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Suited Bercow 'letting side down' Suited Bercow 'letting side down'
(about 9 hours later)
Baroness Boothroyd says she has told Commons speaker John Bercow he is "letting the side down" for refusing to wear the role's traditional garments.Baroness Boothroyd says she has told Commons speaker John Bercow he is "letting the side down" for refusing to wear the role's traditional garments.
The peer, who was Speaker for eight years, said she thought Mr Bercow was "making a good stab" of the job.The peer, who was Speaker for eight years, said she thought Mr Bercow was "making a good stab" of the job.
But in an interview with the BBC's Straight Talk she said she had taken him to task about his choice of attire.But in an interview with the BBC's Straight Talk she said she had taken him to task about his choice of attire.
"I said 'nurses like their uniform, boy scouts, girl guides - you've 700 years of history behind you.""I said 'nurses like their uniform, boy scouts, girl guides - you've 700 years of history behind you."
'Dressing down''Dressing down'
Mr Bercow told her "he didn't feel comfortable" in the Speaker's historic robes, but she replied: "I just think you're letting the side down a little bit".Mr Bercow told her "he didn't feel comfortable" in the Speaker's historic robes, but she replied: "I just think you're letting the side down a little bit".
John Bercow is the first Speaker to wear a lounge suit
"He said, well, thank you for being so robust, and I had to say to him: 'Well, John, where I come from we call a spade a shovel'," the peer told presenter Andrew Neil."He said, well, thank you for being so robust, and I had to say to him: 'Well, John, where I come from we call a spade a shovel'," the peer told presenter Andrew Neil.
Mr Bercow shocked traditionalists by discarding the Speaker's waistcoat, cuffs and winged collar when he took over last year, opting instead to wear a lounge suit and tie under a black academic gown.Mr Bercow shocked traditionalists by discarding the Speaker's waistcoat, cuffs and winged collar when he took over last year, opting instead to wear a lounge suit and tie under a black academic gown.
Bernard Weatherill, who sat in the Speaker's chair between 1983 and 1992, was the last Speaker to wear the full ceremonial outfit.Bernard Weatherill, who sat in the Speaker's chair between 1983 and 1992, was the last Speaker to wear the full ceremonial outfit.
Baroness, then Bettty, Boothroyd cast aside the traditional long-bottomed wig when she took in 1992 and her succcessor, Michael Martin, jettisoned the knee breeches and tights.Baroness, then Bettty, Boothroyd cast aside the traditional long-bottomed wig when she took in 1992 and her succcessor, Michael Martin, jettisoned the knee breeches and tights.
Baroness Boothroyd told Andrew Neil she had "invited herself" to a meeting with Mr Bercow four days after he had been elected because "I wanted to tell him a few home truths".Baroness Boothroyd told Andrew Neil she had "invited herself" to a meeting with Mr Bercow four days after he had been elected because "I wanted to tell him a few home truths".
She said she told him he should always be in place on a Friday, when the Commons chamber is often virtually deserted, and when secretaries of state are making statements.She said she told him he should always be in place on a Friday, when the Commons chamber is often virtually deserted, and when secretaries of state are making statements.
Watch Straight Talk on the BBC News Channel on Saturday at 0430 GMT and 2230 GMT and on Sunday at 0130 GMT, 1530 GMT and 2330 GMT.Watch Straight Talk on the BBC News Channel on Saturday at 0430 GMT and 2230 GMT and on Sunday at 0130 GMT, 1530 GMT and 2330 GMT.