This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/8114086.stm
The article has changed 13 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| Bercow's 'great responsibility' | Bercow's 'great responsibility' |
| (39 minutes later) | |
| John Bercow has told the BBC he feels a "great responsibility" as he begins his job as House of Commons Speaker. | John Bercow has told the BBC he feels a "great responsibility" as he begins his job as House of Commons Speaker. |
| Mr Bercow also promised he would not claim second home allowances while serving in his new post. | Mr Bercow also promised he would not claim second home allowances while serving in his new post. |
| The Buckingham MP got 322 votes to fellow Tory MP Sir George Young's 271 in the final round of secret voting to decide who would take on the role. | The Buckingham MP got 322 votes to fellow Tory MP Sir George Young's 271 in the final round of secret voting to decide who would take on the role. |
| However, he is unpopular among some in his party who feel the ex-right winger has become too close to New Labour. | However, he is unpopular among some in his party who feel the ex-right winger has become too close to New Labour. |
| Gordon Brown and opposition leaders welcomed the appointment of Mr Bercow, who stood on a platform of reform and pledged to heal public "anger". | Gordon Brown and opposition leaders welcomed the appointment of Mr Bercow, who stood on a platform of reform and pledged to heal public "anger". |
| It is believed some Conservative MPs hope to be able to mount a challenge to unseat him after the next election. | It is believed some Conservative MPs hope to be able to mount a challenge to unseat him after the next election. |
| 'Brisker progress' | 'Brisker progress' |
| In an interview with the BBC, Speaker Bercow defended his own expense claims, insisting that he had paid money back voluntarily to cover the tax he had saved after he was accused of "flipping" his home. | In an interview with the BBC, Speaker Bercow defended his own expense claims, insisting that he had paid money back voluntarily to cover the tax he had saved after he was accused of "flipping" his home. |
| THE SPEAKER'S ROLE The Speaker controls the proceedings of the House of Commons, chairing debates, keeping order and calling on MPs to speakThe Speaker is also responsible for the running of much of Parliament - including the Fees OfficeThe Speaker represents the House of Commons' independence in dealing with the monarchySpeakers are elected by MPs in a Commons vote, traditionally remaining in the role until retirement or death and re-elected automatically after general elections Profile: John Bercow How runners and riders fared | THE SPEAKER'S ROLE The Speaker controls the proceedings of the House of Commons, chairing debates, keeping order and calling on MPs to speakThe Speaker is also responsible for the running of much of Parliament - including the Fees OfficeThe Speaker represents the House of Commons' independence in dealing with the monarchySpeakers are elected by MPs in a Commons vote, traditionally remaining in the role until retirement or death and re-elected automatically after general elections Profile: John Bercow How runners and riders fared |
| He said he had "behaved honourably". | He said he had "behaved honourably". |
| Asked whether he would reverse the decision to black out MPs expense claims, he said that he favoured greater transparency but would need to consult on how information was presented in future. | Asked whether he would reverse the decision to black out MPs expense claims, he said that he favoured greater transparency but would need to consult on how information was presented in future. |
| Mr Bercow said he would ditch the job's traditional tights and wear a business suit and "smart but unfussy" gown for his role, adding: "The wig has gone." | Mr Bercow said he would ditch the job's traditional tights and wear a business suit and "smart but unfussy" gown for his role, adding: "The wig has gone." |
| He added that he wanted to see "brisker progress" in the day to day business of the House of Commons with shorter questions and answers and a "more considered" approach to business. | He added that he wanted to see "brisker progress" in the day to day business of the House of Commons with shorter questions and answers and a "more considered" approach to business. |
| Questioned whether he was prepared to discipline the prime minister and the leader of the opposition to achieve this, he answered: "Quite." | Questioned whether he was prepared to discipline the prime minister and the leader of the opposition to achieve this, he answered: "Quite." |
| Mr Bercow added that he was keen to move away from the "boorishness" which he said had "disfigured" the Commons. | |
| The Speaker acknowledged that many in his own party were opposed to his own candidacy, but suggested that this was because they were used to someone of a different generation holding the position. | The Speaker acknowledged that many in his own party were opposed to his own candidacy, but suggested that this was because they were used to someone of a different generation holding the position. |
| He said that he would win their backing "by good performance". | He said that he would win their backing "by good performance". |
| 'Upright and decent' | 'Upright and decent' |
| Mr Bercow will be in the chair for business in the Commons on Tuesday from 1430 BST with his first challenge being to establish his authority over the House. | Mr Bercow will be in the chair for business in the Commons on Tuesday from 1430 BST with his first challenge being to establish his authority over the House. |
| Mr Bercow was elected on a platform of radical reform, declaring himself the "clean break candidate". | Mr Bercow was elected on a platform of radical reform, declaring himself the "clean break candidate". |
| Mr Bercow is unpopular with large swathes of the Conservative Party after undergoing a political journey from right-wing Thatcherite to outspoken social liberal rumoured to have been close to defecting to Labour. | Mr Bercow is unpopular with large swathes of the Conservative Party after undergoing a political journey from right-wing Thatcherite to outspoken social liberal rumoured to have been close to defecting to Labour. |
| He won the support of many Labour MPs, who are convinced he will stand up to Conservative leader David Cameron, but there was a marked lack of applause from the Tory benches. | He won the support of many Labour MPs, who are convinced he will stand up to Conservative leader David Cameron, but there was a marked lack of applause from the Tory benches. |
| What they regret is the partisan way he has been elected, with some Labour MPs backing Bercow, not because they thought he was the right reforming Speaker, but because they knew it would anger the Tory benches James Landale BBC chief political correspondent Read James Landale's full verdict | What they regret is the partisan way he has been elected, with some Labour MPs backing Bercow, not because they thought he was the right reforming Speaker, but because they knew it would anger the Tory benches James Landale BBC chief political correspondent Read James Landale's full verdict |
| Mr Bercow's election was given royal approval in a traditional Parliamentary ceremony on Monday night. | Mr Bercow's election was given royal approval in a traditional Parliamentary ceremony on Monday night. |
| The Buckingham MP beat nine other candidates, including Labour's Margaret Beckett and Tory veteran Ann Widdecombe, to be named 157th Speaker. | The Buckingham MP beat nine other candidates, including Labour's Margaret Beckett and Tory veteran Ann Widdecombe, to be named 157th Speaker. |
| He replaces Michael Martin who quit after nine years amid the furore over MPs' expenses. | He replaces Michael Martin who quit after nine years amid the furore over MPs' expenses. |
| After the result was announced, Mr Bercow was dragged to the chair, a tradition for the new Speaker, congratulated his nine rivals and told MPs it was the "greatest honour" of his political life. | After the result was announced, Mr Bercow was dragged to the chair, a tradition for the new Speaker, congratulated his nine rivals and told MPs it was the "greatest honour" of his political life. |
| He said MPs felt "very sore and very vulnerable" in the wake of the expenses scandal but added "large sections of the public also feel angry and disappointed". | He said MPs felt "very sore and very vulnerable" in the wake of the expenses scandal but added "large sections of the public also feel angry and disappointed". |
| Topped voting | Topped voting |
| He was welcomed by Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Conservative leader David Cameron and Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg in short speeches in the Commons chamber. | He was welcomed by Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Conservative leader David Cameron and Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg in short speeches in the Commons chamber. |
| But Mr Bercow - who has acted as an adviser to Gordon Brown on support for children with learning difficulties - faced a mixed reception from Conservative MPs. | But Mr Bercow - who has acted as an adviser to Gordon Brown on support for children with learning difficulties - faced a mixed reception from Conservative MPs. |
| One of them, Nadine Dorries, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that only three Tories had voted for Mr Bercow, and said his election had been "made through a red mist" as "the last hurrah of a dying Labour government". | One of them, Nadine Dorries, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that only three Tories had voted for Mr Bercow, and said his election had been "made through a red mist" as "the last hurrah of a dying Labour government". |
| Alan Duncan: "He is a highly intelligent man" | Alan Duncan: "He is a highly intelligent man" |
| Alan Duncan, the shadow leader of the Commons, said it would be "churlish" to take anything away from his victory and said Mr Bercow deserved the respect of the House following his election. | Alan Duncan, the shadow leader of the Commons, said it would be "churlish" to take anything away from his victory and said Mr Bercow deserved the respect of the House following his election. |
| But he said: "A lot of Conservatives feel that John positioned himself in order to woo Labour to get the Speakership. A lot of people are annoyed that it worked." | But he said: "A lot of Conservatives feel that John positioned himself in order to woo Labour to get the Speakership. A lot of people are annoyed that it worked." |
| Constitutional expert Professor Vernon Bogdanor of Oxford University said: "We saw him being dragged to the Speaker's chair yesterday, but he's now got to drag the House of Commons in modern times - that's how he'll be evaluated." | |
| Mr Bercow and Sir George Young topped the first two rounds of voting with 179 votes and 112 respectively in the first round, 221 to 174 in the second and 322 to 271 in the final round. | Mr Bercow and Sir George Young topped the first two rounds of voting with 179 votes and 112 respectively in the first round, 221 to 174 in the second and 322 to 271 in the final round. |
| ROUND-UP OF OPINION ON NEW SPEAKER | |
| As John Bercow starts work as Speaker of the House of Commons, columnists, commentators bloggers and analysts discuss what this means for politics in the UK. | |
| On the Today Programme, Conservative MP Nadine Dorries says John Bercow won for tactical reasons and MPs aren't taking reform seriously: | |
| Now that he's been elected I hope he can do the job. But unfortunately I think this is more about last night a sort of last hurrah of a dying Labour government and I think it was an appointment that was made through a red mist. It was almost a two-fingered salute to the British people from the labour party and to the Conservative Party because the Labour Party voting for John Bercow had nothing to do with reform. | |
| Peter Riddell predicts in the Times John Bercow will have limited powers as Speaker: | |
| All the candidates yesterday portrayed themselves as reformers. But this muddied rather than clarified what the Speaker can do in practice The Speaker has no role at all on more ambitious ideas for recalling MPs who have been found guilty of financial abuse or for holding primary elections to select candidates. These are matters for Parliament as a whole and for the parties. | |
| Mary Riddell in the Daily Telegraph says a 'squalid' contest for Speaker illustrates the need to modernise: | |
| What is clear is that the contest for Speaker has been a dramatic but ultimately unedifying affair involving tactics (not Mr Bercow's) more suggestive of greyhound-nobbling than the installation of the First Commoner of the Land. Yet the problem lay less in the failings of the candidates than in the false hope invested in the contest. | |
| Simon Carr in the Independent says Bercow's campaign isn't over yet: | |
| He has to demonstrate his "complete impartiality", if he is to avoid being ejected by the incoming Tories next year. There will also be the traditional tests to his authority in the House Equally though, Bercow will change, as people do when they achieve high office. And sometimes they change for the better (excuse the note of surprise in my voice). That's something to look forward to. | |
| The Daily Mail fears the most divisive candidate won: | |
| The election of a new Speaker was meant to mark the start of the great clean-up of Westminster. It offered MPs a chance to set party politics aside and work together towards regaining the public's trust. Instead, the Labour majority showed themselves at their most contemptible, swinging behind Tory left-winger John Bercow for no better reason than that he is bitterly disliked by his own party. | |
| Michael White on the Guardian's Comment is Free says Bercow must now control the MPs: | |
| A Speaker has three roles: overseeing the complex management of Westminster and its staff; being its public face abroad (the domestic role must now grow); and controlling the Commons, MPs and ministers alike. The last now matters most. | |
| The Sun's political editor George Pascoe-Watson says the Tories have acted childishly after Bercow's victory: | |
| They may have good reason to loathe Mr Bercow for turning his back on them - but their behaviour yesterday was embarrassing as well as childish. It was a poor advert for the Commons which needs all the help it can get in improving its standards. | |
| Political blogger Guido Fawkes frowns upon what he sees as measures already to undermine Bercow: | |
| There is no point undermining him before we see how he actually performs in the job. There is now an opportunity for a great reforming Speaker to drive through reforms that regain for Parliament the ability to hold the government to account and in check. | |
| Political blogger Iain Dale says the John Bercow has to keep the Mps in line quickly: | |
| On Wednesday he should ensure that the Prime Minister answers questions rather than asks them. The first time a government minister announces a policy on the Today Programme, he should be hauled before the Commons to explain himself. Although he must be given a little time to find his feet, he also needs to send a clear signal that the House is now under new management. | |
| MORE FROM AROUND THE WEB | |
| John Bercow himself wrote a column in the Guardian's Comment is Free promising to be a 21st century Speaker. | |
| Rachel Sylvester from the Times says the new Speaker was not chosen for his modernising credentials and this election shows the Commons at its worst. | |
| The Times' leading article urges John Bercow to be a moderniser. | |
| The Times Chief Political Correspondent analyses John Bercow's history in far-right politics, including his admiration for Enoch Powell's stance on mass-immigration. | |
| Benedict Brogan in the Daily Telegraph's analysis predicts that Bercow has one year to win over Tory doubters. |