Pro-EU Speaker John Bercow faces coup attempt from furious MPs after vowing to stay on and help block Brexit
POWERFUL Tories opened the door to a no-confidence vote in Speaker John Bercow today by saying “no MP” should allow him to stay on.
Maria Miller, boss of Parliament’s Women’s and Equalities committee, said his decision to rip up a pledge to go this summer was a slap in the face for victims of sexual harassment and bullying.
And she insisted he abide by the Cox Report’s recommendations that he stand aside to address the “unacceptable culture of bullying and harassment” in Westminster.
Mr Bercow sparked fresh anger yesterday after he vowed to remain in post until Brexit is delivered and also reignited fury with Brexiteers by declaring MPs will get a chance to stop No Deal.
Tory MPs today warned that he would use his extended tenure to overturn Brexit.
Long-standing enemy James Duddridge branded Mr Bercow “pompous, egocentric, undemocratic and dishonourable.”
He said: “Bercow does not want to resolve Brexit. He wants to block it. He wants to veto the referendum result and will abuse the role of Speaker to advance his cause. He is even trying to comment on the leadership campaign.”
Bercow does not want to resolve Brexit. He wants to block it
James Duddridge
Fellow Brexiteer Tory MP Andrew Bridgen told The Sun: “At a time when confidence in politicians’ promises is at an all-time low, the Speaker doubles down and breaks another promise.
It’s clear that he has his own agenda to overturn the result of the referendum and keep us in the European Union. He’s a Speaker who’s ripped every page of impartiality from the Speaker’s rulebook.
“And he has tried to fill the power vacuum of a weak Prime Minister and a weak Leader of the Opposition.”
But Remainers rejoiced at Mr Bercow’s decision to stay. Labour peer Lord Adonis tweeted: “John Bercow absolutely right to stay in post until Brexit is resolved. He has enabled parliament & the people to take back control from a dictatorial & dangerous government. His duty is to remain.”
The Sun Says
WON’T somebody rid us of this troublesome Speaker?
John Bercow has spent months putting centuries of Parliamentary convention through the shredder with one goal in mind: to stop Brexit and overturn the largest democratic vote in our history.
The Speaker’s role demands impartiality. Our fragile “unwritten constitution” relies on the good faith of individuals. Bercow’s bias risks the whole thing collapsing.
Of course, we shouldn’t be surprised that this political pygmy has now shamelessly decided to stay on.
He didn’t resign when it became apparent he’d allowed a bullying culture to prosper under his watch.
He didn’t resign when he was accused of physically intimidating staff.
Nor did he go when he appeared to call a female Cabinet Minister — who has risen to heights he can only dream of — a stupid woman.
According to tradition, Speakers have to be dragged to the Chair by MPs. With this one they’ll have to take the Chair out of the Commons with him still in it before we see the back of him.
For years, Bercow’s bloated ego was written off as just tiresome Parliamentary panto from a man so painfully self-centred he would have been in the first lifeboat off the Titanic. But the consequences now could not be more serious.
This odious toad is turning democracy upside down.
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Mrs Miller has led calls for Mr Bercow to stand aside since the independent Cox Report called on the Speaker to consider standing down after finding the Parliament’s current leadership incapable of changing a widespread culture of bullying and harassment.
Stepping up her demands for him to go today, Mrs Miller said: "The Cox Report was clear that the House of Commons needs a wholesale change in leadership to address an unacceptable culture of bullying and harassment.
"The Cox report specifically includes the Speaker in that recommendation, the most senior person in the House of Commons. No MP should stand by and allow the Speaker to continue in his post."
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