James Duddridge is not wrong. The Tory MP for Rochford and Southend East, who has put down a ‘no confidence’ motion in Mr Speaker Bercow, says John Bercow has abused ‘his employment contract’ by his openly political remarks. The last straw was telling students at the University of Reading that he voted Remain in last year’s European referendum. Duddridge is a fiercely outspoken Leaver, but his complaint is that the Speaker should not have revealed any preference at all. Few should contest this.
Anger over the Reading revelation builds on a history of complaint: the most recent example is still fresh. It was wrong to create the news story that as Speaker he would block an invitation to Donald Trump to address both Houses in Westminster Hall during a presidential visit that (I’d take a small bet) may not even happen. Such an invitation had never been extended and could have been privately blocked by the Commons Speaker if mooted with him. Bercow was just grandstanding.
It’s Matthew Parris vs James Forsyth on the future of John Bercow:
But then Bercow is Bercow. He isn’t the first and won’t be the last Speaker to grandstand, and his role should not prohibit a bit of grandstanding: Bercow’s weaknesses must be taken alongside his strengths. Of these, more in a moment; but first I’d better be plain. Mr Speaker Bercow’s last two public gestures have been well out of order and he should soon call it a day. Whether or not (as some Tories feel) he has favoured Labour from the Chair in his Commons judgements, speaking in public from the left does invite suspicion.
Mr Duddridge’s motion, however, would probably have the unintended effect of guaranteeing Bercow’s tenure, but in an atmosphere of partisan ill-will.
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