Speaker ‘using Brexit to boost Brand Bercow before he quits’

THE Speaker of the Commons has been accused of ‘shameless’ grandstanding to promote ‘Brand Bercow’ ahead of his expected resignation this year.

John Bercow grabbed international headlines last week by invoking a 400-yearold Commons rule and blocking Theresa May’s bid to bring her Withdrawal Agreement back for a further vote.

But the move – and the 56-year-old’s soaring public profile – come amid mounting suggestions that he will give up his £150,000plus job within months after ten years to take up well-paid public appearances and after-dinner speaking engagements. Commons sources say Bercow, who originally signalled he would retire in 2018, will go a few weeks after Easter.

One said: ‘MPs are saying openly that he’ll be gone within three months.

‘The more outlandish his behaviour gets, the nearer he’s getting to the exit.’

And last night, Tory MP David Morris said: ‘The Speaker is shamelessly using the Brexit crisis as a launchpad for his future “Brand Bercow” career as a celebrity speaker and afterdinner entertainer. His attention-grabbing antics, culminating in his decision to block the Prime Minister from having a third vote on her deal, are all proof of that.

‘What our divided House of Commons desperately needs is a scrupulously impartial chairman. Instead, we have a partisan, openly Remain supporting Speaker who wants to go out in a blaze of glory by doing his best to thwart the referendum. It is an absolute disgrace.’

The Speaker’s spokesman declined to comment on his future plans. And friends of Bercow hit back last night, claiming it was ridiculous to accuse him of any other motives apart from standing up for Parliament.