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John Bercow: Formal complaint lodged against former Commons Speaker | John Bercow: Formal complaint lodged against former Commons Speaker |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A complaint has been made against former Commons Speaker John Bercow by a previous senior advisor. | A complaint has been made against former Commons Speaker John Bercow by a previous senior advisor. |
Lord Lisvane, who served as Clerk of the House between 2011 and 2014, said he submitted the formal complaint to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards on Wednesday. | Lord Lisvane, who served as Clerk of the House between 2011 and 2014, said he submitted the formal complaint to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards on Wednesday. |
It is believed to centre on bullying. | It is believed to centre on bullying. |
Mr Bercow, who stood down from his role last year, said Lord Lisvane had "ample opportunity" to raise issues in their five years working together. | Mr Bercow, who stood down from his role last year, said Lord Lisvane had "ample opportunity" to raise issues in their five years working together. |
In a statement, Mr Bercow said: "At no stage did he do so, even though he became Clerk of the House - the most senior official. The timing of this intervention is curious." | In a statement, Mr Bercow said: "At no stage did he do so, even though he became Clerk of the House - the most senior official. The timing of this intervention is curious." |
The former Speaker, who spent 10 years in the role, has faced other accusations of bullying during his time in office, but has denied all the claims. | The former Speaker, who spent 10 years in the role, has faced other accusations of bullying during his time in office, but has denied all the claims. |
There have been reports Mr Bercow - who previously sat as a Conservative MP - has been nominated for a peerage by the outgoing Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. | There have been reports Mr Bercow - who previously sat as a Conservative MP - has been nominated for a peerage by the outgoing Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. |
Lord Lisvane began working at the House of Commons in 1972 and has held a number of procedural roles, including clerk for Private Members' Bills and clerk for the European Scrutiny Committee. | Lord Lisvane began working at the House of Commons in 1972 and has held a number of procedural roles, including clerk for Private Members' Bills and clerk for the European Scrutiny Committee. |
He became Clerk Assistant and Director General of the Chamber and Committee Services in 2009, before stepping up to the Clerk of the House of Commons in 2011. | He became Clerk Assistant and Director General of the Chamber and Committee Services in 2009, before stepping up to the Clerk of the House of Commons in 2011. |
After standing down in 2014, he became a life peer and sits in the House of Lords as a crossbencher. | After standing down in 2014, he became a life peer and sits in the House of Lords as a crossbencher. |
'Taken into account' | |
Former Leader of the Commons, Andrea Leadsom, said anyone found to have bullied or harassed colleagues in Parliament "should not be offered a peerage". | |
The now-business secretary, who clashed with Mr Bercow on a number of occasions in the Commons, told BBC Radio 5 Live: "I worked cross-party to put in place a complaints procedure which would mean anybody, whoever they are, including the Speaker of the House of Commons, or indeed of the Lords, would be subject to those same complaints procedures. | |
"Specifically, we made sure if you were an MP and you were potentially going to be offered a peerage, that anything that was alleged against you would be taken into account. | |
"So, I think it is really important, whoever you are, that all of those complaints are taken seriously." |