John Bercow’s job is being saved by Brexit. Not just because the Brexit drama means that Dame Laura Cox QC’s damning report into the bullying and harassment of parliamentary staff is receiving less attention than it otherwise would, but also because many MPs are prepared to forgive Bercow’s failings because they think he is the Speaker who’ll give them the biggest chance to influence things if the government and the EU fail to reach a deal.
The majority of MPs are opposed to no-deal. I suspect that even if the EU refused to budge an inch from its current unreasonable position, there would still be a Commons majority against it. But with parliament having voted to invoke Article 50, no-deal is the default scenario. To those who want to halt no-deal, the Speaker is key to their plans.
Bercow has, for all his flaws, been a champion of the chamber and of backbench opinion. Senior MPs believe that in the event of no-deal, he would allow a series of backbench motions to be voted on, that would show what the House wanted. These motions would not be legally binding, they could not compel the government to act: but they would have huge moral force in those circumstances. They would also tell the EU what kind of deal parliament would accept.
Now, what Bercow would do in the event of no-deal shouldn’t be a reason to overlook what the Cox report says about the current leadership of the House being unable to deliver the culture change that is needed. But, sadly, it will be enough for MPs to ensure that Bercow carries on in the chair.
Comments