In a long, winding, and emotional speech in the Chamber this afternoon, John Bercow informed MPs that he would be resigning his position as Speaker of the House of Commons by 1 November. Bercow promised to either resign at the end of the parliamentary session if MPs backed the government’s plan for a general election, or on 31 October.
But while Bercow’s speech was well-received on the Labour benches, it seemed that several Tories were rather less impressed with the Speaker’s bellicose farewell. As Bercow spoke, Labour and opposition MPs voiced their support for the departing Speaker, and when he concluded, applauded for over a minute. By comparison, several Tory MPs resolutely refused to stand up, and sat stony-faced with their arms’ crossed as he finished his speech.
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