John Bercow
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John Simon Bercow (/ˈbɜːrkoʊ/; born 19 January 1963) is a British former politician who served as Speaker of the House of Commons from 2009 to 2019, and the Member of Parliament (MP) for Buckingham between 1997 and 2019. A member of the Conservative Party prior to becoming speaker, he was the first MP since Selwyn Lloyd in 1971 to be elected speaker without having been a deputy speaker. After resigning as speaker in 2019 and opting not to seek re-election as an MP in the 2019 general election, Bercow left Parliament. In 2021, he joined the Labour Party but was suspended in 2022.

Key Information

Bercow was a councillor in the London Borough of Lambeth from 1986 to 1990 and unsuccessfully contested parliamentary seats in the 1987 and 1992 general elections, before being elected for Buckingham in 1997. Promoted to the Shadow cabinet in 2001, he held posts under Iain Duncan Smith and Michael Howard. In November 2002, Bercow resigned over a dispute concerning his support for the Adoption and Children Act 2002, but returned a year later, only to be dismissed from the Shadow cabinet in 2004. Having initially been strongly associated with the right-wing faction of his party, his views shifted; by 2007, there were rumours that he would defect to the Labour Party.[4]

On the resignation of Michael Martin in June 2009, Bercow stood successfully in the election to replace him as speaker. As speaker, he was obliged to leave the Conservative Party and remain as an independent for the duration of his tenure. He was re-elected unopposed at the commencements of the Parliaments in 2010, 2015 and 2017.[5] This made him the first speaker since the Second World War to have been elected four times, as well as the first since then to have served alongside four prime ministers.[6][7] In September 2019, Bercow declared that he would stand down as Commons speaker and MP on 31 October; he remained speaker until being appointed to the Manor of Northstead on 4 November 2019.[8]

In 2014, Bercow was appointed Chancellor of the University of Bedfordshire.[9] In July 2017, he was appointed Chancellor of the University of Essex,[10] stepping down from this role in November 2021.[1] In January 2020, he became part-time professor of politics at Royal Holloway, University of London.[11][12] He was suspended from the Labour Party in 2022 after 21 complaints of him bullying staff were upheld.[13][14] Since the death of Betty Boothroyd in 2023, he is the only living former Speaker of the House of Commons.

Early life and education

[edit]

On 19 January 1963,[15] John Bercow was born in Edgware, Middlesex,[16] the son of Brenda (née Bailey) and Charles Bercow, a taxi driver.[17] His father was born to a Jewish family and his mother converted to Judaism.[18][19][20] His paternal grandparents were Jews who arrived in Britain from Romania in the early 20th century.[21][22] Having settled in the UK, the family anglicised its surname from Berkowitz to Bercow.[23] Bercow attended Frith Manor Primary School in Woodside Park, and Finchley Manorhill, a large comprehensive school in North Finchley. In his youth, Bercow was a successful junior tennis player, but was too short to turn professional.[24][25] In 1975 he appeared on the UK children's television series Crackerjack!.[26]

Bercow graduated with a first-class honours degree in government from the University of Essex in 1985.[27] Anthony King, a professor at the university, has said about Bercow that "When he was a student here, he was very right-wing, pretty stroppy, and very good. He was an outstanding student."[27] As a young activist, Bercow was a member of the right-wing Conservative Monday Club. He stood as a candidate for the club's national executive in 1981 with a manifesto calling for a programme of "assisted repatriation" of immigrants, and became secretary of its immigration and repatriation committee.[28] At the age of 20 he left the club, citing the views of many of the club's members as his reason,[29] and has since then called his participation in the club "utter madness" and dismissed his views from that period as "bone headed".[28]

After graduating from the University of Essex, Bercow was elected as the last national chairman of the Federation of Conservative Students (FCS), 1986–87.[27] The FCS was then broken up by the chairman of the Conservative Party, Norman Tebbit, after one of its members had accused previous Tory PM Harold Macmillan of war crimes in extraditing Cossacks to the Soviet Union.[30] Bercow attracted the attention of the Conservative leadership, and in 1987 he was appointed by Tebbit as vice-chairman of the Conservative Collegiate Forum (the successor organisation of the FCS) to head the campaign for student support in the run-up to the 1987 general election.

After a spell in merchant banking, Bercow joined the lobbying firm Rowland Sallingbury Casey (part of Saatchi & Saatchi) in 1988, becoming a board director within five years. With fellow Conservative Julian Lewis, Bercow ran an advanced speaking and campaigning course for over 10 years, which trained over 600 Conservatives (including several current MPs) in campaigning and communication techniques. He has also lectured in the United States to students of the Leadership Institute.[31]

Political career

[edit]

Councillor

[edit]

In 1986, Bercow was elected as a Conservative councillor in the London Borough of Lambeth and served for four years representing the Streatham, St Leonard's ward. In 1987, he was appointed the youngest deputy group leader in the United Kingdom.[32]

Special adviser

[edit]

In 1995, Bercow was appointed as a special adviser to the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Jonathan Aitken. Following Aitken's resignation to fight a libel action, Bercow served as a special adviser to the Secretary of State for National Heritage, Virginia Bottomley.

Parliamentary career

[edit]
Bercow in Poland in 2010

Bercow was an unsuccessful Conservative candidate in the 1987 general election in Motherwell South, and again at the 1992 general election in Bristol South. In 1996 he paid £1,000 to charter a helicopter so that he could attend the selection meetings for two safe Conservative parliamentary seats on the same day – Buckingham and Surrey Heath – and was selected as the candidate for Buckingham. He has referred to the hiring of the helicopter as "the best £1,000 I have ever spent".[32]

Bercow was first elected to parliament in the 1997 general election as the MP for Buckingham with a majority of 12,386. He then increased his majority at the 2001 general election being elected by a margin of 13,325 votes. He was re-elected at the 2005 general election with an again increased majority of 18,129.

Bercow devoted a notable portion of his maiden speech to praising former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher whom he called "the world's greatest living statesman."[33] In 1999, the Almanac of British Politics described him as an "articulate, abrasive and waspish Commons performer" who Tony Blair had labelled as "nasty and ineffectual in equal quantity" for an attack he had made on Robin Cook.[34]

Bercow rose quickly through the opposition's junior offices. He was appointed a frontbench spokesman for Education and Employment in June 1999, and then a frontbench spokesman for Home Affairs in July 2000, before being brought into the shadow cabinet in 2001 by the Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith. He served as Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury from September 2001 to July 2002, and as Shadow Spokesperson for Work and Pensions from July to November 2002. During this first spell on the front benches, Bercow publicly said that he did not think he was ruthless enough to reach the top of politics.[35] In November 2002, when the Labour government introduced the Adoption and Children Act, which would allow unmarried gay and heterosexual couples to adopt children, Duncan Smith imposed a three-line whip requiring Conservative MPs to vote against the bill, rather than allowing a free vote. Arguing that it should be a free vote, Bercow defied the whips and voted with Labour, then resigned from the front bench.[36] As a backbencher he was openly critical of Duncan Smith's leadership.[citation needed]

In November 2003, the new Conservative leader Michael Howard appointed Bercow as Shadow Secretary of State for International Development. Bercow went on to clash with Howard over taxes, immigration and the invasion of Iraq,[37] and was sacked from the front bench in September 2004 after telling Howard that Ann Widdecombe was right to have said that there was "something of the night about him".[38] Bercow has a long-standing interest in Burma and frequently raised issues of democracy and genocide in the country.[citation needed] In 2006, he was a patron of the Tory Reform Group.[39] In 2001, he supported the ban on MPs becoming members of the Monday Club.[40]

Bercow was formerly the treasurer of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Tribal Peoples,[41] an APPG composed of over 30 cross-party MPs which aims to raise parliamentary and public awareness of tribal peoples.[42]

Bercow won the Stonewall award for Politician of the Year in 2010 for his work to support equality for lesbian, gay and bisexual people.[43][44] Stonewall gave him a score of 100% for always voting for its position on gay equality issues in parliament between 2007 and 2009.[45]

Opposition MP of the Year

[edit]

In 2005, Bercow won the Channel Four/Hansard Society Political Award for 'Opposition MP of the Year'. He said:

In addition to pursuing a wide variety of local issues, I have attempted to question, probe and scrutinise the Government in the House of Commons on important national and international topics which concern people. Over the last 12 months, I have constantly pressed the case for reform of world trade rules to give the poorest people on the planet a chance to sell their products and improve their quality of life. The plight of the people of Darfur, Western Sudan, has also been a regular theme. They have suffered too much for too long with too little done about the situation. I shall go on arguing for Britain to take the lead in the international community in seeking decisive action for peace and justice.[46][better source needed]

Rumours of defection

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Following the defection of Conservative MP Quentin Davies to the Labour Party in June 2007, there were persistent rumours that Bercow was likely to be the next Conservative MP to leave the party.[47]

Bercow did not at that time defect to Labour, but in September 2007, accepted an advisory post on Gordon Brown's government's review of support for children with speech, language and communication special needs. The Conservative Party chairman, Caroline Spelman, confirmed that this appointment was with the consent of the Conservative Party.[48] Bercow had a long-term interest in this topic, as his son Oliver has been diagnosed with autism.[49]

Bercow review

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In 2008, Bercow was asked by Labour cabinet members Ed Balls and Alan Johnson to produce a substantial review of children and families affected by speech, language and communication needs (SLCN). After the report, the government pledged £52 million to raise the profile of SLCN within the education field. The review looks at the extreme consequences to which communication problems can lead; from initial frustration at not being able to express oneself, to bullying or being bullied at school, fewer job prospects and even a descent into criminality.[50][51]

The interim report highlighted a number of core issues: that speech, language and communication are not only essential life skills but fundamental human rights; that early identification of problems and intervention is important to avoid social problems later on; and that the current system of treatment was patchy, i.e. there was a need for services to be continually provided for children and families from an early age.[52][53]

Role in expenses scandal

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Bercow in 2009

During the 2009 expenses scandal, it was revealed that Bercow changed the designation of his second home on more than one occasion – meaning that he avoided paying capital gains tax on the sale of two properties. He also claimed just under £1,000 to hire an accountant to fill in his tax returns. Bercow denied any wrongdoing, but agreed to pay £6,508 plus VAT to cover any tax that he may have had to pay to HM Revenue and Customs.[54]

It was revealed in 2014 that the House of Commons authorities had destroyed all evidence of MPs' expenses claims prior to 2010. Bercow faced accusations that he had presided over what had been dubbed a "fresh cover-up" of the expenses scandal.[55]

In July 2015, Bercow was again criticised for the amount of his expenses, including a claim of £172 for a 0.7-mile (1.1 km) chauffeur-driven journey. Andy Silvester, campaign director at the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: "This is an obscene waste of money and shows appalling judgment from whoever made the arrangements."[56]

Charitable work

[edit]

Bercow has supported a number of charities. He has been a patron of the ME Association,[57] Brain Tumour Research[58] and a patron of the Patchwork Foundation, which promotes the positive integration of disadvantaged and minority communities into British democracy and civil society and which was founded by Harris Bokhari.[59] He also spoke at a fundraising event for the mental health charity Jami.[60] In 2018, Bercow supported a fundraiser for Children in Need.[61]

Speaker of the House of Commons

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Election and first term

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Bercow presides over the House, 2012

Bercow had long campaigned quietly to become speaker[62] and was touted as a successor to Michael Martin. On 20 May 2009, he officially declared to stand in the speakership election, which had been triggered by Martin's resignation and launched his manifesto for the job.[63] In reference to his decision to stand, Bercow said: "I wanted it because I felt that there was a task to be undertaken and that's about strengthening backbench involvement and opportunity in parliament, and helping parliament get off its knees and recognise that it isn't just there as a rubber-stamping operation for the government of the day, and as necessary and appropriate to contradict and expose the government of the day."[64]

In the first round of the election on 22 June, Bercow received 179 votes – more than any other candidate, but short of the majority required for victory. In the third and final round of voting later that day, he defeated George Young by 322 votes to 271,[65] and was approved by the Queen at 10 pm that night as the 157th speaker. In accordance with convention, he rescinded his Conservative Party membership.[9][66] Bercow was elected by a large number of Labour votes, many MPs being driven by the perception that Michael Martin had been hounded out of the job and wanting his replacement to be someone who was not a Conservative Party favourite.[67][68]

Bercow was the first speaker to be Jewish,[69] the first one to have been elected by an exhaustive ballot, and the first not to wear traditional court robes while presiding over the House of Commons.[70] In accordance with tradition, Bercow displayed his coat of arms at Speaker's House.[71]

Speaker's residence refurbishment

[edit]

Within weeks of taking office as speaker, Bercow ordered a redecoration and refurbishment of the speaker's grace and favour apartment in the Palace of Westminster, partly with the objective of making it child-friendly; the work cost £20,659 and was paid for by Parliament. It followed extensive work on the apartment under the previous speaker.[72]

Youth Parliament

[edit]

In October 2009, Bercow chaired the United Kingdom Youth Parliament's first annual sitting in the House of Commons, making them the only group except members of parliament to sit in the chamber. He chaired every subsequent sitting and attended every annual conference until his resignation in 2019, addressing and supporting Members of Youth Parliament from across the UK.

2010 general election and second term

[edit]

The Speaker of the House of Commons is traditionally seen as outside party politics and is often not challenged by the main parties at general elections,[citation needed] including the 2010 general election. In September 2009, Nigel Farage resigned his leadership of the UK Independence Party (UKIP) to stand for Bercow's Buckingham seat, asserting, "This man represents all that is wrong with British politics today. He was embroiled in the expenses saga and he presides over a Parliament that virtually does nothing."[73][74] John Stevens, another candidate, found support for his campaign from the former Independent MP Martin Bell.[75] Bercow also faced opposition from the British National Party and the Christian Party.[76]

As Bercow lacked a party endorsement and therefore a campaign team, he sought to build one. A group of his supporters known as 'Friends of Speaker Bercow' solicited donations for the campaign, aiming to raise £40,000. When one of their letters was received by a member of UKIP, the recipient referred it to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, complaining that it appeared that Bercow's fundraising campaign was operating from the Speaker's Office, which is required to remain politically neutral.[77] The Commissioner declined to launch an investigation because of the lack of evidence.[78]

Speaker's Lectures

[edit]

To mark the centenary of the Parliament Act 1911, Bercow commissioned a series of lectures about the main political figures of the century. The Speaker's Lectures continue with a variety of topics such as historic parliamentarians and current affairs.

2015 general election and third term

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Bercow won the most votes in Buckingham. In his victory speech, he addressed the issue of the 1289 spoilt ballot papers that were counted in the constituency.[79]

On 26 March 2015, the House of Commons defeated a government motion (introduced by former Conservative party leader and then leader of the House of Commons William Hague) to require a secret ballot on whether Bercow would remain speaker after the 2015 general election. A number of MPs described it as an underhand plot to oust Bercow, largely based on the timing of the motion just before the dissolution of Parliament when some Labour MPs expected to oppose it had already returned to their constituencies.[80][81][82][83] In the event, Bercow was re-elected unopposed as Speaker following the general election.

In February 2017, Bercow said he had supported continued membership of the European Union in the 2016 referendum.[84]

On 6 February 2017, Bercow said in the house that he would be "strongly opposed" to US President Donald Trump addressing the Houses of Parliament during his planned state visit to the UK, and told MPs that "opposition to racism and sexism" were "hugely important considerations".[85] The comments proved controversial and made the headlines in many UK newspapers the following day,[86] with some such as Guardian columnist Owen Jones,[87] Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, Labour MP Dennis Skinner and Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron supporting this intervention.[88] His comments were criticised by some opponents of Trump, such as Conservative MP Nadhim Zahawi, for being hypocritical and undermining the speaker's neutrality,[89] and some in the government reportedly felt that Bercow had overstepped his role.[88] John Whittingdale, the Conservative MP for Maldon and a former Culture Secretary, dismissed Bercow's remarks as "playing to the gallery for as much publicity as possible",[90] and Bercow himself apologised to the Lord Speaker Lord Fowler over a lack of consultation over his remarks.[91]

2017 general election and fourth term

[edit]

Following the 2017 general election, Bercow was re-elected unopposed as speaker by members of parliament on 13 June 2017.[92]

Brexit

[edit]

In January 2019, Bercow broke with convention, allowing a vote on an amendment to a government business motion. The amendment, tabled by Dominic Grieve MP, required Prime Minister Theresa May to table a motion within three days on proposed alternative plans if her Brexit deal was rejected by Parliament.[93]

On 18 March 2019, Bercow, in a statement to the House, pre-empted a move by the Government to bring the UK/EU Withdrawal Agreement for a third vote. Citing a convention which dates back to 1604, Bercow stated that he would not allow a vote on a motion which was "substantially the same" as a previously rejected motion.[94]

During the Brexit debates throughout that year, his particular speaking style and calls for order received widespread attention in viral videos on social media outside the U.K.[95][96][97][98][99] "I apparently say it in a way that amuses some people. I suspect it's some interest in what is regarded as English eccentricity.," he told Der Spiegel in April 2019. "I inherited my speaking style from my late father. It obviously provokes comment. Some people say, "Oh, we like the way he speaks." And other people say, "That bloke's an irritating clot, he's horrible." Well, my argument is that I'm authentic. And I'm just being me. It's not a contrivance. It's not a put-on show. It's the way I am."[100] He told CBS' 60 Minutes in 2019 that "quite quickly my wife and kids drew my attention to the fact that they saw on the internet that there was a lot of interest in other countries."[101][102]

Retirement as speaker and career after parliament

[edit]
MPs applaud Bercow as he sets the date for his retirement

Having been in the role for 10 years, Bercow became the longest-serving speaker since Edward FitzRoy, who served nearly 15 years in post between 1928 and 1943.[103]

In October 2018, it was reported that Bercow intended to step down as speaker in the summer of 2019,[104] but in January 2019 it was reported that he planned to stay as speaker until the end of the parliament, in 2022.[105] On 9 September 2019, amid debates about Brexit and parliament being prorogued, Bercow declared to the House of Commons that he would stand down on 31 October, or at the next general election, whichever was sooner;[106] the former applied.

Despite the convention that former speakers of the House of Commons are elevated to membership of the House of Lords when they resign, prime minister Boris Johnson denied Bercow a peerage[107] because it was perceived that he had not maintained political neutrality in office and would not be politically neutral in the House of Lords as convention requires.[108] Sources in the Cabinet had suggested beforehand that this would be due to his rulings during the Parliamentary votes on Brexit,[109] which the Government saw as biased against them.[110] Bercow became the first ex-speaker since the retirement of Arthur Onslow in 1761 to have been eligible for, but not have been made the offer of, a peerage. Overall, he is the tenth speaker not to receive a peerage since the 1707 Act of Union, and the fifth since Onslow's retirement not to be immediately elevated to the House of Lords. (Charles Wolfran Cornwall died in office with no peerage offer to his surviving family, John Henry Whitley was offered but declined, and following the deaths of Edward FitzRoy and Sir Harry Hylton-Foster in office, their widows were ennobled instead.[111]) With no prospect of a government-sponsored peerage, Bercow lobbied the Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, in the hope that the opposition might give him preferment.[112] He was nominated for a peerage by Corbyn, but this was refused by Johnson.

In November 2019, Bercow retired from the Commons (using the Steward and Bailiff of the Manor of Northstead mechanism.)[113][114]

In the same month, Bercow stated that he "think[s] that Brexit is the biggest foreign policy mistake in the post-war period, and that is my honest view."[115] This led to further questions about Bercow's impartiality during the Brexit parliamentary debates.[116] He maintained that he was impartial during the debates, and only made his views clear after leaving office.[117]

He joined Sky News for its election night coverage of the 2019 general election on December 12, 2019.[118][119] Later that month, he delivered the Alternative Christmas message on Channel 4.[120]

His autobiography, Unspeakable, was published in 2020.[121] In his memoirs, he was highly critical of David Cameron, Theresa May, Boris Johnson and Andrea Leadsom. Bercow has since identified himself as a soft leftist and declared that he voted for Sadiq Khan to be Mayor of London. Bercow has also been very critical of the British government response to the COVID-19 pandemic since leaving Parliament.

On 19 June 2021, Bercow said that he had joined the Labour Party "a few weeks ago".[2] He said Boris Johnson's Conservative Party was "reactionary, populist, nationalistic and sometimes even xenophobic." He said his move to Labour was motivated by his "support for equality, social justice and internationalism. That is the Labour brand."[2]

While Bercow originally "proposed before he leaves office to waive his entitlement to the Speaker's pension until he reaches the age of 65", in 2021 he revealed he started taking the pension when he left the office, after speaking with his wife.[122]

Bercow has participated in a number of "celebrity" and reality TV shows in Britain and the US.[123][124][125]

In 2024, Bercow provided the voice of the Robot Speaker of the House of Commons in the Fallout mod Fallout: London.[126]

Bullying of office staff

[edit]

In May 2018, Bercow's former private secretary Angus Sinclair alleged on the BBC's Newsnight programme that Bercow had repeatedly bullied him while at work.[127] Sinclair said that he was told to sign a non-disclosure agreement when he left his post, to prevent him revealing Bercow's bullying. Bercow denied the claims.[128] Sinclair's allegations came not long after the BBC reported that his successor as Bercow's private secretary, Kate Emms, had been signed off work and then moved to another role. Unnamed colleagues of Emms had told the BBC's Newsnight programme that her sickness and change of role were because of bullying by Bercow.[129]

In October 2018, Bercow called for an independent body to be set up to investigate allegations of harassment and bullying in Parliament. He faced calls to quit after an independent report by Dame Laura Cox found that harassment and bullying had been tolerated and concealed for years, which Bercow denies.[130] On 23 October 2018, three Conservative MPs, Will Quince, Mims Davies and Anne Milton, resigned from the Commons Reference Group on Representation and Inclusion, which is chaired by Bercow, and cited Bercow's handling of bullying and sexual harassment allegations in Parliament as the reason for doing so.[131][132][133][134]

In January 2020, Lord Lisvane, who served as Clerk of the House of Commons under Bercow, submitted a formal complaint to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards.[135][136] In the same month Lisvane's complaint was followed up by a further accusation of bullying, made by the former Black Rod, Lieutenant-General David Leakey.[137]

In January 2022, the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, Kathryn Stone, upheld 21 allegations out of 35 brought by Lord Lisvane and private secretaries Kate Emms and Angus Sinclair against Bercow, who appealed to the Independent Expert Panel.[138]

In March 2022, the Independent Expert Panel upheld the findings of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, concluding that Bercow had "been widely unreliable and repeatedly dishonest in his evidence", a "serial liar" and a "serial bully".[139] Formally reprimanding Bercow, the Panel recommended that, as he was no longer a Member of Parliament and could not, therefore, be expelled from the House of Commons, "he should never be permitted a pass to the Parliamentary estate".[14] Bercow rejected the Panel's findings and declared the body⁠—which included a former Lord Justice of Appeal and a former Chief Coroner⁠—to be a "kangaroo court" lacking in legal expertise.[140][141] Lisvane dismissed Bercow's rejection as "hysterical petulance from someone caught bang to rights".[142] As a result, Bercow was suspended from the Labour Party,[14][143] and continues to remain suspended.[144]

Personal life

[edit]

Bercow married Sally Illman in 2002 after 13 years of an "on-off" relationship.[145] They have three children.[4] Their elder son, Oliver, is autistic.[146] Sally had an affair with Bercow's cousin in 2015 but she later returned to the marriage; Bercow said he bore some responsibility for the affair by not providing enough time for his wife.[147] His wife, who used to be a Conservative, switched to supporting the Labour Party, campaigning for both her husband individually and Labour in the wider election in 1997. Bercow and those close to him reject the view that she was especially influential in changing his political views.[4][148] Both he and his wife are teetotallers.[149]

Bercow is a humanist, and before taking the role of Speaker was a member of the All-Party Parliamentary Humanist Group.[150] When discussing the role of clergy in Parliament, he described himself in a Commons debate as "an irreligious person taking a secular interest in an important subject".[151]

Bercow has been a fan of Arsenal F.C. since January 1971 and is a season ticket holder. He always attends games with his son and has appeared on AFTV.[152] Bercow is also a lifelong follower of tennis, having played competitively against the likes of Andrew Castle and Jeremy Bates in his youth.[153] His book on the sport, Tennis Maestros: The Twenty Greatest Male Tennis Players of All Time, was published in 2014 by Biteback Publishing.[154][155]

Bercow and his wife are directors and shareholders of Fedhead Limited, an "information service company".[156][157]

Books

[edit]
  • Tennis Maestros: The Twenty Greatest Male Tennis Players of All Time. Biteback Publishing. 2 June 2014. ISBN 9781849547659.
  • Unspeakable: The Autobiography. W&N. 6 February 2020. ISBN 978-1474616621.

Arms

[edit]
Coat of arms of John Bercow
Notes
Granted in 2011
Crest
Upon a helm with a wreath Or Azure and Gules in front of a demi swan wings inverted and expanded Proper gorged with a coronet Or and holding in its beak a Pink triangle Proper a portcullis sans chains Or within an annulet per pale Gules and Azure all in front of a rainbow Proper.
Escutcheon
Per pale Azure and Gules four roundels in bend Or between the rungs of a ladder bendwise throughout Argent all between two seaxes bendwise points upwards and cutting edges outwards Or.
Motto
All Are Equal[158][159][160][161]
Badge
In front of a seaxe fesswise point to the sinister and cutting edge upwards Or a wyvern Azure legged and tailed Gules charged on the wings with bezants (four being manifest) grasping with its claws the quillons of the seaxe.

Honours

[edit]
Country Date Appointment Post-nominal letters
 United Kingdom 2009–present Member of His Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council[162] PC

Scholastic

[edit]
University degrees
Location Date School Degree
 England 1985 University of Essex First-class honours Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Government
Chancellor, visitor, governor, rector and fellowships
Location Date School Position
 England 2014–[when?] University of Bedfordshire Chancellor[163][164]
18 July 2017 – 12 November 2021 University of Essex Chancellor[165][166][1]
27 January 2017 – present University of Manchester Honorary Professor[167]
4 November 2019 – present Birkbeck, University of London Fellowship[168][169]
24 January 2020 – present Royal Holloway, University of London Professorship of Politics[170]
Honorary degrees
Location Date School Degree
 England 2010 University of Essex Doctor of the University (D.Univ)[171][172][173]
16 March 2013 University of Buckingham Doctor of Laws (LL.D)[174][175]
23 January 2014 De Montfort University Doctorate[176]
30 January 2014 City, University of London Doctor of Science (D.Sc.)[177]

Freedom of the City

[edit]
Location Date Award
 England 4 July 2016 Freedom of the City of London

(London)[178]

References

[edit]

Further reading

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

John Bercow

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
John Bercow is a British former politician who served as Speaker of the House of Commons from June 2009 to October 2019.[1][2]
Elected to Parliament in 1997 as the Conservative MP for Buckingham, he held the seat until resigning in 2019, transitioning to the speakership role which required renunciation of party affiliation.[2]
Bercow's decade as Speaker involved procedural innovations aimed at enhancing accessibility and scrutiny, including expanded opportunities for backbench MPs to challenge the executive.[3][4]
However, his tenure drew criticism for rulings that impeded government business, particularly during Brexit deliberations, where he blocked repeat votes on withdrawal agreements and permitted amendments frustrating executive control, prompting charges of anti-Brexit and pro-opposition partiality from Conservative lawmakers.[5][6][7]
Post-tenure, Bercow faced formal sanction in 2022 when a parliamentary independent expert panel upheld 21 complaints of bullying and harassment against staff, deeming him a serial offender unfit for Commons access privileges.[8][9]

Early life and education

Family background and upbringing

John Bercow was born on 19 January 1963 in Edgware, Middlesex, England, into a Jewish family of modest means.[10][11] His father, Charles Bercow, worked as a taxi driver, while his mother, Brenda (née Bailey), had converted to Judaism before their marriage; the family traced its paternal roots to Romanian-Jewish immigrants who arrived in London around 1900.[12][13] Raised as an only child in a working-class environment in suburban north London, Bercow later described his upbringing as instilling values of self-reliance and hard work, influenced by his father's honest labor in a competitive trade.[12][14] From an early age, Bercow displayed a strong interest in politics, aligning with conservative principles amid the socioeconomic context of 1970s Britain. As a teenager, he joined the Conservative Party and engaged in grassroots activism, drawn to its emphasis on individual responsibility and national sovereignty.[11] This period shaped his initial right-wing outlook, including skepticism toward unchecked immigration and deeper European integration, views he expressed through involvement in the Monday Club, a hardline Conservative pressure group.[15][11] He participated actively in the club's campaigns during his youth, serving on its immigration and repatriation subcommittee, which advocated for repatriation policies and stricter border controls reflective of the era's debates on multiculturalism and sovereignty.[11][13]

Academic achievements

Bercow attended Finchley Manorhill comprehensive school in North Finchley after completing primary education at Frith Manor School.[13][11] He subsequently enrolled at the University of Essex, where he obtained a first-class honours degree in Government in 1985, becoming the first in his immediate family to attend university.[13][16][17] At Essex, Bercow participated actively in student politics, serving as the final National Chairman of the Federation of Conservative Students, and engaged in debating through the student union, which developed his public speaking abilities essential for his later parliamentary career.[18][19] Following graduation, Bercow took an initial position at Hambros Bank in the financial sector, leveraging his governmental studies in a practical economic context prior to committing to political roles.[13][11][12]

Entry into politics

Local government involvement

John Bercow entered elected office as a Conservative councillor for the St Leonard's ward in the London Borough of Lambeth on 9 May 1986, following active involvement in the party's youth wing.[20] He held the seat until 4 May 1990, operating in opposition within a Labour-dominated authority known for left-leaning policies amid national debates over rate capping and council spending.[21] This period marked his initial grassroots engagement, where he advocated Conservative principles of fiscal restraint and local accountability during the Thatcher government's reforms targeting high-spending urban councils.[22] Bercow's tenure highlighted his organizational prowess in local campaigning, building on his prior role as chairman of the Federation of Conservative Students, though specific council committee assignments remain sparsely documented.[23] His efforts aligned with broader Conservative resistance to Labour borough excesses, such as excessive taxation and inefficient housing management, fostering skills in procedural opposition that later informed his parliamentary career.[21]

Special advisory roles

In the mid-1990s, following his tenure as a Lambeth councillor, John Bercow served as a special adviser to senior Conservative ministers, marking his transition into central government advisory work. In 1995, he was appointed special adviser to Jonathan Aitken, who held the position of Chief Secretary to the Treasury from July 1994 to December 1995.[24] In this capacity, Bercow supported efforts on public spending restraint and fiscal oversight, contributing to the Major government's economic policy implementation amid post-recession recovery challenges.[21] Bercow also acted as special adviser to Virginia Bottomley, a cabinet minister who served as Secretary of State for Health from 1989 to 1992 and for National Heritage from 1992 to 1995.[25] These advisory positions immersed him in departmental operations, policy formulation, and inter-ministerial coordination, offering practical insights into executive governance.[26] Through these roles, Bercow expanded his professional network among Conservative leadership, including access to party strategists and policymakers, which positioned him favorably for national candidacy. His advisory experience underscored a pragmatic engagement with government machinery, bridging grassroots activism to Westminster prospects ahead of the 1997 general election.[25]

Parliamentary career prior to Speakership

Election and early parliamentary roles

John Bercow was elected as the Conservative Member of Parliament (MP) for Buckingham on 1 May 1997, securing a majority of 7,245 votes over the Labour candidate in a constituency previously held by retiring Conservative George Walden.[2] He defended the seat in the subsequent general elections of 2001, 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2017, retaining it until standing down in 2019 ahead of the latter contest.[2] During his initial years in Parliament, Bercow aligned with right-wing Conservative positions, including staunch opposition to British adoption of the European single currency, which he criticized as part of a broader drift toward federalism that undermined national sovereignty.[11] [27] He supported retention of Section 28 of the Local Government Act 1988, voting against its repeal in 2000, and voiced criticisms of Labour's immigration policies as insufficiently controlled during his tenure as Shadow Spokesperson for Home Affairs from July 2000 to September 2001.[2] Bercow advanced to frontbench opposition roles under successive Conservative leaders. Appointed Shadow Minister for Education in June 1999 under William Hague, he shifted to Shadow Spokesperson for Home Affairs in July 2000 before becoming Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury in September 2001 under Iain Duncan Smith, a position he held until July 2002.[2] Under Michael Howard, he served as Shadow Secretary of State for International Development from November 2003 to September 2004.[2]

Evolution of political positions

Bercow entered Parliament in 1997 as a self-described right-wing Conservative, having been an active member of the Conservative Monday Club in his youth, which advocated for voluntary repatriation of immigrants and opposed multiculturalism. His early positions aligned with the party's hardline faction, emphasizing traditional values and strict immigration controls. However, by the early 2000s, Bercow began to diverge, publicly supporting reforms on social issues that drew criticism from party traditionalists.[11] A pivotal moment came in November 2002, when Bercow resigned as a shadow minister over his support for the Adoption and Children Act 2002, which permitted same-sex couples to adopt; this stance marked his growing advocacy for gay rights, contrasting his earlier conservative views.[15] He briefly returned to the shadow cabinet but was dismissed in 2004 amid ongoing tensions with the party's right wing, who accused him of betraying core principles. Bercow's evolving positions extended to immigration, shifting from early advocacy for repatriation toward acknowledging economic benefits, as evidenced by his later comments praising Eastern European migrants' work ethic over some native workers, though he maintained support for controls.[28] By 2007, Bercow's moderation fueled speculation of defection to the Liberal Democrats, reflecting internal Conservative Party fractures over modernization under David Cameron.[11] These rumors, denied by Bercow, underscored perceptions of his drift from Thatcherite orthodoxy to a more centrist, humanitarian conservatism, earning him labels like "Labour darling" from critics on the right while alienating traditionalists who viewed his changes as opportunistic.[29]

Involvement in the parliamentary expenses scandal

John Bercow, as Member of Parliament for Buckingham, designated a London flat as his second home and claimed £143,455 in Additional Costs Allowance (ACA) payments between 2001 and 2008 to cover mortgage interest, utilities, council tax, cleaning, and other maintenance costs associated with the property.[30] These claims included routine monthly expenses such as £50 for cleaning, £100 for utilities, £100 for council tax, and varying mortgage interest payments, contributing to a total exceeding £100,000 in mortgage interest and service charges over the period.[31][32] Bercow altered the designation of his second home—known as "flipping"—between his London flat and a property in his Buckingham constituency on multiple occasions, including around the sale of two London properties in 2004, which allowed him to avoid paying capital gains tax initially.[33] Following scrutiny during the 2009 expenses revelations, he repaid over £6,500 to HM Revenue and Customs for the unpaid capital gains tax on those sales.[32] Additionally, under Sir Thomas Legg's review of past ACA claims, Bercow was found to have overclaimed £978 in mortgage interest and repaid that amount, along with £1,471 for ineligible accounting services related to his tax return claimed under office expenses.[34][35][36] These disclosures drew criticism for Bercow's handling of the rules, particularly the flipping maneuvers, though he maintained compliance with guidelines at the time and emphasized transparency by forgoing further second home claims upon becoming Speaker.[37] Unlike some peers who expressed public remorse or faced larger repayment demands, Bercow's responses were seen by detractors as defensive, yet the scandal's timing positioned him as a reform-oriented candidate in the June 2009 Speaker election, where he pledged to restore public trust amid widespread outrage over parliamentary allowances.[38][39]

Other parliamentary contributions and reviews

In 2005, Bercow was awarded Opposition MP of the Year by Channel 4 and the Hansard Society, recognizing his rigorous questioning and scrutiny of government policies in parliamentary debates and committees.[13] In the same year, he received The House magazine's Backbencher of the Year award for his contributions as an active and effective opposition parliamentarian.[13] These honors highlighted his role in holding the executive to account on issues such as education, welfare, and public spending, independent of party leadership directives.[40] Bercow chaired the 2008 Bercow Review, a government-commissioned independent assessment of services for children and young people aged 0-19 with speech, language, and communication needs (SLCN), affecting an estimated 10% of children in England.[41] The review, published in December 2007 following consultations with over 600 stakeholders, identified systemic gaps in early identification, intervention, and inter-agency coordination, recommending a national framework for universal SLCN screening, targeted support programs, and integration of services across health, education, and social care sectors to improve long-term outcomes like educational attainment and employment prospects.[41] It emphasized evidence-based evaluation of existing policies, urging routine post-implementation reviews to ensure effectiveness and cost-efficiency, with the government subsequently launching the Better Communication Action Plan in response.[41] Throughout his pre-Speakership parliamentary tenure, Bercow supported charitable initiatives related to disability and child welfare, serving as a patron of the National Autistic Society, Afasic (Association for all Speech Impaired Children), and the Puzzle Centre, organizations focused on advocacy, research, and support for individuals with autism and communication disorders.[13] His involvement stemmed from parliamentary work on these topics, including advocacy for enhanced funding and policy reforms to address unmet needs in vulnerable populations.[13]

Election and tenure as Speaker of the House of Commons

Election in 2009

The election for a new Speaker followed the resignation of Michael Martin on 19 May 2009, prompted by widespread public outrage over the parliamentary expenses scandal, in which Martin had been implicated for poor oversight and personal claims. The vote took place on 22 June 2009, involving multiple rounds of preferential balloting among ten candidates, all of whom were sitting MPs with party affiliations, marking a departure from the convention of selecting a consensus figure with minimal partisan baggage.[42] John Bercow, the Conservative MP for Buckingham since 1997, advanced through the rounds despite lacking the endorsement of his own party's leadership, who favored candidates like Sir George Young; Bercow ultimately secured 322 votes to Young's 271 in the final ballot out of 593 cast.[1] His victory relied on substantial cross-party backing, particularly from Labour and Liberal Democrat MPs, reflecting a strategic alignment against more traditional Conservative nominees amid post-scandal demands for reform.[43] Upon assuming the chair, Bercow pledged absolute impartiality, stating in his acceptance address that his commitment was "to be completely impartial as between members of one political party and another" and to serve the House without favor.[44] This election broke with longstanding tradition, as Bercow was the first Speaker since 1943 without prior experience as a minister or deputy speaker, and he did not immediately vacate his constituency seat for a ritual by-election, instead retaining it pending the next general election.[45] Critics within the Conservative Party, including figures like Sir Patrick Cormack, expressed reservations about his partisan history and perceived modernizing zeal, viewing his selection as a risky imposition of an active politician into a ostensibly neutral role.[46] Almost immediately after taking office, Bercow faced scrutiny over initial expenditures on his official residence, Speaker's Apartment 7 in the Palace of Westminster; disclosures revealed he had authorized over £20,000 in public funds for refurbishments prior to occupancy, including redecoration and furnishings, at a time of acute sensitivity to parliamentary spending following the expenses crisis.[47] His predecessor had incurred over £700,000 in similar upgrades from 2000 to 2008, fueling broader concerns about fiscal propriety, though Bercow defended the work as necessary for habitability after years of neglect.[48] These early costs, later adjusted in reports to around £45,000 including additional items, drew media and opposition questions about extravagance, underscoring tensions over restoring public trust in Commons operations.[49]

Reforms and modernization efforts

Upon assuming the Speakership in June 2009, Bercow prioritized procedural reforms to enhance backbench influence, reduce executive dominance over the parliamentary timetable, and foster greater transparency in the "usual channels" through which business was traditionally allocated. He advocated for a House Business Committee to democratize scheduling and proposed adjustments to private members' bills to streamline legislative scrutiny, aiming to shift power from the government whips' office toward individual MPs. These initiatives sought to address longstanding criticisms of the Commons as overly controlled by party machines, though some observers argued they risked destabilizing established conventions without sufficient consensus.[50][51][52] A key educational reform was the launch of the Speaker's Lectures series in 2011, commemorating the centenary of the Parliament Act 1911 by inviting prominent parliamentarians to deliver public addresses on historical and contemporary governance themes. This initiative, which continued through multiple themed cycles such as "Parliaments and People" and "The Future of Parliaments," aimed to demystify parliamentary processes and engage broader audiences beyond Westminster. Complementing this, Bercow championed youth involvement by permitting the UK Youth Parliament—comprising elected representatives aged 11 to 18—to hold its inaugural debate in the Commons chamber in October 2009, chairing subsequent annual sessions to model deliberative practices and encourage civic participation among younger demographics.[53][54][55] Procedurally, Bercow expanded the use of urgent questions, granting backbenchers unprecedented access to compel ministerial statements on pressing matters, thereby accelerating accountability and debate initiation compared to predecessors' more restrictive approach. He also pushed for a comprehensive review of Prime Minister's Questions (PMQs) in 2010, criticizing its rowdy format and advocating measures to promote substantive exchanges over theatrical interruptions, including potential time allocations favoring policy depth. To bolster diversity, he endorsed the 2016 "Good Parliament" report, which recommended structural changes to enhance representation of underrepresented groups in MP selection and parliamentary effectiveness, while introducing internships targeted at diverse candidates to refresh Commons staffing.[56][57][58] Critics, including procedural traditionalists, contended that these expedited mechanisms and civility enforcements—such as frequent interventions to curb unparliamentary language—sometimes veered into selective partisanship, disproportionately curbing government voices while amplifying opposition ones, thus undermining Speaker impartiality. Early governance modernization attempts, like internal administrative overhauls, were deemed premature and contributed to internal resistance, with lasting cultural shifts in expectations but uneven adoption of proposed committees. Empirical assessments post-tenure indicate mixed efficacy: while urgent questions became normalized, broader timetable reforms stalled, reflecting causal tensions between innovation and institutional inertia.[4][59][59]

Re-elections and procedural innovations

Bercow was re-elected as Speaker unopposed on 18 May 2010 following the general election, with the proposal moved by Labour MP Margaret Beckett and seconded by Conservative MP Lindsay Hoyle, reflecting broad cross-party support despite some initial Conservative resistance.[60] He secured re-election unopposed again on 18 May 2015, after the Conservative majority victory, where Prime Minister David Cameron acknowledged ongoing debates about his impartiality but noted the House's decision to retain him for continuity.[61] Following the 2017 general election, which resulted in a hung parliament, Bercow was re-elected unopposed on 13 June 2017, with the motion proposed by Conservative MP Caroline Lucas—intended as a cross-party gesture—and seconded by Labour MP Valerie Vaz, underscoring his role in maintaining institutional stability amid political uncertainty.[62] These re-elections deviated from tradition only in the absence of formal contests, as Speakers are typically returned without opposition unless significant discontent emerges, which did not materialize in these instances despite periodic criticisms from Conservative backbenchers. Among Bercow's procedural innovations, a notable expansion involved the increased granting of urgent questions, allowing backbench MPs to compel ministerial statements on pressing matters; by 2017, he had approved 385 such questions, far exceeding predecessors' usage and enhancing immediate scrutiny of the executive.[52] He also advocated for reforms to bolster backbench influence, including support for the Backbench Business Committee established in 2010, which allocated dedicated time for non-governmental debates, and proposals for a House Business Committee to reduce reliance on informal "usual channels" between party whips and leaders.[50] In early 2010, Bercow outlined 10 reform areas, emphasizing urgent questions as a tool to reconnect Parliament with public concerns and improve the chamber's responsiveness.[63] Bercow chaired the Speaker's Conference on Parliamentary Representation, convened in 2008 and reporting in November 2010, which recommended measures to address under-representation of women, ethnic minorities, and disabled candidates, including party targets for candidate selection and potential quotas if voluntary efforts failed.[64] The conference's 30 recommendations influenced subsequent party practices, such as Labour's use of all-women shortlists, though implementation varied; Bercow framed these as essential for modernizing Parliament's composition to better reflect the electorate's diversity.[65] He enforced stricter standards on points of order during debates, frequently intervening to maintain decorum and relevance, which some observers credited with elevating the House's procedural discipline amid heated exchanges.[59] These changes collectively aimed to shift power dynamics toward greater backbench autonomy and inclusivity, though critics argued they occasionally strained traditional conventions without formal rule alterations.

Key rulings and decisions

As Speaker, John Bercow expanded the use of Urgent Questions (UQs), a procedural tool allowing backbench MPs to compel ministers to attend the House and respond to pressing matters of public importance. Under his predecessor Michael Martin, only two UQs were granted in the year prior to Martin's resignation in 2009, whereas Bercow approved 22 in 2010 alone.[66] By October 2017, Bercow had permitted 385 UQs overall, averaging approximately 0.4 per sitting day across his tenure up to that point, compared to far lower rates previously.[52] [67] This shift marked a deliberate effort to enhance parliamentary scrutiny of the executive, though critics argued it disrupted government business by prioritizing backbench demands.[56] Bercow also advocated for and facilitated reforms strengthening select committees, which scrutinize government departments and policies. In November 2011, he urged MPs to grant committees "extensive new powers," including enhanced abilities to initiate debates and compel evidence.[68] Following his election as Speaker in 2009, the House approved the direct election of select committee chairs by secret ballot in June 2010, reducing patronage from party whips and increasing committee independence from the executive—a change Bercow had championed during his campaign.[63] These procedural innovations aimed to empower backbenchers but raised concerns among some that they eroded the government's control over the agenda, potentially complicating legislative efficiency.[50] Regarding the selection of MPs to speak in debates, Bercow introduced practices that prioritized broader participation over traditional deference to senior figures, leading to more MPs contributing but for shorter durations. Analysis of House records indicates that under Bercow, the average number of speeches per MP increased compared to predecessors, with time limits imposed to accommodate this—contrasting with earlier norms favoring frontbench and long-serving members.[69] This approach drew accusations of selective point-calling, where some Conservative MPs claimed disadvantage in being overlooked during contentious non-Brexit discussions, though empirical data on participation rates showed overall gains in backbench involvement without quantified partisan disparities pre-2016.[70] Such decisions established a pattern of procedural activism that bolstered minority voices but tested conventions of Speaker impartiality by intervening more assertively in debate management.[71]

Role in Brexit and related controversies

Procedural interventions during Brexit debates

On 9 January 2019, Bercow selected for debate an amendment tabled by Conservative MP Dominic Grieve to the government's customary motion for the Brexit meaningful vote debate, allowing MPs to amend the motion itself rather than merely voting on the withdrawal agreement.[72] The amendment passed by 328 to 317 votes, stipulating that if Theresa May's deal was rejected, the House would immediately vote on alternative courses of action, thereby wresting control of the parliamentary timetable from the government and enabling backbenchers to prioritize motions blocking a no-deal Brexit.[73] This ruling deviated from the precedent that government motions on Brexit days were unamendable, as advised by the House's clerks, and accelerated parliamentary scrutiny of options to avert an unmanaged exit scheduled for 29 March.[74] On 18 March 2019, Bercow invoked a convention originating in 1604 to rule that the government could not bring forward a third meaningful vote on May's unchanged withdrawal agreement after two prior defeats, deeming it repetitive and disorderly.[75] This decision blocked ministerial attempts to revisit the deal without substantive alterations, compelling May to seek an Article 50 extension from the EU on 20 March and contributing to a delay in Brexit proceedings as Parliament shifted focus to indicative voting processes.[76] The ruling effectively prolonged uncertainty over the exit timeline, facilitating backbench efforts to extend the negotiation period beyond the original deadline and averting an immediate no-deal scenario.[77] Bercow facilitated multiple rounds of indicative votes in late March and early April 2019 by selecting amendments from a backbench business motion for MPs to indicate preferences on Brexit outcomes, with the first round on 27 March featuring eight options, none of which secured a majority.[78] A second round on 1 April involved four selected propositions, including customs union and single market alignments, again failing to achieve consensus, after which Bercow cast a deciding vote against further rounds following a 202-202 tie on 3 April, halting the process without endorsing additional delays. These interventions, unconventional in their scale for free-form parliamentary soundings, extended debate time and underscored divisions, ultimately sustaining efforts to rule out no-deal by 29 March through subsequent extension requests ratified in April.[78] In October 2019, amid Boris Johnson's premiership, Bercow rejected a government motion for a second vote on the revised withdrawal agreement on 21 October, citing its substantial similarity to the prior Saturday's emergency debate as a breach of orderly procedure.[79] This procedural block delayed ratification, prompting reliance on backbench bills like the European Union (Withdrawal) (No. 2) Act to legislate an extension request if needed, thereby extending the Article 50 period and preventing a no-deal outcome on the Halloween deadline.[80] Across these actions, Bercow's selections and rulings shifted procedural authority toward anti-no-deal majorities, correlating with three Article 50 extensions granted by the EU between April and October 2019.[81]

Criticisms of partiality and convention-breaking

During the Brexit process, Conservative MPs accused John Bercow of exhibiting partiality against proponents of leaving the European Union, particularly by selectively applying procedural rules to favor anti-no-deal positions. Jacob Rees-Mogg, a leading Brexiteer and Leader of the House of Commons in 2019, stated that Bercow's handling of Brexit debates had brought the standing of the House to "the lowest point in modern history," implying a deliberate undermining of government efforts to deliver the 2016 referendum outcome.[82] [83] Similarly, Chris Grayling, then Transport Secretary, called for Bercow's removal in April 2019, citing bias evidenced by overruling precedents on key votes that hindered Brexit implementation.[84] Critics highlighted Bercow's unconventional interpretations of standing orders, such as in January 2019 when he authorized an immediate vote on a backbench amendment without prior debate—breaking with tradition—and enabling MPs to seize control of the parliamentary agenda via a business committee motion.[6] This facilitated indicative votes on Brexit options that bypassed government primacy, actions Eurosceptics viewed as engineered to amplify Remain-leaning voices and block no-deal scenarios.[85] In September 2019, Bercow's ruling permitting the Letwin amendment—which required confirmatory legislation before approving Boris Johnson's withdrawal agreement—was decried by Andrea Leadsom as a "flagrant abuse" of procedure, effectively handing agenda control to opponents of a timely exit.[86] Bercow's repeated invocation of the "same question" rule against government motions, such as blocking third votes on substantially unchanged deals in March and October 2019, was seen by detractors as inconsistent with his leniency toward repetitive anti-government maneuvers, further eroding perceptions of neutrality.[75] [77] These interventions, per Conservative critiques, prolonged parliamentary deadlock and Brexit uncertainty, with Brexiteers attributing extended delays—pushing resolution beyond the original March 2019 deadline—to Bercow's bias rather than inherent legislative complexities.[87] Public and media backlash intensified among right-leaning outlets, framing his tenure as a departure from Speaker impartiality norms established since the 17th century.[6]

Impact on legislative outcomes and public perception

Bercow's procedural rulings during the Brexit process enabled the House of Commons to assert greater control over the executive, resulting in the blockage of a no-deal exit and the enactment of measures such as the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 amendments that mandated parliamentary approval for extension requests.[87] This contributed causally to the UK's repeated delays in invoking Article 50, shifting the scheduled departure from March 29, 2019, to October 31, 2019, and finally to January 31, 2020, as parliament repeatedly rejected government proposals and forced negotiations for further postponements.[81] The legislative paralysis engendered by these interventions exacerbated governmental instability, culminating in the December 2019 general election, where the Conservative Party, campaigning on resolving the impasse with a decisive Brexit mandate, increased its seats from 317 to 365, securing an 80-seat majority.[88] Public perception of Bercow's role split sharply along Brexit divides, with Remain advocates and pro-parliamentary sovereignty proponents lauding him as a defender against executive overreach—evident in endorsements from figures like Labour MPs who credited his decisions with preserving democratic scrutiny amid chaotic debates.[89] Conversely, Leave supporters, including Conservative Brexiteers, condemned his actions as a subversion of the 2016 referendum's 52% vote to depart, accusing him of wielding the Speakership to favor anti-Brexit outcomes and thereby undermining the electorate's expressed will.[7] YouGov polling from January 2019 captured this fury, showing widespread Conservative backlash to his rulings as biased procedural overreach, with accusations that he ignored official advice to advance personal views on the EU.[6] These developments established a precedent for Speakers to selectively innovate on standing orders in high-stakes scenarios, eroding the convention of strict impartiality that underpins the office's legitimacy as a neutral arbiter.[90] Critics, including former parliamentary draftsman Stephen Laws, argued that such interventions fractured trust in the Speakership, potentially inviting future holders to prioritize policy influence over procedural neutrality, a shift observable in subsequent Commons proceedings where Speakers faced heightened scrutiny for perceived partisanship.[91] This causal weakening of institutional detachment, rooted in Bercow's willingness to override precedents like the prohibition on identical motions, has been cited in analyses as diminishing the Speaker's role as an uncontroversial referee, thereby complicating legislative predictability in polarized environments.[74]

Major personal and professional controversies

Bullying and harassment allegations

In March 2022, Parliament's Independent Expert Panel upheld 21 allegations of bullying and harassment against John Bercow, stemming from complaints by three former House of Commons staff members—Angus Sinclair, Katharine Emms, and Lord Lisvane (formerly Robert Rogers)—covering incidents between 2009 and 2014 during his tenure as Speaker.[92] The panel, reviewing findings from the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, identified a consistent pattern of serial bullying characterized by intimidatory and undermining conduct, including verbal abuse, aggressive outbursts, and targeted victimization of specific individuals while favoring others.[8][93] Specific upheld examples included Bercow shouting insults such as "fucking stupid" at Sinclair during a 2010 meeting, throwing his mobile phone in anger at Emms in 2012 over a perceived slight, mimicking and belittling her speech to humiliate her, and engaging in a "torrent of abuse" accusing staff of incompetence; he also ostracized Lisvane through sustained public and private criticism, including derogatory remarks about his upbringing.[92] These acts constituted a "marked abuse of power and authority," creating hostile environments and retaliating against perceived critics, with the panel noting Bercow's lack of insight into the impact of his temper and rudeness.[8][93] The panel further determined Bercow had been "widely unreliable and repeatedly dishonest" in investigations, fabricating claims of complainant collusion and denying evident facts without remorse, behaviors described as those of a "serial liar."[92] Sanctions included a formal reprimand through the published report and a lifetime ban from holding a pass to the Parliamentary estate; expulsion would have been imposed had Bercow remained an MP at the time.[8][93] Bercow rejected the findings, denying the allegations as fabrications from a "protracted, unjust, and amateurish process" and portraying himself as a "warm, empathetic, principled person" who had transformed Parliament's culture.[94] He implied political motivations behind the complaints without evidence, but the panel dismissed such defenses, emphasizing the independent consistency across multiple complainants' testimonies and contemporaneous records over Bercow's self-serving narrative.[92][94]

Integrity and reliability issues

In a report published on 8 March 2022, the Independent Expert Panel of the House of Commons upheld 21 allegations of misconduct against Bercow from three complainants, all former House staff, while evaluating his evidentiary responses as exhibiting a pattern of unreliability. The panel explicitly determined that Bercow had been "widely unreliable and repeatedly dishonest" in his accounts, including instances where he provided misleading statements that contradicted contemporaneous records and witness testimonies regarding his interactions with subordinates.[8][95] One such case involved Bercow's denial of the accuracy of detailed notes taken by a complainant during a meeting where he had engaged in aggressive conduct; the panel rejected his fabrication claim, deeming the notes reliable and concluding that Bercow had lied about the events to minimize his role.[92] Similar discrepancies appeared in his descriptions of staff oversight practices, where he asserted ignorance of certain tensions or behaviors despite evidence from multiple sources indicating otherwise, leading the panel to describe his overall testimony as that of a "serial liar" in key respects.[96][97] These findings drew on a broader evidentiary base, including a 2004 incident during a parliamentary science committee trip to Italy, where Bercow faced an allegation of bullying a female colleague through persistent verbal pressure and intimidation; although the complainant withdrew the formal complaint at the time, the episode was cited in later inquiries as indicative of recurring reliability issues in his professional conduct assessments.[98] The panel's analysis attributed such patterns partly to Bercow's temperament, which fostered an environment of inconsistent accountability in office management, as reflected in the sustained and multi-year span of the upheld complaints spanning his speakership from 2009 to 2019.[99]

Political bias accusations from conservative perspectives

Conservative commentators and MPs have accused John Bercow of inherent political bias stemming from his pre-Speaker ideological shift within the Conservative Party, where he evolved from a hard-right activist—once affiliated with the Monday Club and supportive of Thatcherite causes—to a centrist advocate for progressive reforms like equal marriage and gay rights, often diverging from party whips on social issues. This trajectory, detailed in analyses of his early career, led critics to argue that Bercow never fully shed his revised affiliations, undermining his suitability for the impartial Speaker role he assumed on June 22, 2009.[100][11] As Speaker, Bercow faced repeated claims from Tory benches of anti-Conservative partiality in procedural rulings, with MPs such as Rob Wilson in 2011 asserting he systematically favored opposition arguments and treated Conservative members more harshly in debates. His public admission on February 12, 2017, of voting Remain in the 2016 EU referendum intensified these accusations, as conservatives contended it predisposed him against Brexit-implementing governments led by Theresa May and Boris Johnson, evidenced by rulings like the January 2019 decision allowing a meaningful vote on Brexit that bypassed established conventions.[101][102][103] Post-resignation on October 31, 2019, Bercow's memoir Unspeakable, published February 6, 2020, elicited conservative outrage for its pointed criticisms of Johnson as "careless" and an "undistinguished debater," portraying him as unfit for leadership and aligning with opposition narratives against the government's Brexit execution. Critics, including those in The Telegraph, viewed this as confirmation of Bercow's partisanship, arguing it debunked portrayals in left-leaning media of him as a neutral parliamentary guardian, instead highlighting a pattern of actions that empowered anti-Conservative forces.[104][105][106] While quantitative analyses of rulings remain limited, conservative observers, such as those tracking a "Bercow-bias index," have claimed disproportionate facilitation of opposition amendments and motions against Conservative administrations—particularly during 2017–2019 Brexit proceedings—contrasting with stricter handling of similar efforts under prior Speakers. These perspectives hold that such interventions, while procedurally defended by Bercow, eroded the office's traditional neutrality in favor of backbench and Remain-aligned challenges to executive policy.[103][90]

Post-Speakership activities

Resignation and denial of peerage

John Bercow announced his intention to resign as Speaker of the House of Commons and as Member of Parliament for Buckingham on 9 September 2019, stating he would step down no later than 31 October 2019 or upon the dissolution of Parliament for a general election, whichever occurred first.[107] This decision followed intense scrutiny over his handling of Brexit-related proceedings, during which he had faced accusations of procedural bias from Conservative MPs.[108] Bercow defended his tenure in his resignation statement, emphasizing his efforts to enhance the authority of Parliament and uphold democratic accountability, while expressing no apology for challenging executive overreach.[109] Bercow formally vacated the Speaker's chair on 31 October 2019, marking the end of his decade-long speakership amid a polarized parliamentary atmosphere. He was succeeded by Lindsay Hoyle, who was elected as the new Speaker on 4 November 2019 following a contest among MPs.[110] Hoyle's selection was viewed by some as a shift toward a less confrontational style, reflecting relief among certain parliamentarians over Bercow's departure from a role marked by controversy.[111] Upon resignation, Bercow was denied the customary life peerage traditionally granted to retiring Speakers since 1780, a precedent unbroken until his case under the Boris Johnson government.[112] The government's refusal was attributed to Bercow's cumulative conduct issues, including unresolved bullying allegations against staff and perceptions of partiality in Brexit debates that allegedly breached parliamentary conventions.[113] [114] Johnson administration sources cited these factors as justifying the break from tradition, with some framing it as accountability for actions that undermined impartiality.[112] Bercow responded by asserting a political conspiracy to exclude him, while maintaining his speakership had strengthened legislative oversight.

Publications and memoirs

In 2020, Bercow published Unspeakable: The Autobiography, a memoir detailing his political career with a focus on his tenure as Speaker of the House of Commons from 2009 to 2019.[115] Released on 6 February by Weidenfeld & Nicolson, the book critiques Theresa May's leadership as indecisive and lacking strategic direction during Brexit negotiations, portraying her as overly reliant on advisors while failing to command parliamentary support.[116] Bercow similarly faults Boris Johnson for opportunism and a disregard for institutional norms, accusing him of prioritizing personal ambition over substantive policy.[117] He defends his own procedural decisions, such as rulings on Brexit-related votes and the 2019 prorogation attempt, as necessary safeguards of parliamentary sovereignty against executive overreach, rejecting claims of bias as politically motivated.[118] The memoir positions Bercow as a reformer combating a toxic culture of bullying and intimidation in the Commons, which he attributes to entrenched traditions and resistance to modernization efforts like increased scrutiny of ministers.[119] He dismisses allegations of his own bullying behavior—leveled by staff and MPs during his speakership—as exaggerated or unfounded, emphasizing instead his commitment to inclusivity and procedural fairness.[119] However, contemporaries, including Conservative politicians, have contested these impartiality claims, citing specific interventions like the October 2019 ruling allowing a second meaningful vote on Brexit as evidence of favoritism toward anti-departure factions, which Bercow's account reframes without addressing counterarguments from procedural traditionalists.[120] Bercow's post-speakership written output beyond Unspeakable has been limited, with no major authored books identified after 2020, though he has contributed occasional commentary to edited volumes on parliamentary practices.[121] Reviews of the autobiography highlight its self-justificatory tone, noting a pattern of lauding Bercow's talents while impugning critics, which some observers interpret as evasive on verifiable disputes over his neutrality during high-stakes debates.[122] The work sold well initially, reaching Sunday Times bestseller status, but faced skepticism from outlets aligned with Brexit advocates regarding its selective portrayal of events.[123]

Media appearances and public speaking

Bercow transitioned to commercial public speaking following his October 2019 resignation as Speaker, securing representation with agencies such as Kruger Cowne to deliver paid keynote addresses on parliamentary leadership, democratic processes, and institutional reform. These engagements monetize his decade-long experience in the House of Commons, with topics emphasizing procedural innovation and public engagement in politics.[124] In the months immediately after leaving office, he conducted speeches in multiple international venues, including Zurich, Amsterdam, Boston, and New York, for which he received over £5,000 in fees during October 2019 alone.[125] His speaking portfolio expanded to include after-dinner events and corporate lectures, with agencies promoting potential earnings of up to £25,000 per appearance, reflecting the market value placed on his distinctive oratorical style and insider insights from high-stakes debates.[126] Bercow continued independent lecture series, adapting formats previously used during his Speakership—such as those on reconnecting Parliament with the public—to paid, non-parliamentary audiences, thereby sustaining revenue from his public profile.[127] In broadcast media, Bercow featured as a contestant on the second season of the U.S. reality series The Traitors, which premiered on Peacock in January 2024. Portrayed as a "Faithful" participant rather than a "Traitor," he drew on political analogies of deception and backstabbing, stating in the premiere that such elements were inherent to his former profession.[128] Eliminated via banishment in an episode aired on March 1, 2024, his involvement shifted his public image toward entertainment, prompting critiques that it undermined the gravitas of his prior constitutional role by associating it with game-show intrigue.[129]

Recent engagements and advocacy (2020–2025)

In September 2025, Bercow addressed the Free Iran rally in Brussels on September 6, advocating for Iran's democratic resistance led by the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) and explicitly rejecting the restoration of monarchy as a solution to the regime's tyranny.[130] He argued that freedom for Iran would come only through the organized opposition's efforts, pledging ongoing support for the cause.[130] Earlier in June 2025, he delivered a similar address condemning the Iranian regime and endorsing the NCRI as a viable alternative.[131] On October 15, 2025, Bercow spoke at a London rally organized by human rights advocates to demand the release of 17 Iranian political prisoners, describing the regime's actions as "sick, performative, egregious" tactics aimed at suppressing dissent.[132] In January 2025, at a Paris conference on Iranian opposition, he called for global recognition of the democratic alternative, urging Western governments to end appeasement policies through sanctions and diplomatic isolation of the regime.[133] Domestically, Bercow has critiqued the Conservative Party in media interviews, particularly amid the July 2024 UK general election. Following Labour's landslide victory, he forecasted a "grim legacy" for outgoing Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, attributing the defeat to policy failures and leadership shortcomings under Conservative rule.[134] He contrasted Keir Starmer's approach favorably, suggesting it aligned better with restoring parliamentary norms eroded during prior Tory governance.[135] Bercow has maintained no intention of returning to elected office, instead exerting influence through such public commentary on UK politics and institutional integrity.[134]

Personal life

Family and relationships

John Bercow married Sally Illman, a former Labour Party activist and advertising executive, on 12 December 2002, following a 13-year intermittent relationship that began in the late 1980s.[136] The couple have three children: sons Oliver (born circa 2004, who has autism) and Freddie (born circa 2005), and daughter Jemima (born circa 2008).[137][138] Sally Bercow, who adopted a higher media profile after her husband's elevation to Speaker in 2009, attracted public controversy in February 2011 with a photoshoot for The Sunday Times Magazine in which she posed draped only in a bedsheet against a backdrop view of the Palace of Westminster; she later described the images as making her look "an idiot" amid criticism over their perceived impropriety relative to her husband's neutral parliamentary role.[139] In 2012, she posted a tweet implying Lord McAlpine's guilt in the North Wales child abuse scandal, which a High Court judge ruled seriously defamatory in May 2013, leading to an out-of-court settlement including undisclosed damages and costs paid by Bercow to McAlpine.[140][141] The marriage faced strain in 2015 following revelations of Sally Bercow's year-long affair with her husband's cousin, Alan Bercow, a lawyer; initial reports indicated John Bercow intended to pursue divorce, but the couple reconciled after a brief separation, with Sally returning to the family home.[142][143] No subsequent public divorce or formal separation has been confirmed as of 2025.[144]

Health, interests, and lifestyle

Bercow suffers from bronchial asthma, which first manifested during his adolescence in 1977–78 and prevented him from pursuing a professional tennis career despite early success as Britain's top-ranked under-12 player and Middlesex champion.[145] [146] [15] Standing at 5 feet 6 inches (1.68 m) tall, he has faced recurrent public jests about his stature, which he has dismissed while arguing that ridiculing short people equates to prejudice akin to racism or homophobia.[147] [148] [149] His personal interests include tennis, which he continues to play casually, and he has authored works on the sport's history and greats.[150] Bercow has voiced support for conservation efforts targeting endangered species, notably urging protection for declining hedgehog populations amid broader environmental advocacy.[151]

Honours and distinctions

Academic and scholastic honours

Bercow graduated from the University of Essex in 1985 with a first-class honours Bachelor of Arts degree in Government.[16][13] In recognition of his parliamentary service, Bercow received multiple honorary doctorates after assuming the Speakership in 2009:

Other awards and recognitions

In 2005, prior to his election as Speaker, Bercow was awarded Backbencher of the Year by The House magazine for his parliamentary contributions as a Conservative MP.[13] That same year, he was recognised by Channel 4 and the Hansard Society for his effectiveness in opposition scrutiny.[13] On 4 July 2016, Bercow received the Freedom of the City of London at a ceremony in the Guildhall, an honorary distinction traditionally granted to prominent public figures for service to the City.[156] Bercow has been honoured for his oratorical and procedural innovations in the Commons, including the 2012 Politician of the Year award from the Political Studies Association, which cited his efforts to modernise parliamentary debate.[157] In 2010, he received Stonewall's Politician of the Year award for advancing LGBT rights in legislation. However, upon retiring as Speaker in 2019, Bercow became the first in over 230 years not to receive a peerage, despite nomination by Jeremy Corbyn; this denial was linked to ongoing complaints about his conduct.[158][159] No knighthood was conferred, departing from precedent for Speakers.[95] In March 2022, the House of Commons Independent Expert Panel upheld findings that Bercow had engaged in repeated bullying and misleading behaviour during his tenure, resulting in the denial of a parliamentary pass granting access to the estate.[92][95]

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  135. Former Speaker Of The House John Bercow On Keir Starmer, Rishi ...
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  142. Speaker John Bercow 'prepares to divorce wife Sally over affair'
  143. Sally Bercow 'moves back in with husband John' after affair revealed
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  148. How tall is John Bercow - Celebrity Heights
  149. John Bercow needs to rise above the jokes about his height
  150. John Bercow: 'I regard my job as Speaker as a huge privilege'
  151. Help our hedgehogs! Summit called to protect the endangered species
  152. [PDF] Chancellor, the Senate has resolved that the ... - University of Essex
  153. Press Release: Honorary Graduate Award for John Bercow
  154. [PDF] Mr Ian - De Montfort University
  155. The Speaker | British Council
  156. Speaker granted Freedom of the City - UK Parliament
  157. Speaker Honoured by the Political Studies Association
  158. John Bercow becomes first in 230 years NOT to get seat in Lords
  159. John Bercow will not get peerage despite Corbyn nomination
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