Margaret Beckett puts her foot in it

It’s been a curious day in Parliament after Labour MPs en masse came to John Bercow’s defence amid a damning report into bullying in Parliament. Despite the report concluding that the Speaker is among those who should consider their position, numerous Labour MPs have said that he should stay in place. It seems that treating employees well pales in comparison to having a chair sympathetic to your party’s Brexit opposition.

The majority of Labour MPs (see Steerpike’s full roll call of shame) have been vague when it comes to their real intentions. However, in an interview with the BBC, Margaret Beckett has broken rank and offered an honest explanation as to why she and her colleagues want Bercow to stay in place: Brexit – which apparently ‘trumps’ bullying.

‘Abuse is terrible, it shouldn’t happen, behaviour should change anyway. But yes, if it comes to it… the most difficult decision we’ve made for hundreds of years trumps bad behaviour.