John Bercow has grabbed the headlines this morning with his pronouncement on Donald Trump’s state visit. But was he right to voice his opinions about the President? No, says the Daily Telegraph which claims that Bercow was only speaking for one person when he said Trump would not be welcome addressing MPs in Westminster Hall: himself. Instead, Bercow would do well to delve into the history books and remember the actions of speaker William Lenthall who faced down Charles I with the words:
‘I have neither eyes to see nor tongue to speak in this place but as the House is pleased to direct me.’
Yet instead of listening to his predecessor’s words of wisdom, Bercow has chosen to voice a ‘near hysterical rant’. In doing so, he has ‘greatly exceeded his authority,’ the Telegraph says. The paper goes on to accuse the Speaker of engaging in ‘adolescent gesture politics’ and also says Bercow ‘overreaches’ himself with the apparent thought that he represents not only the Commons but also the Lords too.
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