Downing Street has called claims of bullying against the former Commons Speaker John Bercow by his former most senior official “very concerning”, adding more doubt to the reported push by Labour to make him a peer.
A No 10 spokesman declined to comment specifically about allegations made to the parliamentary commissioner for standards accusing Bercow of having bullied and humiliated staff, which the former Speaker has vehemently rejected. But the spokesman said any such claims should be fully investigated, adding that any appointments to the Lords must first be vetted by an independent commission “for propriety”.
It is understood that Robert Rogers, who was the clerk of the Commons for three years during Bercow’s tenure before becoming a crossbench peer in 2014 as Lord Lisvane, has filed a formal complaint about the former Speaker to the parliamentary commissioner for standards.
By tradition, former Speakers are made peers, but Boris Johnson’s government is resistant to elevating Bercow, in part due to bullying claims but also because of his role in helping MPs better scrutinise and amend the Brexit process.
Jeremy Corbyn has instead reportedly put Bercow on the Labour party list of proposed peers for the honours list marking the dissolution of the last parliament, which is due soon.
According to the Times, which first reported the allegations, Rogers said Bercow bullied and humiliated staff, including by using inappropriate language.
The No 10 spokesman said: “These are very concerning allegations and they need to be investigated thoroughly. Everyone working in parliament deserves to be treated with dignity and respect. There can be no place for bullying or abuse in Westminster or any workplace, and it is important that the parliamentary leadership responds fully and promptly to any concerns that are raised.”
The spokesman said he had “no knowledge” of any nominations for peers, and could not comment on Bercow’s case: “All nominations are subject to independent vetting by the House of Lords appointments commission for propriety before their appointment.”
In a statement on Thursday, Bercow said: “During the five years that we worked together, Lord Lisvane had ample opportunity to raise any accusations of bullying with me. 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 business secretary, Andrea Leadsom, a former leader of the Commons, has said that if the complaint of bullying is upheld, it should have an impact on whether Bercow is made a peer.
Leadsom said the complaints procedures for Commons staff that she helped to establish applied to everyone in the house.
“The whole purpose of that was that anybody, including the Speaker of the House of Commons, whoever he or she may be, should also be subject to that procedure,” she told Sky News. “In the event that there are genuine, upheld complaints about any persons, that should have an impact on whether they are found suitable for the House of Lords.”
Bercow left the Speaker’s chair on 31 October and was succeeded by Sir Lindsay Hoyle.
