Ross Clark Ross Clark

John Bercow and the abandoning of the Speaker’s impartiality

According to John Bercow he has chosen to step down on 31 October because it would be the ‘least disruptive and most democratic course of action’ if he stayed on for the votes on the Queen’s speech expected in the last week of October. But there is a somewhat glaring reason for choosing the last day of October – it is a none-too-subtle hint that he sees it as his duty to frustrate Britain’s departure from the EU, which was due on that date but which, thanks to the law passed by Parliament today, now seems likely to be delayed again. Going for that date is Bercow’s way of saying ‘job done’.

Two years ago, following the 2017 general election, Bercow went back on his previous intention to step down some time in 2018. He had changed his mind, he said, and intended to serve for the entire Parliament, due to end in 2022. Why extend his tenure in the Speaker’s chair then curtail it? The extra time meant that it was Bercow, rather than a new Speaker, who chaired debates on a Brexit deal. And what a role he has played. The Speaker’s impartiality has gone out of the window as Bercow has given rebels an advantage, sometimes quoting precedent and sometimes discarding it.

It was thanks to Bercow that the Commons was able to seize the business of the Commons a fortnight ago under Standing Order 24 – a process by which backbenchers can demand an emergency debate. It is in the Speaker’s discretion whether to allow such a debate – and applications are rarely successful. Bercow has chosen to announce his departure on the very day that the resulting law completes its passage through Parliament.

In January this year Bercow allowed Dominic Grieve to table an amendment to a government procedural motion – a type of motion, as Theresa May protested, which is not normally amendable.

Already a subscriber? Log in

Keep reading with a free trial

Subscribe and get your first month of online and app access for free. After that it’s just £1 a week.

There’s no commitment, you can cancel any time.

Or

Unlock more articles

REGISTER

Comments

Don't miss out

Join the conversation with other Spectator readers. Subscribe to leave a comment.

Already a subscriber? Log in