Will Bercow Lord it? Watch this space . . .

Early in John Bercow’s term of office as speaker, there was an almighty row over the fact that he saw fit to lavish £37,000 of taxpayers’ money on a life-size official portrait of himself (which, admittedly, meant it wasn’t all that big).

many felt the sum to be grostesquely excessive in an era of public-sector austerity.

last week, at a reception in speaker’s House hosted by Bercow’s successor sir lindsay Hoyle, I noticed that this imposing artwork has a large space at the bottom of the frame.

this, I was told, awaits Bercow’s title and coat of arms which would be forthcoming when, as is customary for ex-speakers, he slips into an ermine gown and Fag enters the House of lords. yet the highly controversial Bercow is reeling from allegations of vicious, foot-stamping bullying made by former Black rod David leakey and others, including ex-Commons Clerk lord lisvane.

a senior Commons official tells me: ‘His chances of a peerage are now zero.’

If we are never treated to the sight ( and sound) of ‘ Baron Bercow’, then the portrait will remain a lasting monument to the fact that he is the first speaker in centuries not to have joined the lords.

Well, he always liked to break with Parliamentary convention. NB: Bercow’s ‘auto-hagiography’, Unspeakable, in which he boasts about his appallingly undemocratic behaviour in attempting to sabotage Brexit, went on sale only last thursday. yet amazon and WHsmith are already selling the £ 20 tome at a heavily discounted £13.60.