Tory plot to stop ‘ biased’ Bercow getting a peerage
THE Conservatives are considering blocking a peerage for Speaker John Bercow in retaliation for his ‘ bias’ during Brexit debates.
He would become the first Speaker in 230 years not to be offered a seat in the Lords automatically after accusations by ministers that he favours Labour.
Downing Street would normally approve the honour out of convention but relations between Mr Bercow and the Government have plunged into the deep freeze.
In an unprecedented move, Tory chiefs have also openly looked into the possibility of replacing him in his Buckingham seat.
In scenes not witnessed in modern times, Mr Bercow has been accused to his face by Tory MPs of helping Labour.
He has also faced claims of conspiring with Opposition MPs to thwart Brexit under the appearance of giving backbenchers more rights to challenge ministers.
Last week Mr Bercow – Speaker since 2009 – was accused of helping to secure a major Government defeat in the Commons over leaving the EU. He tore up centuries- old parliamentary procedures and overruled his own officials to permit a vote designed to tie Downing Street’s hands, prompting a near-revolt by Tory MPs.
One senior Conservative told The Times: ‘Precedents of Speakers getting peerages don’t last for ever either.’
A Cabinet source told the paper: ‘It’s a good job that peerage nominations are in our gift – I’m sure we’ll be thinking carefully about which individuals we would choose to elevate to the House of Lords. I can’t imagine we would look favourably on those who’ve cheated centuries of procedure.’
Speakers usually retire as an MP at the same time as they step down, triggering a by-election in their constituency.
Mr Bercow had vowed to give up the role last year. But he has continued – to the fury of his Tory critics. He has also previously admitted to voting remain in the 2016 referendum, and his wife’s car bears a ‘B****cks to Brexit’ sticker. The Speaker is supposed to be politically neutral.
It also emerged that his local Tory association has begun looking to replace him. The chairman of the group is meeting the party’s candidate selection head. However, Mr Bercow would have to be consulted first and come to a decision on his future.
This week it was revealed that the Prime Minister had delivered a withering outburst about him to allies. Theresa May dubbed Mr Bercow’s behaviour as ‘appalling’ and ‘a constitutional outrage’.
His time in the Commons chair has been rocked by claims that he has bullied former parliamentary staff, which Mr Bercow strongly denies.
Last year he admitted calling Commons Leader Andrea Leadsom a ‘stupid woman’ in a brutal off-microphone rant.
Commenting on the threat to the Speaker’s peerage, a Downing Street spokesman said: ‘I just don’t recognise that story.’ The Speaker’s Office declined to comment.