Prime Minister Boris Johnson has blocked Jeremy Corbyn’s recommendation for John Bercow to receive a peerage over allegations of bullying by the former Speaker.
Downing Street said it would not approve Labour’s nomination of Mr Bercow for elevation to the upper chamber because there are outstanding concerns about his “propriety”.
Tom Watson, the former deputy Labour leader, is one of three people nominated by Jeremy Corbyn to have had their peerages blocked along with Mr Bercow and Karie Murphy, Mr Corbyn’s former chief of staff.
The Jewish Labour Movement said her nomination was “deeply inappropriate”.
The Sunday Times reported that officials at Downing Street informed Mr Corbyn his nominations would be rejected before he stepped down as leader.
The House of Lords Appointments Commission had concerns about both Mr Bercow and Ms Murphy’s “propriety”.
John Bercow who stood down as Speaker at the end of October, was referred to the parliamentary commissioner of standards in January over allegations of bullying, which he denies.
Commons officials accused him of creating a climate of “fear and intimidation” during his time in office, and a former clerk of the Commons said he used “sexually and racially inappropriate” language.
Mr Bercow denies the claims to this day saying they are “unadulterated rubbish”.
In January it was leaked the Labour party had nominated Mr Bercow, however, the nomination cannot proceed to formal approval from the Queen without the backing of the Government.
The Telegraph reported that Prime Minister Johnson ‘broke with tradition’ by refusing to nominate Mr Bercow for a peerage himself, which is customary of a Government after a Speaker’s retirement.
After the commission advised against Labour’s nomination, Downing Street offered Mr Corbyn the option of replacing his nominees last month, allowing him to choose “antiwar” activists instead, the Sunday Times reported.
Mr Corbyn is understood to have declined that offer after some consideration.
The House of Lords Appointment commission, does not comment on individual cases, but said: “Our guidelines make clear that an individual must be in good standing in general and with the public regulatory authorities in particular.”
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Editor-in-Chief | Carl D. Pearson has been involved in British politics and media from an early age, with the key knowledge of what it takes to run a news organisation for the 21st century. Mr Pearson, as Editor-in-chief, is responsible for supervising the daily tasks of publishing media and content to UNN’s website and various platforms.
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