John Bercow admits he wasn’t a good husband to wife Sally and was partly ‘responsible’ for her affair with his cousin
JOHN Bercow admits he wasn't a good enough husband to wife Sally - insisting he was partly responsible for her affair with his cousin.
The controversial former Speaker, 57, said he "wasn't finding enough time for her" and she felt he was too focused on his work.
In an interview with the he said: "I bear some responsibility for it.
"There has to be a reason why somebody has an affair.
"At the time she was feeling down, miserable, rather neglected.
"She thought I was enormously focused on what I was doing, but the balance was wrong and I wasn't finding enough time for her."
He described Sally, 50, who once posed for photographs in nothing but a bedsheet, as his "best friend" and a "terrific asset", but admitted the pair had their "ups and downs".
In May 2015, The Sun revealed how Sally had an affair with Mr Bercow's cousin Alan, who she briefly left him for.
I bear some responsibility for it. There has to be a reason why somebody has an affair
John Bercow
Sally - who has three children with John who she married in 2002 - moved out during the messy row, and her friends said he was a bad husband.
But today Mr Bercow said he didn't hold a grudge against her for it.
He revealed it was her who "gave it away" to him and let slip about her relationship.
The former Speaker said people had "approached him" from time to time but insisted he has never been unfaithful to his wife.
He also claimed he was subjected to anti-Semitic abuse from Tories when he was an MP.
He said he faced "subtle" digs at his heritage during his time in politics.
"I did experience anti-Semitism from members of the Conservative party," he said.
"I remember a member saying: ''If I had my way, Berkoff, people like you wouldn't be allowed in this place.
"And I said: ''Sorry, when you say people like me, do you mean lower-class or Jewish?'"
"To which he replied: ''Both.'"
BERCOW BULLY ROW
Mr Bercow is currently embroiled in a huge bullying row - which he denies - after the Government blocked him getting a peerage.
The Sun revealed how Lord Lisvane, former clerk of the House of Commons, filed an official bullying complaint against him.
The friend told The Sun: “Bercow told Robert he was no good, he was useless, he was f***ing this and f***ing that, all of the time.
“He tried to make him feel completely worthless, without ever making any specific allegations of what he was supposed to have done wrong.
“The clerks used to call it Bercow’s ‘carpet chewing’.
Bercow says Meghan Markle is victim of racism and sexism
MEGHAN Markle has been the victim of sexism and racism, John Bercow has insisted.
The former Speaker said it was "crystal clear" that the Duchess of Sussex had been subjected to harassment.
And he backed their right to step back from Royal roles and move to Canada.
Speaking to the Sunday Tiems he said: "I believe unequivocally that Meghan has been the victim of explicit and obnoxious racism. I am crystal clear about that."
He added: "Harry and Meghan have a right to opt for change, accepting some of the consequences and costs.
"They are entitled to put their marriage and health first.
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The former Clerk of the Commons told friends that elevating Mr Bercowto the Lords would amount to “a staggering betrayal of all the people he has bullied, humiliated and abused”.
Mr Bercow said today "the timing of this intervention is curious".
Former Black Rod Lieutenant General David Leakey has also revealed he would be filing formal complaints about the ex-Speaker.
Mr Bercow said he only met him "three or four times a year" and he "hasn't got the foggiest idea what is talking about".
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