Bercow farewell
sir – Mr Speaker Bercow has done more than anyone to undermine and diminish parliamentary debate by his aggressive, at times offensive, manner towards both ministers and members of the House of Commons. This lack of respect for honourable members and a fondness for the sound of his own voice have helped to bring Parliament into disrepute.
Although I do not share his politics, I believe that Lindsay Hoyle, the Deputy Speaker, has what it takes to command the respect of the House. Hopefully we will see a return to reasonable debate, and the current bear-pit politics of our legislators will come to an end. Roger Howard
Bishop’s Waltham, Hampshire
sir – The flouting of the Speaker’s role as an unbiased referee, replaced with the arrogance, unconstitutional behaviour, manipulations and general rudeness of John Bercow, has surely been detrimental to the democratic process. Elizabeth Marshall
Edinburgh
sir – May we please have a proper Speaker now?
Someone who is prepared to wear wig and robes, and restore some dignity to the office and to Parliament. Leonard Allen
Downham Market, Norfolk
sir – Mr Bercow’s departure by October 31 is great news.
Things finally seem to be coming good in our democracy: a general election is just a matter of time, the Conservative Party is at last being truthful and united by exposing the treacherous MPS in its midst (the 21 who have been sacked from the party), and we have a tough-minded Prime Minister who is obeying the public’s desire to leave the European Union by 2020. I look forward to the year ahead. Rev Richard Fothergill
Windermere, Cumbria
sir – Rejoice! Rejoice! Geoff Smith Gretna, Dumfriesshire
sir – After listening to numerous points of order praising the Speaker following his announcement that he will be standing down, I was beginning to think that I had misjudged Mr Bercow, until he shouted at an unnamed MP: “I am not remotely interested in your pettifogging objection.”
He may have done much to modernise Parliament, but that cannot hide the fact that he is a hypocritical bully who has failed to maintain the impartiality his position demands. Brian Armstrong
North Shields