Former Commons speaker and Buckingham MP John Bercow has been branded a “serial liar” and banned from holding a pass to Parliament by an independent panel after an investigation found him guilty of bullying.

Parliament’s Independent Expert Panel (IEP), which determines sanctions in cases where bullying complaints have been brought against MPs, said it would have recommended the former speaker be expelled from the House if he were still a sitting member.

Mr Bercow, who was MP for the Buckingham constituency from 1997 until 2019, called the investigation a “travesty of justice” which “brings shame on the House of Commons”.

In its report published on Tuesday, the IEP said: “The findings of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, which we have upheld, show that the respondent has been a serial bully… His behaviour fell very far below that which the public has a right to expect from any Member of Parliament.

“His evidence in the investigations, the findings of the Commissioner, and his submissions to us, show also that the respondent has been a serial liar.

“His behaviour fell very far below that which the public has a right to expect from any Member of Parliament.

“The respondent’s conduct was so serious that, had he still been a Member of Parliament, we would have determined that he should be expelled by resolution of the House. As it is, we recommend that he should never be permitted a pass to the Parliamentary estate.”

Dave Penman, general secretary of the FDA union which represents senior civil servants, said bullying had “flourished unchallenged” under John Bercow.

“No remorse, no contrition and willing to sacrifice the first independent process that investigates complaints, simply to save his own reputation.

“No wonder bullying flourished unchallenged under his time as Speaker.”

The IEP rejected appeals by John Bercow over bullying against three people – Lord Lisvane, the former Commons clerk, Angus Sinclair and Kate Emms – and accused him of an “abuse of power”.

The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards had upheld 21 allegations against Mr Bercow across the three complainants.

The IEP concluded that the bullying and harassment policy “was breached repeatedly and extensively by the most senior Member of the House of Commons”.

“In all, 21 separate allegations were proved and have been upheld.

“The House may feel that his conduct brought the high office of Speaker into disrepute.

“This was behaviour which had no place in any workplace.

“Members of staff in the House should not be expected to have to tolerate it as part of everyday life.

“No person at work, however senior, indeed particularly such a senior figure, should behave in this way. This was an abuse of power." 

In a statement, Mr Bercow said: “Parliament is supposed to be the highest court in the land. This inquiry, which lasted a ghastly 22 months at great cost to the taxpayer, has failed it dismally.

“At the end of it, the panel has simply said that I should be denied a parliamentary pass which I have never applied for and do not want. That is the absurdity of its position.

“Don’t fall for the establishment spin that I have been banned for life. I can still attend debates with the help of a friendly passholder or go as a member of the public.

“All I can say is that the case against me would have been thrown out by any court in the land since it is based on the flimsiest of evidence, rooted in hearsay and baseless rumour, and advanced by old school dogmatists once intent on resisting change at all costs and now settling some ancient scores with me. Add to that a dash of personal spite and you have some idea of the vengeful vendetta mounted against me.

“It is a travesty of justice and brings shame on the House of Commons.

“This has been a protracted, amateurish and unjust process which would not have survived five minutes’ scrutiny in court. To describe what I have experienced as a kangaroo court is grossly insulting to kangaroos. None of the investigators is a lawyer and the commissioner overseeing them has no expertise whatsoever in the consideration of alleged bullying.

“Throughout, gossip from absent friends of the complainants has been treated as the absolute truth whilst eyewitnesses who challenged the allegations were described as ‘not helpful’ and discounted. The commissioner even presumed to make findings on matters about which I was never questioned.”