Jeremy Corbyn’s recommendation for John Bercow to receive a peerage has been blocked by Boris Johnson.
Downing Street have said that it will not approve the former Labour leader’s nomination of Mr Bercow due to outstanding concerns about his “propriety”.
Mr Bercow stood down as Speaker at the end of October last year. In January this year, he was referred to the parliamentary commissioner of standards as a result of allegations of bullying – which he denies.
Some Commons officials have accused Mr Bercow of creating an environment of “fear and intimidation”. A former clerk of the Commons said that he used “sexually and racially inappropriate language”. Mr Bercow denies the claims, stating that they are “unadulterated rubbish”.
A nomination for peerage can only proceed once the government have backed it. After which, it will go to the Queen for formal approval and the nominated individual will then be granted membership of the House of Lords.
Boris Johnson has broken with tradition by refusing to endorse Mr Bercow’s nomination. An act which is traditional of a Government after a Speaker retires.
Another one of Mr Corbyn’s nominations, Karie Murphy, who was his former chief of staff, was also blocked from appointment to the House of Lords over an investigation into her involvement in anti-semitism within the Labour Party.
The Jewish Labour Movement commented that her nomination was “deeply inappropriate” – Ms Murphy denies all allegations of anti-semitism.
Downing Street have said that Mr Corbyn was informed his nominations would be rejected prior to him stepping down as leader. Downing Street offered Mr Corbyn the option of changing his nominees, allowing him to choose “anti-war” activists instead, the Sunday Times reported.
After some consideration, Mr Corbyn declined that offer.
Public Domain Dedication
The House of Lords Appointment Commission made the following statement; “Our guidelines make clear that an individual must be in good standing in general and with the public regulatory authorities in particular.”
The government has absolutely made the right decision here. Mr Bercow is not worthy of this nomination.
He was not fair or impartial in the Brexit debates which was on account of him having voted remain in the referendum. A fact which he himself made public. Within days of stepping down as Speaker he told La Repubblica that Brexit is the UK’s biggest mistake since the Second World War.
Mr Bercow colluded with MP’s to widen the scope of emergency debates, allowing parliamentary insurrections – something plainly unconstitutional.
He voiced his views against President Trump – without giving any real justification for them. He said that the elected President was not worthy of a state visit or the privilege of speaking to both Houses of Parliament.
His interjections were made when they were not needed. His views were expressed when they shouldn’t have been. He would pick and choose which rules of the House to enforce. He abused his role as the Speaker to impose his views on the House; in some cases, trying to overthrow democracy.
He is absolutely unfit to be elevated to the House of Lords.
