John Bercow and the abandoning of the Speaker’s impartiality

According to John Bercow he has chosen to step down on 31 October because it would be the ‘least disruptive and most democratic course of action’ if he stayed on for the votes on the Queen’s speech expected in the last week of October. But there is a somewhat glaring reason for choosing the last day of October – it is a none-too-subtle hint that he sees it as his duty to frustrate Britain’s departure from the EU, which was due on that date but which, thanks to the law passed by Parliament today, now seems likely to be delayed again. Going for that date is Bercow’s way of saying ‘job done’.

Two years ago, following the 2017 general election, Bercow went back on his previous intention to step down some time in 2018. He had changed his mind, he said, and intended to serve for the entire Parliament, due to end in 2022.