Having worked for several years as Black Rod, one of the most senior officers of parliament, I am reluctantly filing my own formal complaint with the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, detailing allegations of bullying, intimidation and unacceptable behaviour by the former Commons Speaker, John Bercow.

It gives me no pleasure to do so. However, like Lord Lisvane, who served with distinction as the Commons’ top official — the clerk of the House — and has now submitted his own dossier of allegations, I do so in the hope that others will be encouraged to come forward to file their own complaints, finally safe in the knowledge that the new independent complaints procedure will enable their concerns to be heard and assessed, and also reassured that