John Bercow used Civil War-era rules to block questions of bullying allegation on pal Keith Vaz
Embattled Commons Speaker John Bercow used Parliamentary Privilege to protect his friend Labour MP Keith Vaz from questions on bullying allegations made by a former Commons clerk
EMBATTLED Commons Speaker John Bercow faces fresh uproar after it emerged he used Civil War-era rules to block questions about his pal Keith Vaz.
Labour MP Mr Vaz, who was caught up in a rent boy scandal, denies allegations he bullied House of Commons staff over rules about trips abroad.
In August former Commons clerk Jenny McCullough reportedly said she was bullied by Mr Vaz. She alleged he made jokes about her being a security threat because of her Northern Irish accent.
Freedom of Information requests about the alleged bad behaviour have been blocked by Mr Bercow. The BBC claimed he had vetoed the release of details under section 34(3) of the Freedom of Information Act, citing Parliamentary Privilege.
Privilege was designed to protect MPs from attack by judges working for the Monarch in the 17th century.
The row comes after Mr Bercow was forced to deny he had bullied former staff members.
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He also faced repeated calls to quit after a probe into the harassment culture in Westminster.
Last night a Tory MP said: “The charge sheet grows every day.”
The Speaker's office said last night: "The information requested relates to the private business of Select Committees and is covered by parliamentary privilege.
"We would not release that information under any circumstances, irrespective of which Members or Select Committees were involved.
"The Act requires that the Speaker sign any certificate that privilege applies , but he is advised on the appropriateness of certification in every case."
The Sun Says: Out of order
THERE is no end to the sleaze around John Bercow’s regime at the House of Commons.
The Speaker stands condemned for a sex harassment culture that would get him suspended or fired anywhere else.
He personally faces two bullying claims he denies. He is only kept in place by Remainers who disgustingly admit they need his help wrecking Brexit.
Now the odious toad uses ancient laws to block journalists’ questions about his oily pal Keith Vaz, the Labour MP facing sordid claims of his own.
Our politicians’ reputation never recovered from the 2009 expenses scandal.
Yet Bercow has somehow dragged our great Parliament further into the sewer.
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