Wrekin MP Mark Pritchard's 'bust-up' with Speaker

Shropshire MP Mark Pritchard today accused Commons Speaker John Bercow of being rude to him, and therefore his Shropshire constituents, in an astonishing bust-up in a Westminster corridor.

During the clash, Mr Pritchard told the Speaker "you're not f...... royalty" after Mr Bercow had accused him of not giving due regard to his office.

The clash followed Business Questions in the Commons yesterday when the Speaker refused to call The Wrekin MP, who wanted to ask a question about the effects of the lack of lending to small businesses in his constituency.

Mr Bercow said he was not prepared to allow Mr Pritchard's question because he had not been present in the chamber at the start of the session.

In fact, the Shropshire MP had been there as Business Questions began, but had left the chamber for a few minutes to go to the toilet.

It is customary for all MPs who attend to ask questions of the Leader of the Commons, Sir George Young, to be given the opportunity to do so, and on this occasion Mr Pritchard was the only MP who missed out.

He said today that, rather than causing a fuss by raising a point of order, he had immediately written a letter to Mr Bercow explaining he had been there at the start of business and had popped out only briefly before returning to the same spot on the green benches.

"I had just delivered the letter to the Speaker's office when I met his entourage returning from the chamber.

I moved aside and he had passed me when he turned around and said: 'You will obey the courtesies of this House," said Mr Pritchard.

The MP said he thought Mr Bercow was referring to his not being called in the chamber but later realised the Speaker meant he had not shown due deference to the Speaker's office.

"It was a horrible experience. He turned around and had a go," said Mr Pritchard, who is secretary of the 1922 Committee of Conservative MPs.

"I replied 'first of all, don't point your finger at me. I have not come to this place to be abused by anybody, and certainly not you'.

"He had another rant and then stormed off, and that's when I told him 'you are not bleep royalty'."

Mr Bercow has had a series of clashes with Tory backbenchers since he was elected and recently had a public dispute in the Commons chamber with the Conservative chief whip, Patrick McLoughlin.

"I am the latest in a long line of victims who have been on the receiving end of some of Mr Speaker's impoliteness," said Mr Pritchard.

"I was not prepared to take it, especially as I had been in the chamber at the start of Business Questions and was denied asking a question on behalf of my constituents.

"I have had support from across the House for my robust stand. I regret using colourful language, but I don't regret sticking up for myself or against his extreme rudeness, which ultimately is being rude to my constituents," he added.