Bercow laughs off height remark

Commons Speaker John Bercow has laughed off alleged remarks about his height, saying he is "entirely untroubled".

The comments come after Health Minister Simon Burns reportedly called Mr Bercow a "stupid, sanctimonious dwarf" during a debate on Tuesday.

The Speaker told MPs on Wednesday it had been suggested he had been "short with ministers", joking: "I've always been short."

Mr Bercow, who has been in the job for a year, is 5ft 6in tall.

The minister's remarks were allegedly uttered - though, not printed in Hansard, Parliament's written record - after he was told to face forward when speaking, rather than looking back towards fellow coalition MPs.

'Low-grade abuse'

Speaking later, Mr Burns did not deny the comments, saying: "We will leave it at that. I'm saying I have nothing to say."

In her Twitter page, Mr Bercow's Labour-supporting wife Sally wrote: "So much for the 'new politics'."

She also accused the minister of "low-grade abuse".

During points of order following prime minister's questions on Wednesday, Mr Bercow said, to laughter: "The honourable gentleman suggests I've been short with ministers. I'm not sure about that, but what I would say to the honourable gentlemen in the House is that I've always been short.

"And I'm entirely untroubled by the fact. It is probably as well."