Harriet Harman is mulling a run for the powerful post of Commons Speaker it was claimed today amid calls for John Bercow to stand aside over bullying claims.
The Labour grandee would be the second ever female Speaker and has told friends she is ‘prepared to throw her hat in the ring’, the Sunday Times said.
The embattled Mr Bercow could face a new motion of no confidence as soon as tomorrow after renewed claims he has bullied Commons staff.
The Speaker has strongly denied the allegations against him and the House of Commons has insisted there is not a general problem of bully of parliamentary staff.
The embattled Speaker John Bercow could face a new motion of no confidence as soon as tomorrow after renewed claims he has bullied Commons staff
Harriet Harman is mulling a run for the powerful post of Commons Speaker it was claimed today amid calls for John Bercow to stand aside over bullying claims
Tory MP Andrew Bridgen told the Sunday Telegraph the Speaker ‘clearly has questions to answer’ and vowed to table a motion of no confidence in him tomorrow.
Mr Bercow saw off a motion of no confidence last year but had Labour support. If that were to switch to Ms Harman he would likely lose a contest.
James Duddridge, Conservative MP for Rochford and Southend East, meanwhile told the newspaper the Speaker’s position was ‘untenable’.
Elsewhere, Labour MP Jess Phillips told the Observer Mr Bercow should ‘consider stepping back’ from his job to allow an independent investigation to take place.
Responding to the claims on Friday, a spokesman for the Prime Minister said: ‘The report from Newsnight is concerning. The Prime Minister is clear there can be no place for bullying or harassment of any kind in Westminster.
‘And everybody should be free to work in an environment that is safe and respectful. If any complaints are made they should be fully investigated.’
Asked if Mrs May had confidence in Mr Bercow, the spokesman replied: ‘Yes.’
As chairman of the House of Commons Commission, the controversial Mr Bercow oversees the running of the House and handles complaints.
But questions were raised on Thursday by BBC2’s Newsnight over his handling of allegations made against an MP which were subsequently investigated by the Commission.
Tory Andrew Bridgen has said he will table a motion of no confidence in the Speaker while Labour’s Jess Phillips has suggested the Speaker should stand aside
In 2011, Labour’s Paul Farrelly was accused of bullying former clerk Emily Commander, who has since emigrated.
In 2011, Labour’s Paul Farrelly was accused of bullying former clerk Emily Commander, who has since emigrated.
The Commission decided it could not rule that she had been bullied – despite a report finding evidence that supported her claims, according to Newsnight.
Testimony from two other female former members of staff who were allegedly bullied by Mr Farrelly were dismissed as ‘too old’, the programme reported.
The Commission also invited Ms Commander and Mr Farrelly to enter mediation, which is not regarded as a good way to deal with bullying.
Documents obtained by Newsnight suggest that Ms Commander was left with the impression that if she did not enter mediation, the Commission might decide that she was not bullied.
She did not pursue the complaint and instead left the Commons.
Newsnight also revealed new information about bullying claims made against the Speaker himself by a clerk in his office. Kate Emms took a job as his private secretary in May 2010 but left her role less than a year later in February 2011.