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Order no more? Iconic UK House of Commons Speaker Bercow to step down amid Brexit chaos Order no more? Iconic UK House of Commons Speaker Bercow to step down amid Brexit chaos
(about 2 hours later)
The House of Commons’ iconic Speaker John Bercow has announced he will step down on October 31 or will quit sooner if an early election is held. The House of Commons’ iconic Speaker John Bercow announced he’ll step down on October 31, or sooner if an early election is held. One of the UK’s longest serving speakers has quit, then, as a No-Deal Brexit keeps gaining momentum.
Bercow’s statement, delivered on Monday, was met with cheers from Labour Party MPs and rebel Tories. Over the past several weeks, Bercow has been accused of bending parliamentary rules, giving MPs opposed to a no-deal Brexit the chance to pass legislation blocking such an event. An avalanche of predominantly Tory MPs have decided enough is enough and quit the House of Commons due to huge pressure being exerted on them over Brexit. Bercow, Member of Parliament for Buckingham, said that he will not stand in a forthcoming election, in a statement, delivered on Monday and greeted with cheers from the Labour Party and rebel Tory MPs.
Conservatives were furious, with Business Secretary Angela Leadsom calling Bercow’s move a “flagrant abuse” of the parliamentary process. Over the past several weeks, he had bent parliamentary rules, giving MPs opposed to a no-deal Brexit the chance to pass legislation blocking such an eventuality. Conservatives were furious, and Business Secretary Angela Leadsom called Bercow’s move a “flagrant abuse” of the parliamentary process.
Though Bercow said that he had planned to step down for family reasons, his departure comes amid a wave of defections from the Conservative Party. MP Mark Prisk said minutes earlier that he would not stand in another general election, while Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s brother Jo resigned from government last Tuesday. Though Bercow said that he had planned on stepping down for family reasons, his departure comes amid a wave of deselections within the Conservative Party. MP Mark Prisk said minutes earlier that he would not stand in another general election, while Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s brother Jo resigned from government last Tuesday, followed by Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd two days later.
Prior to his announcement, Leadsom stated on Sunday that the Tories would field a candidate to oust Bercow if a general election is called, accusing the speaker of siding with the opposition over Brexit. Though the speaker usually runs unopposed in an election, Leadsom said in the Mail on Sunday that Bercow had “failed” in his role as “a politically impartial, independent umpire of proceedings.” Prior to his announcement, Leadsom stated on Sunday that the Tories would field a candidate to oust Bercow if a general election were called, accusing the speaker of siding with the opposition over Brexit. Though the speaker usually runs unopposed in an election, Leadsom said in the Mail on Sunday that Bercow had “failed” in his role as “a politically impartial, independent umpire of proceedings.”
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Holding the position since 2009, Bercow is the longest-serving speaker since the Second World War, and has called “order!” over four parliaments, under four prime ministers. During that time, Bercow’s thunderous pronouncements rang out in the house, with his voice becoming likely the most recognizable in parliament.
Reinforcing the belief that Bercow had actively sought to oppose Brexit, some of the most passionate farewells on Monday came from the Labour Party.
Jeremy Corbyn said that the charismatic speaker had “totally changed the way in which the job has been done,” while Labour MP David Lammy described the speaker as “a true protector of our democracy.”
If the House does not vote for an election, Bercow’s last week on the job will likely be a tumultuous one. After parliament is suspended later on Monday as planned, MPs will have only one week at the end of October before Britain leaves the EU, with or without a deal, as Johnson has promised.
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