As former Labour Ministers join the outcry over Bercow’s choice of Commons Clerk, Carol Mills has told the Guardian Australia:

“I was disappointed to read an email reportedly from the clerk of the Senate, one of my peers at the Parliament of Australia, in the media. It would not be appropriate for me to comment further in a personal capacity at this time. As a senior parliamentary officer, I take seriously my responsibilities to promote and uphold the values and code of conduct articulated in the Commonwealth of Australia Parliamentary Service Act 1999.

I take this opportunity to thank the many people in Australia and the United Kingdom, including senior parliamentarians and parliamentary officers, who have supported me in my current role as secretary of the department of parliamentary services (DPS) as well as encouraging me to be considered for the role in the UK parliament.”

Mills said her Department of Parliamentary Services “looks forward to the opportunity to explain to the [privileges] committee the basis of its view that use of the CCTV footage was in fact authorised, and wholly consistent with parliamentary privilege.” Australian politicians have accused Mills of spying on them.

“Until such a time as the committee completes its inquiry and report, it would not be appropriate for DPS to make any public statement on this incident beyond noting that the department does not accept the accuracy of some reports on this matter,” she adds. Even if Mills had all the experience of parliamentary procedure in the world, it would be bizarre to appoint someone with this much baggage.