John Bercow is avoiding taking responsibility with his ‘resignation’ plan

John Bercow has told friends he is to step down as Speaker, according to the BBC. This follows Dame Laura Cox’s report into bullying and sexual harassment of House of Commons staff which says the existing senior leadership team in the Commons – including the Speaker – are probably incapable of changing the current ‘toxic culture’. But this is not Bercow taking responsibility. In fact, he isn’t even announcing anything new. He will retire next June, which has been the plan since May of this year.

James reported this in the Sun at the time, and it seems similar ‘friends of the Speaker’ have been speaking to the BBC again. They’re not particularly helpful friends, though, as they are merely highlighting how much longer Bercow plans to go on for, regardless of his responsibility for the incidents detailed in the Cox report.