Bercow will do as he promised and quit, insists Tory grandee
ONE of the MPS who “dragged” John Bercow to the Speaker’s chair at the start of the past two parliaments says he will quit in six weeks’ time.
Sir Peter Bottomley, a veteran Conservative MP, said that he had “confidence” Mr Bercow will quit as planned on June 22.
He said that if Mr Bercow reneged on a pledge made in 2009 to serve for nine years as speaker, it would be a “challenge to the principles of public service”.
Sir Peter’s remarks are significant as they are the first time a Tory grandee has spoken out against the Speaker, who is mired in allegations of bullying.
Traditionally MPS drag the Speaker from the back benches to the Speaker’s chair at the start of each parliament.
“I have confidence that John Bercow will see that it is right for him to comply with what he declared absolutely on 22 June 2009 – without equivocation, qualification and more absolute than was necessary – that you do not do more than nine years,” he said.
A spokesman for the Speaker’s office said: “The Speaker’s views are on record. He has nothing further to add to what he said yesterday in the House and on previous occasions.”