John Bercow: ‘Nothing is more dangerous and unpredictable than a diva on a farewell tour’

John Bercow has been repeatedly accused of frustrating the Brexit process since the 2016 referendum. The House of Commons Speaker is required to remain politically impartial at all times, but Brexiteer MPs have often indicted him for his Remain politics. Express.co.uk speaks to former senior House of Commons clerk Eliot Wilson about how John Bercow poses a real threat to the delivery of Brexit.

The Speaker of the House of Commons chairs debates in the Commons chamber.

Predominantly, he keeps order and calls on MPs to speak during commons debates.

John Bercow was first elected as the Commons Speaker in June 2009 and will be retiring from the position at the end of this month.

The Speaker is also an MP who still deals with their constituents as any normal MP. 

But according to Mr Wilson, this mandate to remain politically neutral will not prevent “bloody-minded” John Bercow from intervening in the Brexit process.

READ MORE: Brexit vote: How Remainer John Bercow could have the deciding vote

“They are only guidelines and precedents, which the Speaker can choose to follow or disregard. 

“The clerks, principally the Clerk of the House, Dr John Benger, will advise Speaker Bercow to vote no on a tied Third Reading division, because that is consistent with Speaker Denison’s Rule.

“It follows precedent, but it is within Bercow’s power to disregard that advice and vote aye, thereby letting the bill pass and proceed to the House of Lords. Erskine May, the “Parliamentary Bible”, describes the Speaker as “the highest authority of the House of Commons”, so there is no immediate check on his power.”

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Earlier this year, Mr Bercow vowed to “fight with every bone” in his body to stop Boris Johnson from illegally proroguing parliament to push through a no deal Brexit.

Mr Wilson added that it was another instance where the Speaker had showed himself as “anti-Brexit”.

He said: “ think Bercow has sailed dangerously close to expressing a view more or less that Brexit should not happen and he is dead set against it.

“I think his opinions have really informed all of the procedural decisions he has taken since the beginning of the year, when that amendment in the name of Dominic Grieve was read and interpreted in a certain way, which was against official advice.

“Generally, there is a recognition or at least an acceptance that Bercow is anti-Brexit.

“In fact, there was a story recently about his wife’s car having a “b******s to Brexit” sticker on it.

“Personally, I believe he is coming dangerously close to nailing his colours to a political mast that is different from Speakers and I would argue is somewhat inappropriate.”

In fact, a staunch Brexiteer Sir Bernard Jenkin told Parliament on Monday that his committee will launch an investigation into John Bercow’s role as Speaker in the House of Commons. 

He said: ““I note the dilemmas you (Mr Bercow) face meaning on occasions you will sometimes have to please some and not others, but it is becoming remarkable how often you please one lot and not the other lot.”

Sir Bernard added: “I’d also remark, Mr Speaker, you have inveighed against most unusual things happening in this House which you did not like and I’d say it’s most unusual for a Speaker so often to prevent the Government having debated the matters which the Government wish to put before the House.”

In response Mr Bercow accused the Tory politicians of “grumbling” because he did not “like” his judgement.