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A probe into allegations Commons Speaker John Bercow bullied staff has been blocked by MPs.

The Commons Standards Committee voted three-two against allowing Parliament's watchdog to investigate the claims.

Mr Bercow has emphatically denied allegations that he bullied former private secretaries Angus Sinclair and Kate Emms.

Tory MP Andrew Bridgen asked Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards Kathryn Stone to investigate whether Mr Bercow had broken the MPs' code of conduct.

Ms Stone sought the opinion of the Standards Committee - made up of MPs and lay members from outside Parliament - whether an investigation fell within her remit.

The five MPs who voted all agreed she was entitled to investigate a claim under the Code of Conduct.

But the Standards Committee can authorise inquiries dating back more than seven years "only in exceptional circumstances".

(Image: AFP)

The voting MPs on the committee split three-two to reject the investigation.

Labour's Bridget Phillipson and Tory Gary Streeter backed the probe.

Tories Sir Christopher Chope and John Stevenson and Labour's Kate Green refused to authorise Ms Stone to conduct the investigation.

The committee's Labour chairman Sir Kevin Barron - whose casting vote is only used in the event of a tie - said: "Accordingly the Commissioner has not been authorised to carry out an inquiry into this matter."

He stressed that under the current rules, lay members of the committee did not have voting rights but it was his "personal view" that they should.

Tory MP Mr Bridgen condemned the decision, telling the Press Association it was an "unprecedented" move.

"Not only am I not happy, I think the job of Standards is to protect and enhance the reputation of MPs and Parliament and this decision will further diminish our standing in the eyes of the public," he said.

(Image: Getty Images Europe)

"What you have got is MPs protecting an MP - the Speaker - from an investigation."

Mr Sinclair was private secretary to Mr Bercow's predecessor Michael Martin, and retained the position when the new Speaker took over in 2009.

He claimed to BBC's Newsnight that Mr Bercow undermined him in front of other staff and shouted and swore at him.

A spokesman for the Speaker’s Office told BBC Newsnight at the time: “Mr Speaker strenuously denies that there is any substance to any of these allegations.

“Mr Speaker has a superb team of dedicated, effective and long-serving staff - five of whom have worked for him very happily for a combined total of over 40 years.”