Well that is a complete shock, not. It is clear from John Bercow’s behaviour that he has been buttering up the Labour party for the requisite support for his Speakership bid. Now there is an article in the Mail on Sunday that suggests that Bercow is Brown’s choice for Speaker. It doesn’t surprise me, especially when you read sentences like
Labour sources have told The Mail on Sunday that Mr Brown believes Mr Bercow would be a good Speaker – and, crucially, would cause major problems for Mr Cameron if he wins the next Election.
The reason that Brown wants Bercow isn’t because he would be a decent Speaker, he might be but then again I suspect not. The only rationale that works for Gordon Brown is his obsession with shafting the Conservative Party. It is a despicable tendency, it is utterly unbecoming of a Prime Minister who shouldn’t be engaging so obviously in such squalid partisanry. Personally I think it lends weight to my suggestion that the Speaker should command more than simple majority support and should have the support of two thirds of the House of Commons. There is no way that Bercow would garner that level of support because he is utterly distrusted by the Conservative side with which he sits. I know that this news probably increases Bercow’s chances because Labour if they vote en bloc can deliver the Speakership, but they should have learnt from the Martin disaster that electing a Speaker for partisan reasons is a very bad idea whichever party that Speaker comes from. I know though that ToryBear will not like this news, he has come out strongly against Bercow. See here and here.
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I believe it would be a disaster for Parliament and democracy if my constituent MP, John Bercow was to become Speaker of the House of Commons. it seems the only reason New Labour are supporting him is that they know he is disliked by so many Tory MPs. Gordon Brown supporting Mr Bercow would be an act of childish spite against David Cameron as he knows the Conservatives will win the next election. It would be Brown’s last deliberate divisive act and prove all the negative things that have been said about him.
The Speaker of the House should be someone who has universal support in Parliament; who commands respect from MPs from all parties and someone who’s expense claim record is above criticism if they are to have the credibility to sort out the expense scandal.
John Bercow has changed from being a right wing conservative to a ‘trendy new labour liberal’ It seems he is not a man of conviction but someone who can change his politics and his core beliefs like most people change their underwear. ‘Ambitious opportunist’, springs to mind. He should do the honourable thing and resign his safe Conservative seat and hope that New Labour offer him a safe Labour seat. It might not be in leafy Buckinghamshire though, it might be in a poor inner city area up north somewhere. I am sure he will be able to buy a second or third home there, at a very reasonable price and not need to claim the maximum on his second home expense allowance every year.
Unfortunately, I don’t think he has the courage or integrity to cross the floor of the House into the open arms of Gordon Brown. I think he will hold on to his Buckinghamshire seat at all costs and continue to do as he pleases; as he believes he is invincible. I believe his own local Conservative party officials and members haven’t got the stomach to deselect him. Therefore, I hope an Independent real conservative will stand against him at the next General Election.
The only MPs who should be considered for the Speaker vacancy, should be those who can demonstrate an absolutely clean record on their expense claims over the years they have been an MP. The new Speaker must have the utmost integrity and command the full respect from all fellow MPs in the House whatever their politics. They should also be a person of humility, calm, not self seeking, nor ambitious for personal power and gain and who won’t have biased or unbalanced views, when topics are debated, they must be completely even handed. The MP who springs to mind who meets all of these qualities is Iain Duncan Smith who has claimed next to nothing in the last four years for second home or hotel expenses. He has the utmost integrity and of excellent good character and who is respected by all.
His detailed report on ‘Breakdown Britain’ proved the excellent work he is capable of and that he sincerely has the welfare of the nation at heart. He is in politics for what he can give not what he can take. (unlike so many others in the present Parliament who seem to be out from what they can get).
He is a man of humility with a clear speaking voice and also a good listener. He is the one who should be encouraged to stand and given full support across party lines from the whole House. He is the man to sort out this terrible mess and restore the publics confidence in Parliament and in the important office of Speaker of the House.
He even showed great composure and dignity when he was forced to stand down as opposition leader, despite the fact he was stabbed in the back by people, in his own party,( it is not difficult to guess who the main culprit was) who showed themselves to have no loyalty and no decency in the way they publicly undermined a very decent person. A lesser person would of crumbled and later been full of vengeful bitterness. But not IDS he just carried on in his calm dignified way even though he must of been hurting inside. In my book he is an honest professional. He is a man of true honour; a very rare find indeed these days.
I think that IDS is a valuable voice in the political debate. I’m not sure how him becoming Speaker would be a good idea, I think it would limit him. He is a powerful voice for social justice and becoming Speaker would mute him.
Apart from Anne Widdicombe and Frank Field I percieve IDS to be the most honest MP in the house. I agee he has done much good with his voice for social justice and highlighted the real problems of todays ‘Breakdown Britain. However perhaps there is a even higher calling that he needs to move on now to save the future integrity of Parliament.
Also as John Bercow so desperately wants the job, it would prove their is justice in life after all, if the person he was so disloyal to when he was leader of the party, got the Speakers job a head of him. That really would make me smile.