John Bercow picks his favourite parliamentarian of all time: himself

John Bercow addressed a packed crowd at the Edinburgh festival yesterday. He was gently quizzed by Susan Morrison who hailed him as ‘a grown-up in charge of the nursery’ at Parliament. She asked why he decided to swap the Speaker’s ‘full wig, stockings and buckled shoes’ for a business suit and a plain academic gown. ‘Out of date and passe’, said Bercow. He claimed that ‘young people’ had expressed keen support for his ‘approachable’ new costume.

The togs may be modern but Bercow’s language belongs to the 18th century. ‘Nay’ is a favourite. ‘The Speaker is asked, nay, instructed to assume the chair.’ He calls debates ‘contestations’. He talks of rumours ‘being bruited.’ He criticised the reluctance of MPs to alter conventions by saying, ‘if t’were ever thus, manifestly nothing would change.’

His Speakership spans the tenure of four prime ministers. Did he have any tittle-tattle to share? He didn’t mention Boris.