John Bercow is his own worst enemy

John Bercow has done many good things as Speaker. But he’s in danger of being the second Speaker in a row to be turfed out. Why? Because he can’t let go of his dislike of the Tory hierarchy.

The Speaker needs to be above the hurly burly of politics. But Bercow’s increasingly confrontational and personal chairing is threatening his position, as I say in this week’s magazine. As even one of his defenders concedes, ‘You can’t be so dismissive of so many people so much of the time.’

I hope that Bercow can rein himself in. In many respects, he’s been a good thing. That the House of Commons chamber once more seems like the cockpit of the nation is largely down to him. But, above all, it would be a very bad thing for the House of Commons if two Speakers in a row were to be deposed. It would overly politicise the role.