John Bercow - Speaker of the House - quits

[Saracen999]

Just one more thing, John Bercow has more political integrity in his little finger then the whole of the thuggery Tory government.

And you accuse me of a biased view?

[Saracen999]

I'm sure John Bercow knows how to do his job properly after doing it for at least 10 years.

Obviously not, since rigorous impartiality on all political matters in a core element of it, and he made openly and overtly politically biased comments, publicly.

Or rather, he might know. He just doesn't do it.

[Corky34]

Exactly the opposite. He is self-declaredly determined to stop no-deal with "every fibre of his being". That is, putting his own policy preferences above that of the government, Whether right ir wring is arguable, but impartial it isn't,

Is that what he said? I thought he said he'd fight Boris' attempt at proroguing parliament with ever breath in his body, it only really got framed in the Brexit context because pretty much everyone was accusing Boris of doing it for those reasons (perhaps surprisingly (knowing my position on Brexit like you do) i actually disagree with those accusations).

IIRC he's never gone so far as to declare he's determined to stop no-deal, he certainly made it very clear that parliament should have its say and when asked by MPs if parliament would be allowed a say on leaving without a deal he's answered in the affirmative, but AFAIK he's never publicly declared that he's determined to stop no-deal.

BTW I'm not saying he's isn't against stopping a no deal as it's abundantly clear that he wanted parliament to have it's say and he was aware of MPs feelings on the subject so would've had a good idea how parliament having its say would pan-out, however IMO he's not really crossed that line where i would say he's not been impartial, he's come damn close and i can certainly see why others would consider he's crossed it, but for me, not really.

[Top_gun]

Obviously not, since rigorous impartiality on all political matters in a core element of it, and he made openly and overtly politically biased comments, publicly.

Or rather, he might know. He just doesn't do it.

The impartiality of political arguments is neither here or there when the main question is whether parliament should have the right to scrutinise any deals with Europe. The Speaker simply decided to side with Democracy.

John Bercow knows his job and he has a team of advisors who are able to guide him through centuries of parliamentary traditions. The last thing he needs is a Telegraph newspaper reciter telling him what his job should be.

[opel80uk]

Is that what he said? I thought he said he'd fight Boris' attempt at proroguing parliament with ever breath in his body, it only really got framed in the Brexit context because pretty much everyone was accusing Boris of doing it for those reasons (perhaps surprisingly (knowing my position on Brexit like you do) i actually disagree with those accusations).

IIRC he's never gone so far as to declare he's determined to stop no-deal, he certainly made it very clear that parliament should have its say and when asked by MPs if parliament would be allowed a say on leaving without a deal he's answered in the affirmative, but AFAIK he's never publicly declared that he's determined to stop no-deal.

BTW I'm not saying he's isn't against stopping a no deal as it's abundantly clear that he wanted parliament to have it's say and he was aware of MPs feelings on the subject so would've had a good idea how parliament having its say would pan-out, however IMO he's not really crossed that line where i would say he's not been impartial, he's come damn close and i can certainly see why others would consider he's crossed it, but for me, not really.

Stop letting context, and what was actually said, get in the way of a complete misrepresentation of Bercow's words.

[peterb]

John Bercow knows his job and he has a team of advisors who are able to guide him through centuries of parliamentary traditions. The last thing he needs is a Telegraph newspaper reciter telling him what his job should be.

And we know how he treats his staff https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p065yd6g

[Top_gun]

And we know how Tories are bullies as well.

Conservative party ignored police requests to hand over internal bullying report

Grant Shapps resigns over bullying scandal: 'the buck should stop with me'

[peterb]

But we aren’t talking about the Conservative Party, we are talking about the speaker. I’m sure I could find similar accusations about Labour Party members.

Nice try at deflection though - but I guess the only option when you can’t defend the indefensible.

[Zak33]

John Bercow knows his job and he has a team of advisors who are able to guide him through centuries of parliamentary traditions. The last thing he needs is a Telegraph newspaper reciter telling him what his job should be.

the last thing Tom Cruise needs is to land on thin ice. So here's the score Top_gun - Saracen doesnt recite the Telegraph. Everyone is allowed to Quote here, as I have just quoted you. Recite isn't truly a thing he does. In fact of all the people on this forum, I'd say Saracen recites nothing. He's pretty eloquent, though his eye site fluctuates and he cant always see the random typos he throws out

If you'd be so kind please, as to climb down off that jolly high ladder or morality that you're up, and realise that not everyone agrees with you. Sorry ...true fact.

[Top_gun]

But we aren’t talking about the Conservative Party, we are talking about the speaker. I’m sure I could find similar accusations about Labour Party members.

Nice try at deflection though - but I guess the only option when you can’t defend the indefensible.

John Bercow was originally elected as a Tory MP.

[Zak33]

John Bercow was originally elected as a Tory MP.

he's still a Tory MP (Buckingham) though I think he's leaving that office too.
All Speakers have a political party. Always have
the 2 previous were Labour and the one before them was a Tory.

Doesn't stop them trying to be neutral. Just doesn't always .... work

[Spud1]

I'll be sad to see him go - he was entertaining to watch and he at least appeared to be doing a good job in the main...

He was (is) clearly biased towards remain and as has been said, admitted so many many times. I don't think I can point to any action he has taken in his role where he's actually implemented such bias, with most actions that *could* be attributed to that more being to preserve neutrality and prevent certain individuals from going too far...but it is a very fine line and i'd be hard pushed to say he's the best person for the job at the moment.

Problem is, who can replace him? difficult post to fill at the moment and incredibly difficult to separate feelings on Brexit and the current governments incredibly dodgy & at the very least anti democratic approach. I can't even do so writing this post where I tried to be as impartial as I could

[peterb]

Problem is, who can replace him? difficult post to fill at the moment and incredibly difficult to separate feelings on Brexit and the current governments incredibly dodgy & at the very least anti democratic approach. I can't even do so writing this post where I tried to be as impartial as I could

I’ve seen Harriet Harman’s name floated (the post typically alternates between the two main parties). She would probably be OK - she has lots of parliamentary experience and while I don’t particularly like her, she would probably do a good job.

As for Bercow, I won’t be particularly sorry to see him go, he is not there to be entertaining or to be ‘the news’ or to be controversial, just to work in background unobtrusively.

[atemporal]

Problem is, who can replace him? difficult post to fill at the moment ...

I'll do it. I'd have a countdown clock and a BS detector air horn. for repeat offenders ignoring that I'd use a mallet and they'd get a wackaday plaster over the mouth. Push it too far and the mallet changes from a pink fluffy one to a real wooden one

Seriously it's not hard to get schoolchildren to behave. It just takes authority and a rigorous approach.

[Corky34]

And being able to shout "Order" in an entertaining manner.

[[GSV]Trig]

I can shout really loud effortlessly and love playing devils advocate, maybe I should apply...