John Bercow among MPs accused of bullying in Parliament
House of Commons denies claims that staff work in ‘culture of fear’
The House of Commons has denied claims that parliamentary staff endure a “culture of fear” following allegations that MPs including John Bercow bullied, harassed and intimidated workers.
The complaints were revealed in an investigation by BBC Newsnight, which spoke to dozens of female Westminister staff who described “aggressive and threatening behaviour”.
Speaker of the House Bercow was accused of bullying a senior member of his parliamentary staff out of her job.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Bercow, who has “repeatedly called on political parties to clamp down on misconduct by MPs”, allegedly berated his former private secretary, Kate Emms, The Times reports.
Emms told the BBC that she had been “shouted at and undermined by the Speaker”, leading her to quit after less than a year. Following a three-month break, she returned to a “different role in the Commons, designed so that she would not have to speak to Bercow”, according to The Times.
Bercow’s spokesperson has rejected the allegation that he behaved in such a manner, “either eight years ago, or at any other time”, adding that “any suggestion to the contrary is simply untrue”.
Meanwhile, a spokesman for the Commons said it was a “responsible and supportive employer” and did not tolerate “bullying or harassment of any kind”.
“We take the welfare of our staff extremely seriously, and strongly reject any claims to the contrary,” the spokesman added. “It is a grotesque exaggeration to suggest that members of the House of Commons service work in a 'culture of fear' in relation to dealing with bullying and harassment by MPs.”
Liberal Democrat deputy leader Jo Swinson is calling for a “thorough, independent investigation”, the BBC reports.
According to The Daily Telegraph: “Parliament has a culture of bullying surrounding clerks - who are directly employed by the House of Commons - many of whom are too afraid to speak out because they have seen others lose their jobs when they complained.”
Bercow has been the Speaker of the House of Commons since 2009. He was re-elected unopposed to serve again after the 2017 general election.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
IPPs: the prisoners serving never-ending jail sentences
The Explainer Sentences of 'imprisonment for public protection' (IPPs) have been widely condemned, but many are still in force
By The Week UK Published
-
What is Lammy hoping to achieve in China?
Today's Big Question Foreign secretary heads to Beijing as Labour seeks cooperation on global challenges and courts opportunities for trade and investment
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Is Britain about to 'boil over'?
Today's Big Question A message shared across far-right groups listed more than 30 potential targets for violence in the UK today
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
UK's Starmer slams 'far-right thuggery' at riots
Speed Read The anti-immigrant violence was spurred by false rumors that the suspect in the Southport knife attack was an immigrant
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
How could J.D. Vance impact the special relationship?
Today's Big Question Trump's hawkish pick for VP said UK is the first 'truly Islamist country' with a nuclear weapon
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
The Tamils stranded on 'secretive' British island in Indian Ocean
Under the Radar Migrants 'unlawfully detained' since 2021 shipwreck on UK-controlled Diego Garcia, site of important US military base
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Britain's Labour Party wins in a landslide
Speed Read The Conservatives were unseated after 14 years of rule
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Will voter apathy and low turnout blight the election?
Today's Big Question Belief that result is 'foregone conclusion', or that politicians can't be trusted, could exacerbate long-term turnout decline
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published