Bercow must feel the heat over Clarke curry

W

E ARE sure that there is not a special place in Hell for Brexiteers, as European Council President Donald Tusk suggested last week, but the curries in Kennington are almost certainly hotter.

And it may well be that John Bercow was just having a quiet meal and a beer with an old friend when he met up with veteran

Tory MP Ken Clarke last week in the Kennington Tandoori.

The trouble for the Speaker, though, is that the reports of his conversation on Brexit play in to a narrative that he has taken a side on quitting Europe, which goes against the important traditions of his role.

After all, this is the man who told students he voted Remain, has anti-Brexit stickers on the family car and, crucially, has intervened twice in Parliament to break precedent to help out Remainers in their efforts to stop Brexit.

The question the Speaker apparently asked – “Where do we go from here?” – gives the strong impression of a man trying to find a way to help the House’s Remainers.

It is not only essential for the Speaker to be neutral but also for MPs to have confidence that he is neutral.

This latest speculation only serves to underline that he has lost the confidence of many MPs.

As a result, Bercow needs to resign and should be replaced by somebody who is trusted by both sides in the Brexit debate and all the political parties.