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| John Bercow plans to stay on as Commons Speaker | John Bercow plans to stay on as Commons Speaker |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| John Bercow has said he has no plans to stand down as Speaker of the House of Commons, despite speculation that he would retire this summer. | John Bercow has said he has no plans to stand down as Speaker of the House of Commons, despite speculation that he would retire this summer. |
| He said he would remain in post while there were what he described as "momentous events taking place in Parliament". | He said he would remain in post while there were what he described as "momentous events taking place in Parliament". |
| He told the Guardian that it was not "sensible to vacate the chair" at the moment. | He told the Guardian that it was not "sensible to vacate the chair" at the moment. |
| There have been calls for the next Speaker to be a woman. | There have been calls for the next Speaker to be a woman. |
| BBC political correspondent Ben Wright said Mr Bercow had become a "pivotal" figure in Brexit debates in the Commons, both enraging the government and some Tory MPs, while earning plaudits from others. | BBC political correspondent Ben Wright said Mr Bercow had become a "pivotal" figure in Brexit debates in the Commons, both enraging the government and some Tory MPs, while earning plaudits from others. |
| After his first election nearly 10 years ago, Mr Bercow said he intended to serve no more than nine years. He has since been re-elected unopposed again in 2015 and 2017. | After his first election nearly 10 years ago, Mr Bercow said he intended to serve no more than nine years. He has since been re-elected unopposed again in 2015 and 2017. |
| But on Tuesday, he told the Guardian newspaper: "I've never said anything about going in July of this year. | But on Tuesday, he told the Guardian newspaper: "I've never said anything about going in July of this year. |
| "Secondly, I do feel that now is a time in which momentous events are taking place and there are great issues to be resolved and in those circumstances, it doesn't seem to me sensible to vacate the chair." | "Secondly, I do feel that now is a time in which momentous events are taking place and there are great issues to be resolved and in those circumstances, it doesn't seem to me sensible to vacate the chair." |
| As Speaker, Mr Bercow is in charge of keeping order in the Commons, selecting which amendments will be voted on and deciding whether or not to grant emergency debates and urgent questions. | As Speaker, Mr Bercow is in charge of keeping order in the Commons, selecting which amendments will be voted on and deciding whether or not to grant emergency debates and urgent questions. |
| Mr Bercow has faced claims of anti-Brexit bias and overruling precedent on "a number of key votes". | Mr Bercow has faced claims of anti-Brexit bias and overruling precedent on "a number of key votes". |
| On Tuesday, he dismissed claims from some Brexiteers that because a no-deal exit is the default position in law, it will "inevitably" happen if no agreement is reached by 31 October with Brussels. | |
| He insisted MPs would get the chance to have their say on no deal. | |
| And in March, he controversially ruled out MPs voting on Prime Minister Theresa May's deal for a third time unless the government asked a different question. | |
| Speaking to the BBC, Brexit Minister James Cleverly said he had "long known that the House of Commons and the Speaker will do everything they can to prevent a no-deal Brexit." | |
| Earlier this month, Conservative MP Crispin Blunt made an attempt to remove him from his position, saying even his supporters "do not now seriously dispute his bias". | Earlier this month, Conservative MP Crispin Blunt made an attempt to remove him from his position, saying even his supporters "do not now seriously dispute his bias". |
| In January, Mr Bercow dismissed claims that he had displayed an anti-Brexit sticker in his car, insisting it belonged to his wife and that she was "entitled to her views". | In January, Mr Bercow dismissed claims that he had displayed an anti-Brexit sticker in his car, insisting it belonged to his wife and that she was "entitled to her views". |
| The Speaker has also faced allegations of bullying, which he denies. | The Speaker has also faced allegations of bullying, which he denies. |
| Labour MP Chris Bryant has said that when Mr Bercow does stand down, his successor must focus on "tending to the wounds" caused by Brexit rows and harassment scandals. | Labour MP Chris Bryant has said that when Mr Bercow does stand down, his successor must focus on "tending to the wounds" caused by Brexit rows and harassment scandals. |
| Meanwhile, two female MPs - Gloria De Piero and Nicky Morgan - have called for the next Speaker to be a woman. | Meanwhile, two female MPs - Gloria De Piero and Nicky Morgan - have called for the next Speaker to be a woman. |
| What is the role of the Speaker? | |
| The Speaker, elected by MPs, is in charge of keeping order in the House of Commons. | |
| They pick MPs to speak in debates and can suspend those who deliberately break the rules. | |
| They also select which amendments will be voted on and decide whether or not to grant emergency debates and urgent questions. | |
| In addition to these duties any new Speaker will have to handle allegations of bullying and harassment in Westminster. | |
| The position is an impartial role and, once elected, the Speaker is expected to resign from their party. |