THERESA MAY believes that the latest bullying allegations against commons speaker John Bercow should be “properly investigated”, Downing Street has said.

Mr Bercow is facing calls to quit following fresh bullying allegations from a former private secretary in his office, which the Speaker strenuously denies.

Angus Sinclair told BBC Two’s Newsnight that Mr Bercow undermined him by mimicking him, swearing and shouting, and once even smashed a mobile phone by throwing it on to the desk in front of him. He said he was forced into early retirement, with an £86,250 pay-off on condition he did not make any complaints.

The Speaker’s office issued a firm denial of the allegations, which come amid an independent judge-led inquiry into claims of bullying.