John Bercow 'to quit as Speaker next summer'
Speaker John Bercow has told friends he's decided to stand down next Summer, the BBC understands.
His departure - in June or July - would coincide with his tenth year in office.
The news comes after a damning report on the failure of high level figures in Parliament to deal adequately with bullying of staff at Westminster.
The report condemned a culture in which abusive behaviour was "tolerated, concealed and covered up".
Senior MPs have called on Mr Bercow, who was elected to the role in June 2009, to stand down, with Maria Miller saying "change in leadership" was needed at the top "including you".
The BBC understands from well-placed sources the Speaker has told friends and close associates he is still considering how and when to announce his departure.
"He doesn't want it to look as if he's been forced out," said one. "But it may be it won't be enough, and some people will insist he goes much sooner."
Approached for a comment on the Speaker's plans, a spokeswoman said: "The Speaker was elected by the House in 2017 for the course of the Parliament. In the event he has anything to say on his future plans, he will make an announcement to the House first."
When he took the job Mr Bercow had said his intention was to quit by June of this year, after nine years in the chair.
He has since said he means to stay on and see Parliament through the process of Brexit.
He has strongly denied claims he bullied two of his former private secretaries - claims which MPs decided not to investigate earlier this year.
Meanwhile, a senior figure described the atmosphere within the Parliamentary senior establishment as akin to "panic" in the aftermath of the report by Dame Laura Cox.
Dame Laura said highly placed figures should consider whether they could change the complaints system and the culture in Parliament. Otherwise, she said, they should "consider their position."
The complaints system now seems likely to be opened up to previously excluded historical complaints against MPs - potentially inviting a fresh wave of politically and personally embarrassing allegations.
In the climate of recriminations and counter-recriminations, a source in Parliament blamed government whips - in both main parties - for pressing to limit the range of admissible complaints in the past. "They wanted to use the information privately to help control their MPs."
Earlier, as MPs debated the issue, Mr Bercow called for an independent body to be set up to investigate allegations of harassment and bullying in Parliament.
The new regulator, he said, should be able to decide whether historical cases dating back many years could be investigated - something not currently allowed.
He told MPs they should learn the lessons of the expenses scandal, which led to external oversight of claims.
'Part of the problem'
But MPs said Mr Bercow was not the right man to oversee the changes and should stand down immediately.
Andrew Bridgen questioned how those "deemed to be part of the problem could ever hope to be part of the solution" while Anne Main said the "old adage is that the fish rots from the head".
The Cox report details alleged sexual harassment by MPs of women who say they were "inappropriately touched" and "repeatedly propositioned".
There were reports of "inappropriate touching", including men "trying to kiss them, grabbing their arms or bottoms or stroking their breasts or bottoms".
Staff reported men putting their arms around women's shoulders or waists or "pulling them into corners for close personal contact".
There were "frequent comments" about women's appearance and suggestions that they should wear "sexier clothing or more make-up". "Derogatory or lewd comments about women's anatomies" were made, the report said.
'No demi-gods'
Commons leader Andrea Leadsom said a new complaints procedure set up three months ago was working well but it was "far from job done" and harassment must be "stamped out" completely.
Several MPs have warned that the issue of inappropriate behaviour in the Commons must not be politicised in partisan wrangling over Mr Bercow's own future.
The speaker is likely to play a key role in parliamentary debates over Brexit in the coming months, leading one senior Labour figure to claim it was not the "right time" for any change.
Green MP Caroline Lucas called for "independent processes, not innuendos" while Labour's Jess Phillips said she, unlike other MPs, had actually spoken to those affected by bullying.
"Some of us don't actually care who is the offender, it is the victims we care about.
"We will not use it for political gain. Nothing fills the victims with more dread than when people play with their feelings so don't do it."
However, others warned against a witch-hunt, with ex-Conservative minister Sir Desmond Swayne saying most MPs acted "perfectly properly" and were not treated like "demi-gods" by their staff.