Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has faced calls to expel John Bercow from the party following a bombshell report published by the Independent Expert Panel (IEP) today.

He defected to the party from the Conservatives in 2021, following criticism of Boris Johnson’s premiership.

The IEP decided that the former Commons speaker’s record of “serial bullying” was so serious that he should never be allowed a pass to the Parliamentary estate; and that if he were still a MP it would have recommended expelling him from the House.

Conservative MP Andrea Leadsom, who served as the leader of the House of Commons under Theresa May, told Times Radio. “I found that John Bercow was incredibly discourteous to people… And yes, you know, I had pretty much frequent run-ins with him, and I saw the way he treated other people. And I do believe it was unacceptable.”

She went on: “And actually, what is so awful about it is that the Speaker of the House of Commons is almost the sort of highest authority here, you know, he or she is responsible for behaviour in the House of Commons, responsible for the way that we run things here. And it’s just unacceptable.

“I think Keir Starmer must expel John Bercow from the Labour Party. There’s no doubt in my mind. All parties worked very hard on putting together the independent complaints and grievance scheme. Everyone who works and comes here must be treated with dignity and respect.”