THE culture of Westminster must change to ensure that everyone is treated with "courtesy and dignity," Andrea Leadsom, the Commons Leader, has told MPs.

Her comments come as the Speaker, John Bercow, is embroiled in controversy over bullying claims and allegations he called Ms Leadsom a "stupid woman" and "f****** useless".

Tory MP James Duddridge made a formal complaint to Kaythryn Stone, the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, over the May 16 outburst in the chamber directed at the Commons Leader.

On Monday, Mr Bercow admitted using the word "stupid" but offered no apology.

Scotland Yard has said an allegation of misconduct in public office against the Speaker is now being "assessed".

During Business Questions in the Commons, Mr Duddridge asked Ms Leadsom how the independent complaints procedure for Parliament was progressing.

She replied: "He will be pleased to know that cross-party members continue to work very hard on building an independent complaints procedure that will genuinely change the culture in this place for the better, making sure that everybody, whoever they are, whatever job they do right across the Palace of Westminster will be treated with the courtesy and the dignity and the respect to which they are due."

Tory backbencher Sir Desmond Swayne alluded to the Metropolitan Police's inquiries when he asked: "Can we have a debate on wasting police time? There's been a great deal of it about recently."

Mrs Leadsom started her reply by saying: "I'm not sure of the specific context [in which] he raises this point."

At which, one Tory MP could be heard saying: "We are."