Steerpike Steerpike

Comrade Bercow hails his new leader

It’s been a tough few days for Keir Starmer. Unloved by his party’s activists and outmaneuvered by his union barons, his conference season has had more rows than Hollyoaks. Still, the under-fire leader will no doubt be delighted to discover one Labour member is still happy to uncritically sing his praises – new recruit John Bercow, the former Commons speaker.

Last night Bercow took to the stage at an SMEs for Labour Q&A to an ecstatic welcome by fawning Remainers in the crowd. The onetime Monday Club member made sure to brush up on his verbal cues for the night, peppering his half-an-hour appearance with frequent references to his new found ‘comrades’ and declaring ‘I’m very proud belatedly to be a member of the Labour party’. 

He oozed praise for Keir Starmer too, lauding him as a ‘a good guy’ a ‘formidable prosecutor, a formidable advocate’ for his ‘great brain’ and for his ‘remorseless persistent, clinical approach’ compared to ‘this shower which frankly represents the worst government of my lifetime.’

Steerpike
Written by
Steerpike

Steerpike is The Spectator's gossip columnist, serving up the latest tittle tattle from Westminster and beyond. Email tips to steerpike@spectator.co.uk or message @MrSteerpike

Topics in this article

Comments

Join the debate for just $5 for 3 months

Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for $5.

Already a subscriber? Log in