John Bercow has flown off the Richter scale after the Commons’ Independent Expert Panel found him guilty of bullying, in a damning report published just now. The Mail was the first to report that today would be D-Day for the former Speaker, and Bercow clearly tried getting on the front foot with his press team sending a pre-emptive spin email to Guido an hour ago accusing the process of being a “travesty of justice rooted in spite and hearsay”. Other choice phrases from Bercow include: shambolic, disgrace, cowardly, blatant stich up and beneath contempt.”
John was keen to set the record straight among reports the bullying investigation would recommend he be banned from the parliamentary estate. This is not the case, however, as Bercow stresses:
“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.”
The report states 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.”
It’s thought Kathryn Stone has found him guilty of 21 counts of bullying against three members of staff, as per the Mail and Sunday Times.
The report is completely damning, calling Bercow a “serial bully” who “repeatedly and extensively” bullied staff. It calls him a “serial bully” and a “serial liar”. Read the report in full yourself below:
The Commons Standards Committee has recommended a day’s suspension (excluding sitting Fridays) for Daniel Kawczynski. The move comes after he was hauled over the coals by the Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme for bullying and harassment and told to give an apology to the house. Kawczynski managed to undermine his apology, however, by giving an interview beforehand. During the interview with his local BBC radio branch, Kawczynski had identified both the name of the committee the complainant had worked on, and their job titles. “Mr Kawczynski had begun the interview by saying “I was on the [redacted: select committee identified]”, and had used the job titles of the complainants nine times during the interview.”
As a result of the interview, the Commissioner found:
- Kawczynski had failed to comply with the requirements of confidentiality established by the IEP in its guidance and in specific instructions given to him.
- His actions will have a detrimental affect [sic] not only on those who may be considering making a complaint [under the ICGS] but also those who have been through the system or are currently going through it.
- He has undermined the ICGS through the numerous statements he made to the media on the 14 June 2021.
- In undermining his apology Mr Kawczynski has in effect failed to comply with the sanction imposed by the IEP.
- His actions have caused significant damage to the reputation and integrity of the House of Commons as a whole.
Referred to the Standards Committee, they have found the Shrewsbury MP should be “suspended from the service of the House for one sitting day” and specify it shouldn’t be a sitting Friday. He’ll also have to make another apology to the house; BBC Radio Shropshire, prepare your interviewer…
As promised, Chris Bryant’s Standards Committee has come out with a nine-point list to clean up Parliament’s standards rules. Here’s Guido’s precis for co-conspirators:
- An outright ban on Members providing paid parliamentary advice, consultancy or strategy services
- MPs must have a written contract for any outside work, explicitly saying they cannot lobby
- Clarifying the “serious wrong exemption” rule in the lobbying code
- Double the six-month limit on reward or consideration restrictions in the lobbying rules to 12 months
- Encouraging MPs to seek expert advice before acting, meaning they cannot ‘accidentally’ breach the code of conduct
- Ending the ministerial exemption to register gifts and hospitality
- Improve the transparency and searchability of the register
- Adding a new code of conduct rule banning MPs from subjecting anyone to “unreasonable and excessive personal attack”
- Adding an 8th principle to the public life principles – “Respect”
This last one is already facing significant opposition from MPs…
For those claiming the Paterson row wouldn’t cut through with the public, look away now: the first poll to be conducted after the fiasco is out and the Tories have crashed to a 1% lead. The 2.5% swing sees Labour up two points to 35% and the Tories down three to 36%, the smallest Tory lead for The Times since Rishi’s social care tax rise in September. 22% of 2019 Tory voters are now undecided about who to vote for…
The dust is still settling on the explosive affair, with outlets following up Guido’s first report yesterday of mass outrage directed at the Chief Whip. Last night Downing Street said they were standing by Mark Spencer, which is a more likely sign than any that the death knell tolls for his job. Meanwhile The Times reports Boris resorted to asking SpAds last night how he had been put in this position. A PM should not have to ask that question…
Word reaches Guido of a large swathe of fury from Tory MPs now being directed at the Chief Whip Mark Spencer over the Owen Paterson farce. One senior MP tells Guido that Boris has “blown up” the Chief Whip’s credibility during the farce, with the sacking and re-appointment of Angela Richardson being the cherry on top of the cake. There’s now a view swirling around a chunk of the party that the actions of the last two days have undermined the credibility of the Chief Whip and the integrity of three-line whipping as a whole; pointing out that from now on if enough Tory MPs break the supposedly strict whip they’ll be able to force a policy u-turn and keep their jobs. The PM’s PPSs aren’t escaping the chaos smelling of roses either…
This morning Business Minister Kwasi Kwarteng warned that “it’s difficult to see what the future of the Commissioner is” after 250 Conservative MPs voted to pass the Leadsom amendment. While Kwasi admitted that it’s “up to the Commissioner to decide her position”. Labour are already on the offensive calling this an attempt to “poison British politics”…
Owen Paterson – who was found by the independent inquiry to be guilty of an “egregious” breach of lobbying rules – is unrepentant following the controversial vote. In a statement sent to the media, Paterson argued that “the process I was subjected to did not comply with natural justice”.
He added:
“I am extremely grateful to the PM, the Leader of the House and my colleagues for ensuring that fundamental changes will be made to internal Parliamentary systems of justice.”
It’s not clear what the government’s next move will be. All the opposition parties say they will boycott any new Standards Committee. A Conservative-only Committee will really leave the Tories marking their own homework…
