The Speaker who can’t stay away from controversy
JOHN BERCOW has proved to be one of the most divisive Speakers in the history of Parliament.
Even before his appointment in 2009 he was embroiled in the MPS’ expenses scandal after he “flipped” the designation of his main and second homes, meaning he paid no capital gains tax on the sale of two properties.
While he insisted he had done nothing wrong, he “voluntarily” decided to pay £6,500 in tax on the profit from the sale of one of the two houses to HMRC.
The criticism continued shortly after his appointment, when it emerged that the refurbishment of the Speaker’s residence had cost taxpayers £45,000. He also spent £367 of taxpayers’ money on a car to Luton to deliver a speech on how MPS were restoring their reputation after the expenses scandal.
A car to Baroness Thatcher’s funeral at St Paul’s Cathedral, 1.8 miles from the Commons, cost £154, while a 0.7 mile car journey from the Commons to Carlton House Terrace cost £172.
He has also been accused of “jet-setting”. In 2013 he ran up a £100,000 bill travelling to 20 countries to make speeches and address foreign parliaments. The most expensive flights included £11,253 for Mr Bercow and two aides to fly business class to Ottawa in Canada. In 2016 he spent £20,000 attending a conference in Japan, just a year after he made another £10,000 visit to the country.
In 2014 he was accused of driving Sir Robert Rogers, the former clerk of the House, to retire early amid reports that he told him to “f--- off ” during a row. Mr Bercow strongly denied the claims.
His role as Speaker came under further scrutiny when he openly accused Donald Trump of being “sexist” in the Commons and subsequently barred the US president from addressing the Commons.
His personal life also made tabloid headlines after his wife Sally posed for a 2011 photo shoot in Speaker’s House draped in a sheet, and subsequently appeared on Celebrity Big Brother.