Boris Johnson blocks Corbyn’s recommendation for John Bercow peerage

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”. Karie Murphy, Mr Corbyn’s former chief of staff, was also blocked for appointment to the Lords over an Equalities and Human Rights Commission investigation into alleged institutional anti-Semitism in the Labour Party. The Jewish Labour Movement said her nomination was “deeply inappropriate”. Ms Murphy denies all allegations of anti-Semitism. Officials at Downing Street informed Mr Corbyn his nominations would be rejected before he stepped down as leader, The Sunday Times reported. The House of Lords Appointments Commission had concerns about both Mr Bercow and Ms Murphy’s “propriety”. Mr 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 said the claim was “unadulterated rubbish”. His nomination by Labour, which was greeted with surprise when it was leaked in January, cannot proceed to formal approval from the Queen without the backing of the Government. The rejection comes after Boris 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. Dawn Butler, a Labour MP who ran for the deputy leadership of her party, said Mr Johnson’s refusal to nominate Mr Bercow was in itself a “form of bullying”. 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 thought to have declined that offer after some consideration. The House of Lords Appointment commission, which does not comment on individual cases, 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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