John Bercow: Commons speaker reported to parliamentary standards over ‘stupid woman’ claims

John Bercow, the Commons speaker, has been reported to parliament’s standards watchdog over allegations he branded Andrea Leadsom a “stupid woman”.

Conservative MP James Duddridge said he had made a formal complaint to the parliamentary commissioner for standards over the outburst in the chamber.

It follows Mr Bercow’s admission on Monday to “muttering” the word “stupid”, claiming his comments were focused on the government’s handling of parliamentary business.

The Commons speaker had hit out at the government bench for scheduling a statement during an opposition day debate, taking time away from Labour’s motion on the Grenfell Tower tragedy.

Mr Bercow said he would “continue to speak out firmly” for the interests of the Commons and publicly disagree with the government’s management of business, which is led by Ms Leadsom.

In his letter to the commissioner, Mr Duddridge said he believed Mr Bercow’s actions breached the Commons’ 2009 code of conduct, which states: “Members shall at all times conduct themselves in a manner which will tend to maintain and strengthen the public’s trust and confidence in the integrity of parliament and never undertake any action which would bring the House of Commons, or its members generally, into disrepute.”

The Tory MP wrote: “We cannot let the current situation of intimidation and bullying from such a senior figure whom we should look to set an example and act as arbitrator.

“The perpetrator cannot be allowed to have so much power over the House, its members and staff who work in the Commons. It is essential that the speaker steps aside from chairing and participating on all matters related to bullying.”

A spokesperson for the commissioner confirmed to The Independent that Kathryn Stone had received the formal complaint.

One unnamed MP who caught Mr Bercow’s aside had told The Daily Telegraph: “He said ‘stupid woman’ and went on to say either ‘f***ing useless or f***ing outrageous, but I am clear that the words ‘stupid woman’ were said, and I am clear that the word ‘useless’ was said.

“I thought what I was witnessing was entirely outrageous.”

Speaking in the Commons on Monday, Mr Bercow said: “I thought then, as I think now, that this was very badly handled. It was, in particular, very disrespectful both to the House and to the 23 backbenchers who were hoping to participate in the opposition day debate on the Grenfell Tower disaster.

“It was in that context and that context alone that, having expressed my displeasure about the matter quite forcefully from the chair, I used the word ‘stupid’ in a muttered aside.

“That adjective simply summed up how I felt about the way that that day’s business had been conducted.

“Anyone who knows the Leader of the House [Ms Leadsom] at all well will have not the slightest doubt about her political ability and her personal character.”

It comes after an inquiry into claims that Mr Bercow bullied two former private secretaries was blocked by the Commons Standards Committee. Mr Bercow denies the allegations.