It’s a case of ardour trumping order as tributes go unchecked

Even John Bercow’s fiercest critic would have to say this for him: he was a tireless champion of back-bench MPS. In his decade as Speaker, he always took great pains to ensure that the voice of every MP was heard. And never more so than yesterday, when he permitted MPS to spend no less than two hours and 50 minutes of parliamentary time paying tribute to him.

It wasn’t the first time Mr Bercow had indulged MPS in this manner, either. Last month, when he announced his intention to retire, he allowed them to spend 85 minutes paying tribute to him.

This week’s PMQS, meanwhile, featured so many tributes to him that it became the longest PMQS ever, at 71 minutes – beating the previous record by a quarter of an hour.

None the less, it seemed there were still many MPS who hadn’t had the opportunity to pay tribute to him, and so yesterday, his final day in office, time was thoughtfully set aside to accommodate them.

Mr Bercow has often been accused of unnecessarily interrupting debates, but on this occasion, he scarcely spoke at all, except to thank each admirer, and call the name of the next.

“Thank you for being such a good human being,” said Ann Clwyd (Lab, Cynon Valley). “You have touched the lives of hundreds of thousands,” said Seema Malhotra (Lab, Feltham &

‘You’re in the prime of life, and I can see you making a contribution greater even than the one you have made up to now’

Heston). “You’re in the prime of life, and I can see you making a contribution greater even than the one you have made up to now,” said Barry Sheerman (Lab, Huddersfield).

Richard Harrington (Con, Watford) revealed that his mother keeps “a large photograph” of Mr Bercow on her mantelpiece, and “continually” asks her son: “Why can’t you be like John Bercow?”

As the praise cascaded on, Mr Bercow would either give a bashful little smile, or modestly shake his head. “Oh do stop,” his face seemed to say. “Please! You’re making me blush!”

Somehow, though, he found the strength to put up with it.

“I am conscious that these exchanges have become very lengthy, and there is other business with which the House has to deal,” he suggested, shortly before the first hour had elapsed. Graciously, however, he let them continue.

In the end, MPS spent nearly as long praising Mr Bercow as they’d spent discussing the Grenfell Inquiry the day before.

Several Labour MPS called on Jacob Rees-mogg to explain why Mr Bercow hadn’t received a peerage. Sadly, however, we didn’t find out. With an air of deep regret, Mr Rees-mogg replied that as he’d already delivered a lengthy tribute of his own to Mr Bercow, it would be “tiresome” of him to take up any more of the House’s time, when there were still many others who wished to speak.

When the end finally came, Mr Bercow thanked them all, and murmured that to hear everyone say such nice things had been “quite embarrassing”.

If so, he endured the embarrassment with extraordinary patience.