COMMONS Speaker John Bercow is facing renewed pressure to quit after being accused of calling Leader of the House Andrea Leadsom “f***ing useless” and a “stupid woman”.
The remarks - which have not been denied - were condemned by Downing Street.
The Daily Telegraph reported Mr Bercow, who is already facing disputed accusations of bullying, was overheard in parliament on Wednesday.
He was said to have sworn under his breath after criticising Ms Leadsom for arranging government statements in time earmarked for a Labour debate on Grenfell Tower.
He told the Chamber: “This is an undesirable state of affairs and, if it were to happen on further occasions, a great many honourable and right honourable members… would view it, frankly, as an abuse. I hope that that message is heard loudly and clearly on the government frontbench, at the highest level, by the people in particular by whom it needs to be heard.”
Ms Leadsom is said not to have heard the later obscene remarks directly, but had them relayed to her by an MP.
She has frequently denounced bullying in the Commons and said it should be investigated.
A Downing Street spokesman said Theresa May was aware of the alleged remarks.
He said: "Clearly the prime minister thinks they are unacceptable. And if an official complaint is made, it should be properly investigated.”
Asked if Mrs May thought Mr Bercow should step down, he said: “The Speaker is elected by MPs so questions like that are for parliament.”
In a statement, the Speaker’s office said: “Wednesday was an unusual and controversial day in how business was handled in the House by the Government and some strong and differing views were expressed on all sides on the subject. The Speaker treats his colleagues with respect and strives at every turn to facilitate the House of Commons.”
Earlier this week, MPs on the Commons Committee for Standards blocked an inquiry into allegations Mr Bercow bullied two former private secretaries, Angus Sinclair and Kate Emms.
Mr Bercow, 55, a former Tory MP, who became Speaker in 2009, denies bullying.
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