I have a confession....this does not come easily but I will miss John Bercow when he is no longer the Speaker. His hoarse shouts of "Order" delighted rather than horrified me. He is a one off, a Tory who stayed firmly out of policy making. He has suffered several severe blows in the shape of people who have maintained that he has treated them badly or rudely...
I realise that I don’t know enough about him to be really objective but somehow whenever I hear his less than dulcet tones I grin happily. He is a character in a job which demands that his own views should not be on view.
His speech of retirement yesterday was very sweet....and I believe sincere...
Speakers should be apolitical. Betty Boothroyd was splendid....I liked her too...but she had very decided views in conversations outside the house. As I expect John Bercow has too. They were members of Parliament first for political reasons....of course they have views...Betty Boothroyd was much loved up in the north....she spoke our language!
I always like people who are individuals and don’t toe a party line too obviously. But Bercows time in the parliamentary chair has been tainted by Brexit...an issue that crosses party lines... what Betty Boothroyd would have done with Brexit we shall never know but Bercows attempts to steer a course through have been memorable.
Who ever gets the job in the future they have to cope with the legacy of previous speakers . I shall watch this space with great interest...it’s not an easy job, it requires firmness with some humour. No one immediately springs to mind as the perfect replacement. But we shall see!
Something to look forward to in this period of post Brexit balminess!
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I believe that Mr Becow has done a reasonable job in a bad situation in the past three years. Blighted by his admitted Remain status. How could he be objective when he see's a wrecking ball being applied to his beloved status?
And the evidence of him bullying his staff is well documented although he has denied all allegations, and parliament has chosen not to investigate.
He also has a colourful spouse, who got into hot water in the media a few years ago for her supposed "Free Love" spoutings.
I believe that he was popular with some, and decidedly unpopular with the Tories, who regarded him as a turncoat as he refused to toe their line.
He has had several challenges to his role, but was able to overcome them through sheer bluster and possibly fake news.
I am not sorry to see him go, and perhaps I could say that about many of those in Parliament who have disrupted and divided the country through their antics.
We will have to wait and see what comes next and 12 Dec is crunch day. I was disturbed that Nigel Farage invited President Trump onto his radio show yesterday, giving him the opportunity to slag off our democracy, while possibly looking over his shoulder at the Impeachment which is gathering steam at home. His attempt to have a second term in office might be damaged by it, but he is so thick skinned, he continues to bluster.
He is the most dangerous man in the world today.
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