 2018 Mr Bercow allegedly called a "stupid woman" released a statement following the verdict.

She said: “Everyone in Parliament should be treated with dignity and respect. I welcome today’s findings, and I hope that this brings closure to the victims. I am sure that Keir Starmer will want to reflect on the Labour Party’s position and Mr Bercow’s membership of the Party in light of the findings. It is my view that Keir Starmer should expel Mr. Bercow from the Labour Party.”

Mr 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.

“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.

“This has been a protracted, amateurish and unjust process which would not have survived five minutes’ scrutiny in court. To describe what I have experienced as a kangaroo court is grossly insulting to kangaroos. None of the investigators is a lawyer and the commissioner overseeing them has no expertise whatsoever in the consideration of alleged bullying.

“Throughout, gossip from absent friends of the complainants has been treated as the absolute truth whilst eyewitnesses who challenged the allegations were described as ‘not helpful’ and discounted. The commissioner even presumed to make findings on matters about which I was never questioned.”