Investigation concludes former Bucks MP John Bercow was "serial bully"
He's described the panel's process as "amateurish"
Last updated 8th Mar 2022
The former speaker of the House of Commons, and Bucks MP, John Bercow, has been described as a "serial bully" by an investigation.
He represented Buckingham between 1997 and 2019, and if he was still an MP, the Independent Expert Panel would recommend he was expelled.
He has now been banned from holding a pass for Parliament.
Parliament's Independent Expert Panel (IEP), which determines sanctions in cases where bullying complaints have been brought against MPs, said it would have recommended the former speaker be expelled from the House if he were still a sitting member.
Mr Bercow called the investigation a "travesty of justice" which "brings shame on the House of Commons".
In its report published on Tuesday, the IEP said: "The findings of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, which we have upheld, show that the respondent has been a serial bully...
His behaviour fell very far below that which the public has a right to expect from any Member of Parliament.
"His evidence in the investigations, the findings of the Commissioner, and his submissions to us, show also that the respondent has been a serial liar.
"His behaviour fell very far below that which the public has a right to expect from any Member of Parliament.
"The respondent's conduct was so serious that, had he still been a Member of Parliament, we would have determined that he should be expelled by resolution of the House. As it is, we recommend that he should never be permitted a pass to the Parliamentary estate."
John Bercow said the investigation by Parliamentary Standards Commissioner Kathryn Stone was a "travesty of justice" and described it as "amateurish".
In a statement, he said: "Parliament is supposed to be the highest court in the land. This inquiry, which lasted a ghastly 22 months at great cost to the taxpayer, has failed it dismally.
"At the end of it, the panel has simply said that I should be denied a parliamentary pass which I have never applied for and do not want. That is the absurdity of its position.
"Don't fall for the establishment spin that I have been banned for life. I can still attend debates with the help of a friendly passholder or go as a member of the public.
"All I can say is that the case against me would have been thrown out by any court in the land since it is based on the flimsiest of evidence, rooted in hearsay and baseless rumour, and advanced by old school dogmatists once intent on resisting change at all costs and now settling some ancient scores with me. Add to that a dash of personal spite and you have some idea of the vengeful vendetta mounted against me.
"It is a travesty of justice and brings shame on the House of Commons.
"This has been a protracted, amateurish and unjust process which would not have survived five minutes' scrutiny in court. To describe what I have experienced as a kangaroo court is grossly insulting to kangaroos. None of the investigators is a lawyer and the commissioner overseeing them has no expertise whatsoever in the consideration of alleged bullying.
"Throughout, gossip from absent friends of the complainants has been treated as the absolute truth whilst eyewitnesses who challenged the allegations were described as 'not helpful' and discounted. The commissioner even presumed to make findings on matters about which I was never questioned."