Embattled Speaker John Bercow is forced to apologise after sparking uproar by telling Tory Greg Hands he was ‘not very good’ as a Conservative whip

• Bercow was accused of ‘insulting’ Greg Hands by calling him a bad whip 
• Conservatives in the House of Commons voiced their outrage at the remarks
• He then climbed down and apologised for ‘causing offence’ to the Tory MP 

• e-mail

5

View
comments

Divisive Speaker John Bercow sparked uproar in the Commons after tonight’s votes after clashing with a former Tory whip.

MPs demanded an apology after accusing Mr Bercow of ‘insulting’ Greg Hands after appearing to insult him over his skills in the disciplinary roll.

Tory Mr Hands, who was deputy chief whip under David Cameron between 2013 and 2015, had attempted to interrupt Mr Bercow, prompting the Speaker to react badly.

Mr Bercow prompted outrage from the Conservative benches with his remarks about Greg Hands

• Tories plot revenge on John Bercow after he refused to stand… ‘Don’t go to hell!’: Juncker urges MPs not to plunge Britain…
• Tory MP Christopher Davies admits making two false…

Share this article

Mr Bercow said: ‘I don’t require any help from the right honourable gentleman for Chelsea and Fulham. I wouldn’t have the foggiest idea where to start. He was once a whip, he wasn’t a very good whip.’

There was uproar in the chamber as MPs clamoured for an apology, with former Tory chairman Sir Patrick McLoughlin making a point of order accusing the Speaker of a lack of respect.

Mr Bercow tried to make peace, saying: ‘What I would say is if I have caused offence I very happily apologise.’

Bercow eventually apologised to Mr Hands, saying: ‘If I have caused offence I very happily apologise.’

Source: Read Full Article