Speaker Bercow called 'stupid, sanctimonious dwarf' by health minister - Telegraph

Quote:

Simon Burns delivered the muttered insult after being reprimanded by John Bercow for turning to address a backbencher directly, rather than facing the House and addressing his comments through the chairman as is customary. He was told that in future he and other MPs must “show respect” to whoever is chairing a debate. It is the latest clash between Conservatives and Mr Bercow, who has faced several challenges to his authority over the past year. Although he is the Tory MP for Buckingham, few in his party voted for him to succeed Michael Martin as Speaker because it was felt that he had become too close to Labour. His re-election last month was also opposed by some, with Nadine Dorries accusing him of failing to uphold “the great tradition of authority, control and impartiality”. Both Mr Burns and Miss Dorries reportedly refused to shake Mr Bercow’s hand during the swearing-in ceremony of the new Parliament. Yesterday afternoon, Mr Burns was representing the Department of Health during Health Questions when he was accused of turning to speak directly to a backbencher. He was told by Mr Bercow:: “I have just had Members complaining that they can’t hear. You must face the House - it’s a very simple point, I have made it to others and they have understood it.” As he sat down, Mr Burns shook his head and described the Speaker – who often jokes that the only holders of his post who were shorter than him were those who were beheaded - as a “stupid, sanctimonious dwarf”. His comment was directed to the press gallery and was only heard by a handful of MPs and not by the Speaker himself. But later Ian Paisley Jr complained about the junior minister’s conduct, suggesting it was “disrespectful”. He asked the Speaker: “Whilst noting that the particular bird has flown, is it in order for a member of the front bench in this House to berate, scoff, scold and hiss at the chair whilst a Member is trying to ask a question of the front bench? “Do you recognise that it is disrespectful both to this House and to the chair, but importantly it also impedes a Member of this House from asking a question and getting a sensible answer from the front bench at the same time. “And will you make it clear that your order runs not just to backbenchers but to members of the front bench of this House.” Mr Bercow said the incident would go “unrecorded” by Hansard but that he would take no action. However he added that front and back benches must show “respect for the Chair” as well as each other. “I hope that it won’t be necessary in the course of this, the new Parliament and the new politics, for that point to have to be made from the chair again.” Mr Burns, the Conservative MP for Chelmsford, also faced criticism online from the Speaker’s wife, Sally Bercow. She wrote on her Twitter feed: “So much for the ‘new politics’ eh Mr Burns.” Mrs Bercow added the “hashtags”, used to categorise topics on the popular social networking website, #nastyTories #lowgradeabuse and #MrBisSpeakersogetoverit. Meanwhile Mr Burns, whose brief includes NHS finance and performance, said he was “staggered” to hear that a hospital is offering a management consultant £1,000 a day to help cut costs. The Daily Telegraph disclosed on Monday that Mid Essex Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs the Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford, placed a job advert through headhunting firms last week for a Turnaround Director earning the huge wage. Mr Burns, in whose Chelmsford constituency the trust is based, said: “I am staggered to learn of plans to appoint a Turnaround Director to look into efficiency issues and cost savings measures at a salary of £1,000 per day – which is significantly higher than the Prime Minister’s salary. “It is insensitive, to say the least, that when the priority for the NHS is to protect frontline services and patient care, Mid Essex Hospitals Trust is considering spending this level of money on a salary to look into how to save costs in the NHS. “The decision by MEHT is also against the spirit of the revised operating framework for the NHS which states the Government will make cuts in expenditure on management including a freeze on new consultancy, marketing and civil service recruitment and asks for the NHS to display a similar discipline. “I am seeking an immediate justification from the Chief Executive of the MEHT as to what is going on and why the decision has been taken to appoint this new staff member.”

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As he sat down, Mr Burns shook his head and described the Speaker – who often jokes that the only holders of his post who were shorter than him were those who were beheaded - as a “stupid, sanctimonious dwarf”.

Not so sanctimonious, then... I am waiting for Sarko to joke about his small size...

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We all knew this was coming.

Quote:

The health minister, who called the Speaker a “stupid, sanctimonious dwarf”, has apologised – but only to short people in general. Simon Burns, who delivered the muttered insult to John Bercow after being reprimanded in the Commons for facing the wrong way, said he was sorry if he caused offence to “any group of people”. He issued the statement after a group that represents people with rare types of Primordial Dwarfism called his comments “derogatory and deeply offensive”. Mr Burns, the Conservative MP for Chelmsford and a junior health minister, had been speaking during Health Questions in the Commons on Tuesday afternoon when Mr Bercow accused him of turning to speak directly to a backbencher rather than facing the House. As he sat down, Mr Burns shook his head and described the Speaker, who is disliked by several Tories, as a “stupid, sanctimonious dwarf”. His comment was not heard by Mr Bercow himself but another MP complained about the minister’s “disrespectful” conduct and the Speaker declared that all sides must “respect” the Chairman of Commons debates. On Wednesday, John Connerty, co-founder of the Walking with Giants Foundation, said: “Someone at this level within Government has the power to influence people into thinking that anyone of small stature is stupid and sanctimonious. “It is diabolical that he has said this at all, far less from the floor of the House of Commons. “These comments are derogatory and deeply offensive to people affected by dwarfism. He needs to issue an immediate apology.” In a statement that mentioning the Speaker directly, Mr Burns said: “If I have caused any offence to any group of people then I unreservedly apologise.” Back in the Commons, the former Labour minister Chris Bryant joked with Mr Bercow: "I am glad you are getting short with ministers these days." The Speaker, who is thought to be 5ft 6ins tall, replied: "You suggest that I have been short with ministers. "I am not sure about that but what I would say to you and the House is I have always been short - and I am entirely untroubled by the fact, which is probably as well."

Simon Burns apologises to dwarves following insult aimed at John Bercow - Telegraph

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The reply to the witty "You've been short with ministers" isn't all that good, though.

And at the The Walking with Giants co-founder for thinking: “Someone at this level within Government has the power to influence people into thinking that anyone of small stature is stupid and sanctimonious".

Is he short of a few brain cells?

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Perhaps I'm biased by my dislike for Bercow, but I thought Bryant came off as a slimy kiss-up.

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little person, not dwarf, how insensative.

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