No political rivalry in recent years has been as fierce as the one between Andrea Leadsom and the Speaker of the House, John Bercow. As leader of the Commons, Leadsom spent a huge amount of time in the Chamber speaking on the government’s behalf, and frequently clashed with the pugnacious Bercow over parliamentary procedure and each other’s manners.
And while Leadsom has since resigned from her position in May’s government, it appears that her hostility towards the Speaker hasn’t subsided. In fact, it seems that Leadsom may even have incorporated her dislike of Bercow into her official Tory leadership campaign.
At a press gallery lunch this afternoon, Leadsom insisted that Bercow would not be able to stop a no-deal Brexit if she became Prime Minister, and that she would take Britain out of the EU on 31 October, come what may. Going further, Leadsom then brandished a ‘Bollocks to Bercow’ sign at the lunch:
Andrea Leadsom's message at the #PressGalleryLunch

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