Speaker’s job hangs in balance

Many are prepared to back a motion to oust Bercow over his criticism of Trump

John Bercow is facing a fight to remain Speaker of the House of Commons after it emerged that up to 150 Tory MPs are prepared to back a motion to oust him over his criticism of Donald Trump.

James Duddridge, a Conservative MP and former foreign minister, tabled a motion of no confidence in Bercow on Thursday after the Speaker said he wanted to bar the US president from addressing Parliament.

Bercow was accused of damaging the special relationship after he said on Monday that he would stop Trump from speaking in Westminster Hall because of his “racism and sexism”.

Conservative MPs opposed to Bercow want a “fresh speaker” and believe that if 10 per cent of MPs say he should go his position will be “untenable”. Duddridge said: “He has got to go. He can no longer reasonably chair as Speaker, this is the straw that broke the camel’s back. He was not within his remit, he was using a minor technicality. Any MP can invite anyone into the House of Commons.”

The motion is unlikely to secure a majority. Labour yesterday issued a staunch defence of Bercow while some of his most ardent critics on Conservative benches have voiced their support. The result of the vote is not binding but if enough MPs call on Bercow to quit he could be forced into standing down.

Bercow prompted a furious response from ministers on Monday when he told MPs: “We value our relationship with the United States. However, as far as this place is concerned I feel very strongly that our opposition to racism and to sexism and our support for equality before the law and an independent judiciary are hugely important considerations in the House of Commons.”