Tories to contest John Bercow's seat in bid to oust Commons speaker
The speaker of the House of Commons would normally expect to stand for his seat in parliament unopposed by major parties.
Sunday 8 September 2019 10:25, UK
The Conservative Party will bid to oust John Bercow from his role as Commons speaker by fielding a candidate in his constituency at the next general election.
Business Secretary Andrea Leadsom has said the Tories are prepared to breach convention by fighting Mr Bercow for his parliamentary seat in Buckingham, where he would normally expect to stand unopposed.
Major political parties do not normally contest the seat held by the speaker of the House of Commons, but Ms Leadsom said the current incumbent - who took the job in 2009 - had "failed" in his role and needed to be replaced.
In a stinging attack, the former Commons leader accused Mr Bercow of breaking parliamentary rules by allowing MPs to seize control away from the government this week, with almost two dozen Tories having rebelled to back legislation preventing Prime Minister Boris Johnson from pursuing a no-deal Brexit.
She said by allowing MPs to use a Standing Order Number 24 - a procedure used to trigger emergency debates - as a means of pursuing the new law, Mr Bercow had not "just bent the rules, he has broken them".
Writing in the Mail on Sunday, she said: "What we saw on Tuesday was a flagrant abuse of this process.
"The standing order that the opposition proposed wasn't appropriate for a motion. It was intended to ram through legislation for purely political motives."
Ms Leadsom, who has clashed with Mr Bercow several times in the past, added that the use of the standing order in such a way would lead "to the creation of bad laws"
She added that his decision was a "complete disregard to the will of the people".
She said the speaker must be "a politically impartial, independent umpire of proceedings", who was in place "to protect the constitution and oversee the behaviour of the house".
Confirming plans to field a Tory candidate in Buckingham at the next election, which the government will try to put into motion this week after opposition parties rejected its first bid, she added: "Give us back an impartial speaker."
Mr Bercow was first elected in Buckingham as a Conservative MP in 1997, and served in two shadow cabinet roles under former party leaders Iain Duncan Smith and Michael Howard before becoming speaker.
He has proved a frustrating presence for many Leave-supporting MPs in recent years, with some accusing him of trying to stop or delay the Brexit process.
Angry Tories have previously highlighted how Mr Bercow has revealed he supported Remain in the 2016 referendum, as well as reports he displayed a "B** to Brexit" sticker on his car.
He has also voiced his opposition to the upcoming suspension of parliament.
Ms Leadsom sparred with Mr Bercow a number of times in her almost two years as leader of the Commons.
Last year it was reported that Mr Bercow had told friends he intended to stand down in the summer.
But earlier this month he reportedly told an audience at the Edinburgh festival fringe he would "fight with every breath in my body" to stop the government forcing through a no-deal Brexit by suspending parliament.
Last May, the speaker was alleged to have labelled her as a "stupid woman" and called her "f* useless".
He later faced an official complaint of bullying.