Former Black Rod David Leakey has sent a dossier on John Bercow to the parliamentary commissioner for standards

John Bercow’s chances of a peerage have suffered a new setback after a former Black Rod, one of the most senior officials in the Houses of Parliament, submitted a complaint about his bullying behaviour.

Lieutenant General David Leakey, who was Black Rod for seven years during Bercow’s time as Speaker, has sent a dossier to the parliamentary commissioner for standards detailing his “bullying, intimidation and unacceptable behaviour”.

It describes how Bercow allegedly subjected Leakey to abuse about his education, army career and social background — and accused Leakey of being an anti-semite in an angry rage when he banged his fists on the table.

Leakey, 67, attended boarding school, Cambridge University and the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst before rising through the ranks, serving in a