IN yet another Conservative clash, John Bercow has been accused of failing to show "courtesy and respect" to MPs by Andrea Leadsom as the Commons was engulfed in a major row over Brexit.
The Leader of the House continued her feud with the Speaker during a lengthy Points of Order session following his statement on the holding of future meaningful votes.
It started with him reprimanding Ms Leadsom for fiddling with her mobile phone during the exchanges, causing anger on the Tory benches.
"I hope the Government would feel that respect for procedure does matter,” declared Mr Bercow.
"I note that as [Pete Wishart for the SNP] asks his question and I respond, the Leader of the House is playing with her electronic device and so is the Deputy Chief Whip.”
There were heckles from Tory MPs and Chris Pincher, the Deputy Chief Whip, who accused Mr Bercow of being the one failing to show the House respect.
But the Speaker hit back, saying it would be helpful if people showed respect for each other by listening to what other people had to say.
“But if they choose not to do so, then so be it. I try to show good manners and I hope others will do so as well."
Mr Pincher responded by tweeting from inside the chamber: "I was cancelling my next appointment because he was going on for so long. At this rate we'll be out of the EU before he finishes."
After the issue was raised about organising a "Speaker's Conference" to try to unite the Commons, Mr Bercow said one would have to be instigated by the Government, noting how Ms Leadsom was a "notable reformer".
The Commons Leader interjected: "I am indeed a reforming Leader of the House of the Commons and, for me, treating colleagues with courtesy and respect is at the forefront of that reform.
“Any Speaker's Conference would have to have that at its heart and I simply would not be confident that that would be the case."
The Speaker responded: "Well, so be it. I treat the House with respect, I've treated its members with respect. I chaired a previous Speaker's Conference and there was no criticism of the way in which I did so."
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