John Bercow dismisses inquiry finding him guilty of bullying staff as a ‘kangaroo court’

John Bercow has denounced a parliamentary inquiry into his conduct a "kangaroo court", as he reveals it will conclude that he bullied three House of Commons staff.

The former Speaker has been found culpable on 21 counts of 35 brought by Lord Lisvane, the former clerk of the Commons, and private secretaries Kate Emms and Angus Sinclair, The Sunday Times reports.

Accusations against him include throwing a mobile phone, swearing at an employee and making a racially and sexually discriminatory remark, he said.

The 58-year-old, who stepped down as Speaker in 2019, said he would appeal the reported ruling of Kathryn Stone, the parliamentary commissioner for standards. If his appeal fails, he could be banned from Parliament for life.

He told The Sunday Times that the process was "unjust" and "amateurish", adding: “To call it a kangaroo court is unfair to kangaroos.

“I’m appealing on the basis that the investigations are materially flawed and that the decisions are unsound.

“I resent massively my reputation being put through the wringer on the basis of a protracted, amateurish and unjust process.”

John Bercow: Evidence was based on 'hearsay'

Mr Bercow said he had been pronounced innocent by investigators for some of the accusations, but claimed Ms Stone then found him culpable without any new evidence being put forward.

He also argued that the majority of evidence against him was "hearsay" and a lot of claims were unspecific. He also felt compelled to prove his innocence, rather than being presumed innocent until guilt was proved, he said.

Mr Bercow said he thinks ill-feeling towards him was partly due to his desire to reform parliamentary procedure, as officers of the House were "more geared to accommodating the Government than to empowering parliament".

Addressing the claim that he made a racially and sexually discriminatory remark, he said he has championed equality for more than two decades and "would not dream" of undermining someone on this basis.

He added that he had "hugely collegiate relations" with his team and some staff members stayed with him for 10 years.

The House of Commons was contacted for comment.