[Published: Tuesday October 16 2018]
 UK parliament speaker to quit
LONDON 16 Oct (ANA) - 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."(ANA)
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