Top Tories ‘back bid to oust Speaker Bercow’
THE vast majority of Cabinet ministers would vote to unseat House of Commons Speaker John Bercow, an MP leading calls for his removal said yesterday.
Conservative James Duddridge said Mr Bercow must quit or face a no confidence vote in the chamber.
Doubts erupted over his ability to be politically impartial after he effectively blocked US President Donald Trump from addressing Parliament, branding him “racist and sexist”.
It later emerged that Mr Bercow also told students recently he voted Remain in last June’s referendum.
Mr Bercow was originally elected as a Conservative but all Speakers have to be strictly neutral from the moment they are chosen for the role by their fellow MPs.
Mr Duddridge has tabled a motion of no confidence which could be signed by dozens of MPs when the Commons returns next week from its half-term break.
He said he had been assured Parliamentary rules mean a vote has to take place unless Mr Bercow resolves the matter by quitting.
Downing Street said the decision was for the Commons to take and ministers could vote as they wish.
Former Foreign Office minister Mr Duddridge said he was responding to concerns of colleagues.
He said he had received support from ministers and from MPs across the House.
“I would expect a majority of Cabinet members to vote for the no confidence motion,” Mr Duddridge said.
“Indeed, I would be flabbergasted if you could find any member of the Cabinet expressing full-blown support for John Bercow.”
Earlier, Brexit backer Mr Duddridge told BBC Radio 4: “He’s used the Speaker’s chair to pontificate on international affairs.
“He can no longer be impartial, given he has expressed views so publicly.
“He should resign and, if he doesn’t, the vote of no confidence will go ahead.”
Mr Bercow said in 2009 he would serve nine years, making him due to quit in June 2018. But he is now thought to be determined to stay to the 2020 general election.
Ukip MP Douglas Carswell warned that toppling the Speaker could endanger Brexit by causing upheaval.
He said Mr Bercow was guilty of “absurd over-reach” and “student politics”.
But he added: “Parliament has some big Brexit battles ahead. We need to win them. The one thing we don’t need now is Commons chaos.”
Mr Bercow’s supporters say he “rigorously” ensures MPs on both sides of the EU debate and other arguments can raise their concerns.