Labour’s Harriet Harman eyes up Speaker role as senior MPs call on John Bercow to stand down until bullying allegations investigated
It was claimed that the Speaker's former private sector Kate Emms was forced to quit her job with PTSD after being bullied by him
SENIOR MPs are pushing for John Bercow to step aside as Speaker until allegations about him bullying a member of his staff have been investigated fully.
And Labour's Harriet Harman has said she will throw her hat in the ring to temporarily stand in for him if he is forced to step down.
It was claimed last week that the Speaker's former private sector Kate Emms was forced to quit her job with PTSD after being bullied by him.
And more revelations surfaced that Mr Bercow had once told another clerk to "f**k off" in Westminster.
No10 said they were "concerned" about the allegations and called for them to be looked into.
Another two MPs were also accused of bullying - Mark Pritchard and Paul Farrelly - but they denied any wrongdoing.
Speaker Bercow has denied the claims, but MP Andrew Brigden said he would table a motion of no confidence in him tomorrow.
The former Labour deputy leader, Ms Harman, has told friends she is “prepared to throw her hat into the ring” as Labour figures said they were considering demanding an urgent question on the matter.
Jess Phillips, who chair's the women's parliamentary Labour Party, said that the allegations "do not tally at all with my experience with John".
But she admitted: "Clearly there has to be some kind of independent investigation. And it may be that he should consider stepping back until that has taken place."
And Green Party MP Caroline Lucas added: "I think at the very least he should withdraw from that decision and that the three deputy speakers might judge on that.";
If the Speaker does have to take time out, there are others that deputise for him who can step in to fill his place.
And Tory MP James Dudderidge has said is is "wholly unsuitable for him to be in post while he is facing bullying accusations so I urge him to stand aside while the claims are investigated."
One Tory MP told the Observer that if a vote of no confidence was tabled in the Speaker, the "vast majority" of Conservatives would vote for him to go.
"There is not much love for him on our side of the House, to say the least," they said.
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But the Speaker firmly remains in post despite a similar vote of no confidence being tabled in him last year over comments he made about Donald Trump.
He comfortable fought off a challenge despite an attack on the US President, where he was forced to apologise for breaking Parliamentary protocol.
In an extraordinary outburst, Mr Bercow – who took a vow to remain impartial –accused Trump of “racism and sexism” and he insisted he wasn’t welcome in the Palace of Westminster during his state visit later in the year.
A spokesperson for Mr Bercow said last night: "The Speaker has no intention of responding to this outrageous caricature of him nor commenting on and hence violating the privacy of those who have worked with him."