Jeremy Corbyn slaps down Emily Thornberry for using Brexit to defend John Bercow
Jeremy Corbyn today slapped down one of his closest allies for using Brexit to defend under-fire Speaker John Bercow – but stopped short of calling for him to quit.
On Monday, shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry said with Parliament set to play a key role in the Brexit process it was “absolutely not the time” for the Speaker to step down, despite a report into harassment and misconduct in Parliament calling for a change of management in Westminster.
The inquiry, carried out by Dame Laura Cox QC, revealed shocking details of female workers in Parliament being groped, widespread bullying, and a culture of tolerance “cascading from the top down”.
Thornberry's comments were condemned by the head of the trade union representing Commons staff, with Dave Penman labelling Islington South MP “completely disingenuous” and putting “party politics before people”.
Speaking on Wednesday afternoon, a spokesman for Corbyn said it was wrong to link the issues, but did not call for Bercow to go.
He said: “Jeremy’s view is the issue of Brexit and the issue of bullying and harassment and abuse in Parliament or in any workplace is entirely separate and shouldn’t be confused in any way.”
On Thornberry’s specific comments, the spokesman said: “She made clear it was a personal view what she was setting out.”
He added: “It’s not Jeremy’s view and it’s not the view of the Labour leadership.”
Corbyn's spokesman said the allegations and evidence in the Cox report are "extremely concerning", but the Labour leader would not be endorsing the call for Bercow to go as that "is an issue for MPs, not for leaders of political parties".
As well as Thornberry, former foreign secretary Margaret Beckett said keeping Bercow in place as the Brexit legislation goes through Parliament “trumps bad behaviour.”
Exeter MP Ben Bradshaw also defended Bercow, saying MPs need a Speaker who “stands up for backbenchers, stand up for this House to an over-mighty and overbearing executive who is prepared to drive through a Brexit that is intolerable.”
Calls for Bercow, who has been Speaker since 2009, to quit are being led by Conservative MP Maria Miller, chair of the women and equalities select committee.
Speaking in the Commons on Tuesday, she said: “The report is clear that there needs to be a complete change in leadership at the most senior level, including you, Mr Speaker, as chief officer, if we are, in Dame Laura’s words, to press the reset button.”