John Bercow and Andrea Leadsom feud grows as she accuses him of failing to show 'courtesy and respect' to MPs

Bonnie Christian19 March 2019
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Speaker John Bercow has been accused of failing to show “courtesy and respect” to MPs by Commons Leader Andrea Leadsom.

It followed the Speaker reprimanding Ms Leadsom and Tory MP Christopher Pincher for fiddling with their mobile phones in the Commons on Monday.

The ongoing feud between the Leader of the House Ms Leader and the Speaker Mr Bercow continued during the lengthy points of order session following his statement on future meaningful votes on Brexit.

Mr Bercow had, in a surprise statement, ruled out allowing the Government to hold a third vote on Theresa May's Brexit deal unless it was "substantially" different.

During the lengthy points of order session, Lib Dem MP Sir Ed Davey asked whether a "Speaker's Conference" could be convened to try and bring the Commons together.

Mr Bercow said it would have to be instigated by the Government and that Ms Leadsom was a "notable reformer" and therefore may be willing to initiate one.

Leader of the House of Commons Andrea Leadsom today lashed out at the EU
REUTERS

But the Commons Leader hit out, saying: "I just want to be very clear, I am indeed a reforming Leader of the House of the Commons, and for me, treating colleagues with courtesy and respect is at the forefront of that reform, and any Speaker's Conference would have to have that at its heart and I simply would not be confident that that would be the case."

The Speaker hit back, saying: "I treat the House with respect, I've treated its members with respect. I chaired a previous Speaker's Conference and there was no criticism of the way in which I did so."

Earlier, Mr Bercow lashed out at Ms Leadsom and Mr Pincher for using their phones.

He said: "I hope the Government would feel that respect for procedure does matter.

"I note that as (SNP shadow Commons leader MP Pete Wishart) asks his question and I respond, the Leader of the House is playing with her electronic device, and so is the deputy chief whip.

"I didn't include him in the category of very senior people in the House but that's a debatable proposition I readily grant."

There were hoots of outrage and protestations MPs had been showing respect and the Speaker was not, as Mr Bercow continued.

He said: "It would seem to me to be helpful if people showed respect for each other in these circumstances and if they're in the Chamber listened to what other people have to say but if they choose not to do so then so be it.

"I try to show good manners and I hope others will do so as well."

In response, Mr Pincher wrote on Twitter that he had been cancelling an appointment.

"I was cancelling my next appointment because he was going on for so long. At this rate we'll be out of the EU before he finishes."

Ms Leadsom and the Speaker have clashed several times in the past. Their feud began after he was overheard in the Commons calling her a "stupid woman".

They then clashes further when Ms Leadsom called for him to be stripped of his role overseeing bullying cases. He responded by publicly reprimanding her for talking over him in Parliament.

She has also criticised him for failing to call upon enough female MPs to speak during a Government debate.

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