AN EX-Black Rod has said incidents like that involving former North Shropshire MP Owen Paterson demonstrate why no-one stepped in over the allegations of bullying by John Bercow.

Mr Bercow has been banned from holding a parliamentary pass after a report by an independent panel said he was a “serial bully” and a “serial liar” during his years in the speaker’s chair.

Speaking to PA, ex-military commander David Leakey, who served as Black Rod from 2011 to 2017 explained why nobody did anything despite there being reports about Mr Bercow's behaviour.

He said there were “political reasons” but also some “power play reasons”.

He continued: “The leaders were very reluctant...the leaders of the House, the leaders of the parties, as well as Bercow, were very reluctant to concede that there was a problem that needed a formal process.

“They all thought that they were very good and, if I can put it this way, acting on their honour, which is what MPs are supposed to do. And I think for them to concede that some of their members were not acting on their honour, notably John Bercow, then that would have, as it were, sort of been a self-condemnation.”

Mr Leakey noted that incidents such as the one involving Mr Paterson exemplify the “sort of culture and sentiment” that “prevented Parliament from implementing” a process.

He said: “There have been lots of incidents. You’ve seen them recently with Owen Paterson, where MPs have tried to exonerate a fellow member.

“And that really was the sort of culture and sentiment that I think prevented Parliament from implementing some sort of process.”

In November, Mr Paterson was found to have broken lobbying rules by Parliamentary Standards Commissioner Kathryn Stone, who said he repeatedly lobbied on behalf of two companies for which he was acting as a paid consultant.

When MPs were asked to approve his recommended 30 sitting-day suspension, the Government launched a botched bid to shelve his punishment and Mr Paterson later resigned.

Mr Leakey also told PA that he believes Mr Bercow is likely to reoffend as he has shown “absolutely no remorse” after an independent report upheld 21 bullying and harassment complaints against him.

His comments come as Mr Bercow was banned from holding a parliamentary pass after a report by an independent panel said he was a “serial bully” and a “serial liar” during his years in the speaker’s chair.

The two-year inquiry upheld 21 separate allegations against him made by three Commons officials – former clerk of the Commons Lord Lisvane and private secretaries Kate Emms and Angus Sinclair.

Mr Leakey’s claims were rejected but he gave evidence of Mr Bercow’s bullying of other staff to the inquiry.

Responding to the report’s findings, Mr Bercow insisted: “I don’t believe in faux apologies; I don’t believe in apologising when I don’t think I have anything to apologise for.”

Mr Leakey said it is precisely Mr Bercow’s “lack of humility” that makes him “uniquely disqualified” for any leadership role.

He said: “This has been perfectly disgraceful on his part.

“He has shown absolutely no remorse, no acknowledgement, no contrition whatsoever. And no humility.

“He has shown no possibility that he might have bullied people and affected their lives. And that lack of humility indicates a total flaw in his personality and in his capacity to be a leader of any sort. He is uniquely disqualified.”

He added: “For as long as he doesn’t reform his character, then he’s likely to be a reoffender. It’s as simple as that.”

Mr Leakey, who during his time as Black Rod was principally responsible for controlling access to and maintaining order within the House of Lords and its precincts.