John Bercow accused of calling Andrea Leadsom a 'stupid woman' and 'f****** useless' in Commons outburst

John Bercow: The Commons speaker has been accused of making foul-mouthed remarks about Andrea Leadsom
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John Bercow has been accused of calling leader of the House of Commons Andrea Leadsom “f****** useless” and a “stupid woman” in a foul-mouthed outburst in Parliament.

Speaker of the House Mr Bercow is said to have muttered the remarks in the Commons chamber after berating Ms Leadsom for the way ministers were conducting Government business.

Ms Leadsom was reported not to have heard the comments, but unnamed MPs who said they did have told of their outrage following the alleged foul-mouthed aside on Wednesday.

It comes amid growing pressure on the Speaker, who is facing calls to resign from his position in Parliament over allegations of bullying staff who worked for him.

Andrea Leadsom: The Commons leader is said not to have heard the alleged foul-mouthed outburst 
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The Speaker's office acknowledged "strong and differing views" had been expressed in the chamber on what it said had been an "unusual and controversial day" in Parliament.

However it insisted that Mr Bercow treated MPs with respect while seeking to facilitate the work of the House.

The latest flare-up is said to have occurred on Wednesday during a point of order following Prime Minister's Questions.

With Ms Leadsom still sitting on the front bench, Mr Bercow strongly criticised ministers for scheduling a Government statement on an opposition day, taking time away from a Labour debate on the Grenfell Tower fire.

One unnamed MP who caught Mr Bercow's aside told The Daily Telegraph: “He said 'stupid woman' and went on to say either 'f****** useless or f****** outrageous', but I am clear that the words 'stupid woman' were said, and I am clear that the word 'useless' was said.

"I thought what I was witnessing was entirely outrageous."

In a statement, the Speaker's Office said: "Wednesday was an unusual and controversial day in how business was handled in the House by the Government and some strong and differing views were expressed on all sides on the subject.

"The Speaker treats his colleagues with respect and strives at every turn to facilitate the House of Commons."

The incident came on the day an inquiry into allegations Mr Bercow bullied two former private secretaries, Angus Sinclair and Kate Emms, was blocked by MPs.

The Commons Standards Committee voted three-two against allowing Parliament's watchdog to investigate the allegations, which he has consistently denied.

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