Labour MP who blocked John Bercow bullying probe lined up for top job investigating bad behaviour by MPs
Kate Green, a key ally of John Bercow, is set to be unveiled as the new boss of the Commons Committee on Standards
A LABOUR MP who helped block a bullying probe into the Commons Speaker is being lined up for a plum job investigating the bad behaviour of all MPs.
Kate Green, a key ally of John Bercow, is set to be unveiled as the new boss of the Commons Committee on Standards.
The job comes with a £15,500 pay rise and gold plated pension - on top of her £77,379 MPs salary.
Mr Bercow was spared a humiliating investigation last May after three MPs on the standards body - including Ms Green - voted against Parliament’s watchdog probing the powerful boss after claims Mr
Now she is in line to replace outgoing Committee Chairman Sir Kevin Barron, who quit after a stormy relationship with Mr Bercow and Leader of the Commons Andrea Leadsom over new rules that will allow MPs under investigation to remain anonymous.
Commons rules dictate that the role must be a Labour MP because it goes to a member of the official opposition.
Nominations close on Monday, with an election two days later if there is more than one candidate.
But Commons sources said it was highly unlikely Ms Green would face competition because all members of the Standards Committee are endorsing her.
The bullying probe Ms Green helped Mr Bercow dodge would have investigated bombshell claims earlier this year that the Speaker bullied former staffer Angus Sinclair.
His successor Kate Emms was signed off with PTSD after working for Mr Bercow for less than a year.
And Parliament’s ex-‘Black Rod’ David Leakey compounded the claims by branding the Speaker “unworthy of someone in public office” and described the Speaker as “genuinely intimidating”.
But despite the allegations, Mr Bercow escaped an investigation by the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner because Ms Green and two Tory MPs voted against a probe. Only two MPs on the committee backed an investigation into Mr Bercow’s behaviour.
Ms Green refused to respond to queries last night.
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