Pipsqueak Bercow is an embarrassment

THIS time, he has gone too far. Out of respect for his office, this column has long observed restraint in its criticism of the Commons Speaker. But by insulting the newly elected President of the United States, John Bercow has made it impossible to maintain our silence.

Indeed, this egotistical publicity-seeker has broken the most sacred rule of his job – that he should be scrupulously neutral and at all times serve the House. In banning Donald Trump from addressing Parliament, without any authority from MPs or consultation with the Lords, the exhibitionist Mr Bercow has set himself up as the master of the Commons, not its servant.

Eaten up by self-regard – and a lust for headlines, shared with his wife Sally – he has single-handedly created an ugly diplomatic incident, which threatens to undermine the work of Prime Minister Theresa May in promoting Britain’s interests and bringing the maverick President into line.

Leave aside Mr Bercow’s hypocrisy in welcoming visitors from totalitarian North Korea and China, while snubbing the elected representative of our freedomloving ally, the US.

Forget his lavish expenses claims and persistent bias against the Conservatives, whose far-Right he supported before his conversion to political correctness.

It is time for the Speaker to accept that his love of the sound of his own voice is not shared by the House he purports to represent – or a public to whom he is, frankly, an embarrassment.

By jeopardising the Special Relationship in this way, this arrogant, self-promoting pipsqueak of a man has done a massive disservice to his office and his country.