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Tory MP trying to oust John Bercow says he has cross-party support Tory MP trying to oust John Bercow says he has cross-party support
(35 minutes later)
The Tory MP trying to oust John Bercow as the Speaker has claimed colleagues from all parties, including ministers, support his efforts to remove him and that a vote will be held on his future.The Tory MP trying to oust John Bercow as the Speaker has claimed colleagues from all parties, including ministers, support his efforts to remove him and that a vote will be held on his future.
James Duddridge, the MP for Southend and Rochford, said he has been advised parliament will provide time for a motion of no confidence to be debated and the government has assured him there will be a free vote.James Duddridge, the MP for Southend and Rochford, said he has been advised parliament will provide time for a motion of no confidence to be debated and the government has assured him there will be a free vote.
“Ministers have been on the phone to be over the weekend, as well as backbenchers and people of all political parties, saying they will vote with me in the lobbies against Speaker Bercow. Enough is enough, we need a new impartial Speaker,” he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme on Monday. “Ministers have been on the phone to me over the weekend, as well as backbenchers and people of all political parties, saying they will vote with me in the lobbies against Speaker Bercow. Enough is enough, we need a new impartial Speaker,” he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme on Monday.
The campaign against Bercow began after he told the Commons he would oppose any attempt to let Donald Trump address both Houses of Parliament during his UK state visit.The campaign against Bercow began after he told the Commons he would oppose any attempt to let Donald Trump address both Houses of Parliament during his UK state visit.
It gathered momentum over the weekend after a video emerged of Bercow telling students he had voted to remain in the EU, leading critics to further question his impartiality.It gathered momentum over the weekend after a video emerged of Bercow telling students he had voted to remain in the EU, leading critics to further question his impartiality.
The Sunday Telegraph obtained footage in which he told students at Reading University: “Personally I voted to remain. I thought it was better to stay in the European Union than not.” He went on to say that the “untruths” spoken during the referendum and the “racist sentiment” whipped up by some parts of the Brexit campaign did not invalidate the result.The Sunday Telegraph obtained footage in which he told students at Reading University: “Personally I voted to remain. I thought it was better to stay in the European Union than not.” He went on to say that the “untruths” spoken during the referendum and the “racist sentiment” whipped up by some parts of the Brexit campaign did not invalidate the result.
Duddridge is leading efforts to oust the Speaker, with the support of a number of Conservative MPs who have long believed Bercow is too favourable to the opposition.Duddridge is leading efforts to oust the Speaker, with the support of a number of Conservative MPs who have long believed Bercow is too favourable to the opposition.
He survived a previous attempt by the Conservative frontbench under David Cameron to make it easier to get rid of him, but this time the revolt against his stewardship is more serious.He survived a previous attempt by the Conservative frontbench under David Cameron to make it easier to get rid of him, but this time the revolt against his stewardship is more serious.
On Monday, Duddridge accused Bercow of “using the Speaker’s chair to pontificate on international affairs” and “calling his friends” rather than being totally impartial.On Monday, Duddridge accused Bercow of “using the Speaker’s chair to pontificate on international affairs” and “calling his friends” rather than being totally impartial.
The MP also called on Bercow to resign voluntarily. “You must not speak on policy issues; he’s broken that rule, broken his employment contract with members of parliament. And if he doesn’t, a vote will go ahead,” he said.The MP also called on Bercow to resign voluntarily. “You must not speak on policy issues; he’s broken that rule, broken his employment contract with members of parliament. And if he doesn’t, a vote will go ahead,” he said.
Over the weekend, David Lidington, the leader of the House of Commons, said the government would abide by the convention of leaving the question of who should be Speaker to MPs without interfering.Over the weekend, David Lidington, the leader of the House of Commons, said the government would abide by the convention of leaving the question of who should be Speaker to MPs without interfering.
He told the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show: “There will be strong reaction among some MPs to what he said at Reading, particularly after what he said about the state visit earlier in the week. Ultimately, the Speaker has to command the confidence of the House of Commons as a whole.He told the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show: “There will be strong reaction among some MPs to what he said at Reading, particularly after what he said about the state visit earlier in the week. Ultimately, the Speaker has to command the confidence of the House of Commons as a whole.
“John has his very strong supporters as well as his strong critics in the House of Commons; we shall have to see how members as a whole respond. The government is very determined this is a matter for the house as a whole.”“John has his very strong supporters as well as his strong critics in the House of Commons; we shall have to see how members as a whole respond. The government is very determined this is a matter for the house as a whole.”
Bercow was defended on Monday by Tom Brake, the Lib Dem former deputy leader of the Commons, who said frontbenchers did not like the way Bercow had allowed the opposition parties and backbenchers to hold the executive to account.Bercow was defended on Monday by Tom Brake, the Lib Dem former deputy leader of the Commons, who said frontbenchers did not like the way Bercow had allowed the opposition parties and backbenchers to hold the executive to account.