Was Bercow out of order and should he be replaced?

[slipperman]

The Tories' knives have been out for little Johnny ever since Labour first voted him in to the job, just to spite them.

I wonder if there actually is a protocol for sacking a Mr Speaker - anyone know of a precedent?

He does appear to be Teflon coated. Didn’t Speaker Martin get pushed out early?

 

[Stonker]

I note he has Lt Col Nugee backing him to stay - so yes, Bercow is probably very worried!

Margaret Beckett (Lab) has just popped up saying he should hang on in there, mainly because it's a baaad time to be switching Speaker.

She's got a point, IMHO, given the state of both Government and Opposition in this crazy run up to Brexit.

 

[vvaannmmaann]

I wonder if there actually is a protocol for sacking a Mr Speaker - anyone know of a precedent?

Sadly not in living memory.
Sir John Trevor was speaker of the House from 1689 to 1695. Sir John was sacked for taking a bribe.
Then Michael Martin became the first Speaker for more 300 years to be forced from office, due to his mishandling of the MP's expenses fiasco.

 

[seaweed]

A peerage awaits. Often the reward for an indefensibly bad record. Lush expenses for life.

 

[vvaannmmaann]

Lush expenses for his wife.

Possibly.

 

[Gluteus Maximus]

Of course, when the little shit goes, he'll have a 100%, index linked pension for the rest of his miserable life - none of the scrabbling that retirement for most poor buggers.....

 

[slipperman]

Of course, when the little shit goes, he'll have a 100%, index linked pension for the rest of his miserable life - none of the scrabbling that retirement for most poor buggers.....

Unfortunately, yes.
I thought John Piennar was being a little mischievous this evening when he said Bercow had ‘reached the heights” in his career. I’m convinced it was a dig at the little squirts infamous lack of height!

 

[smallbrownprivates]

This From the NS is interesting; accepting the abuse of a few for the stability of the many during the Brexit Period
Thank God for Margaret Beckett: the last remaining honest Labour MP

Key points

Beckett’s remarks are worth quoting in full: “Yes, if it comes to it, the constitutional future of this country, the most difficult decision we’ve made for hundreds of years, yes, it trumps bad behaviour.”
...
There are three important things to note here: the first is that we should thank Beckett for having the honesty to say what many of her parliamentary colleagues (honourable exceptions include Ben Bradshaw and Emily Thornberry) have not.
.....
The second is that Beckett has a point. As grim as it is, the eventual shape of Brexit will have a significant and lasting impact on sixty million people, while leaving a culture of workplace bullying and sexual harassment in place at Westminster will have a significant and lasting impact on the lives of at best, a thousand people.
....
But the third important thing – and the problem with Beckett’s argument – is that the calculation isn’t correct. If there is a majority in Parliament to assert the rights of MPs and drastically alter the direction of the Brexit process, there is also a majority in Parliament to ensure that a new Speaker of the House will allow that majority to assert itself. It is just crazy to claim that there are MPs who are going to defy the government over Brexit who would first vote for a Speaker who would frustrate that aim.

 

[Grownup_Rafbrat]

Margaret Beckett (Lab) has just popped up saying he should hang on in there, mainly because it's a baaad time to be switching Speaker.

She's got a point, IMHO, given the state of both Government and Opposition in this crazy run up to Brexit.

Plenty of deputies.

 

[Grownup_Rafbrat]

Not mentioned on BBC news at 10 which is too busy slagging off Saudi Arabia.

 

[Stonker]

Not mentioned on BBC news at 10 which is too busy slagging off Saudi Arabia.

On the other hand, the BBC online have him saying he'll step down next summer.

Which will be great for his constituents - for the first time since he was appointed, they'll be able to exercise their democratic right to overwhelmingly vote him back into Parliament

 

[Grownup_Rafbrat]

Not mentioned on BBC news at 10 which is too busy slagging off Saudi Arabia.

Correction. Not in headlines but a small article late on.

 

[Stonker]

Correction. Not in headlines but a small article late on.

Entirely appropriate.

 

[bakerlite]

The argument coming out of Labour is that now is not the time to change horses. Begs the question, "Is the role of Mr Speaker critical to the exit of the United Kingdom from The European Union?"

A different question might be: "Could Mr Speaker make it harder for the government to implement the mandate of the electorate?"

 

[slipperman]

The argument coming out of Labour is that now is not the time to change horses. Begs the question, "Is the role of Mr Speaker critical to the exit of the United Kingdom from The European Union?"

A different question might be: "Could Mr Speaker make it harder for the government to implement the mandate of the electorate?"

The Speaker is meant to be impartial - Bercow is blatantly pro EU. Another reason why he should go. As for this being the time for stability and continuity - as others have said, there are a number of capable Deputy Speakers who could step up to the plate and do a better job. Lindsay Hoyle for one.