John Bercow was branded a "serial bully" and a "serial liar" who "repeatedly and extensively" bullied House of Commons staff, an investigation has found.
Mr Bercow, 59, had been accused of throwing a mobile phone, swearing at officials and making a sexually and racially discriminatory remark at a member of staff.
A scathing 89-page report published by the Independent Expert Panel into Mr Bercow's conduct describes his behaviour as an "abuse of power" and concluded his behaviour had "no place in any workplace."
The report said: "Members of staff in the House should not be expected to have to tolerate it as part of everyday life. No person at work however senior should behave in this way.
"The findings of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, which we have upheld, show that the respondent has been a serial bully. Like many bullies, he had those whom he favoured and those whom he made victims."
The former Speaker - who issued a lengthy statement vehemently denying the allegations and claiming the probe was a "kangaroo court" - has now been suspended from the Labour Party pending an investigation.
1. Bercow 'shouted and mimicked' a female staffer
Parliamentary Standards Commissioner Kathyrn Stone found Mr Bercow "shouted and mimicked" his former staffer Kate Emms.
Ms Stone said the former Commons Speaker mocked his staff by mimicking their “voice and words”.
The damning report said he also mimicked their voices "at least 20 times" when he was being interviewed for the inquiry into his behaviour.
Ms Emms was appointed Speaker's secretary in June 2020, and she served in that role until 2021.
2. 'Intimidatory and undermining behaviour'
The Commissioner ruled Mr Bercow had created "an intimidating and hostile environment", and said he was responsible for "intimidating, insulting behaviour involving an abuse of power" towards Ms Emms.
As a result of Mr Bercow's behaviour, Ms Emms said she suffered “stress, anxiety and loss of confidence”.
Mr Bercow was also found to have displayed anger, used verbal abuse and launched “undermining behaviour” against his secretary Angus Sinclair.
The report said Mr Bercow abused his power that was motivated “by a rooted and prejudiced hostility” against the complainants.
3. Threw a mobile phone in front of a staffer
Mr Bercow had been accused of throwing a mobile phone.
In one episode of bullying, a claimant said Mr Bercow displayed his temper.
The claimant added: "He ordered me to stay seated, so he was standing over me, and then threw the mobile phone right in front of me on my desk and it burst into hundreds of bits and I could feel them hitting me.
"It was the most violent, extraordinary display of temper."
The report said Mr Bercow apologised for his behaviour after this episode of bullying for the first time.
4. Launched an aggressive 'temper tantrum'
Ms Emms claimed she was left distressed after a work trip to Kenya with Mr Bercow.
She told the Commissioner after Mr Bercow was prevented from taking a 'toiletry item' in his hand luggage, he "threw a temper tantrum and sulked".
The report notes that he refused to acknowledge her during the flight and even on their arrival in Kenya.
"She was shocked and distressed by the respondent’s attitude, which was, she says, 'aggressive and quite out of proportion'" the report says.
What has Bercow's response been?
After the report was published, Mr Bercow boasted: “Don’t fall for the Establishment spin that I have been banned for life. I can still attend debates with the help of a friendly passholder or go as a member of the public.”
The former speaker said the case against him “would have been thrown out by any court in the land”, as he claimed it was “based on the flimsiest of evidence” and “rooted in hearsay and baseless rumour”.
He said allegations included "brusquely ending a meeting 12 years ago", "staring hate-filled at someone 11 years ago and the investigator refusing to interview nine witnesses because “they would not remember”", and "falling asleep on a night flight to Africa and thereby ignoring a member of staff for hours."
“It is a travesty of justice and brings shame on the House of Commons," he said.
“This has been a protracted, amateurish and unjust process which would not have survived five minutes’ scrutiny in court. To describe what I have experienced as a kangaroo court is grossly insulting to kangaroos."
