Bercow could stay until 2022

DEFIANT John Bercow is threatening to ditch plans to stand down as Commons Speaker after being warned Tories could block his peerage over Brexit ‘bias’.

He has previously signalled he would step aside in the summer. But he is now ‘seriously reflecting’ on whether to stay on – possibly for another three years.

Government sources said last week he could become the first Speaker in 230 years to not automatically be offered a seat in the Lords after he was accused of helping secure a major defeat for Theresa May over Brexit.

He tore up centuries- old Parliamentary procedures and overruled his officials to permit a vote designed to tie her hands, prompting a near-revolt by Tory MPs. It plunged relations with him into the deep freeze.

One source told The Observer that if the Government was seeking to ‘punish’ the Speaker, who is supposed to be neutral, he could remain in his position until the end of this Parliament – scheduled for 2022.

Friends of Mr Bercow said he was unhappy at apparent attempts to bully him. A senior MP said: ‘The Speaker will play a critical role in the coming days, selecting amendments and determining Parliamentary business. If ministers thought it was a good idea to put his back up, they may regret it.’

He has faced accusations of conspiring with Labour MPs and Remain-supporting Tories to thwart Brexit.

Last week, a Cabinet source said: ‘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.’