John Bercow: People can't ignore the rules then complain if the referee treads on them

EXCLUSIVE: In his first interview since his decision to stand down, Speaker John Bercow tells Joe Murphy and Ayesha Hazarika why he loves the Commons and is unmoved by threats to block him from the Lords
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The House of Commons may be suspended but its Speaker is in full flow. John Bercow is in his stately apartment “above the shop” telling about former Chief Whip Julian Smith “frankly, going ballistic” during one of the most heated moments of the Brexit drama.

“He said ‘It’s intolerable’ and I said ‘Don’t complain at me — and by the way, don’t bang the table by my chair: it’s dangerous to the wood and dis-courteous.’”

The exchange came when Bercow controversially allowed a Dominic Grieve amendment with a ruling that ended Theresa May’s control of the parliamentary agenda.

More such insights are on the way, for in an exclusive first interview since announcing his retirement date earlier this week the Speaker revealed a book will “in due course” emerge.

On Monday, the 56-year-old announced to MPs he will step down on October 31, ending the longest and most significant speakership of modern times. Mr Smith, incidentally, was among MPs who paid warm tributes, referring deftly to “awkward moments”.

John Bercow annonuced he will be standing down as Speaker and as an MP
Matt Writtle

Not all MPs will miss the sharp-tongued Speaker, but he clearly adores the maverick cast of parliamentarians. “I admire my colleagues, I think this is a wonderful place, filled with people motivated by their notion of the national interest and by their duty to do what they believe to be right.”

On the walls of Speaker’s House are oil paintings of residents. Bercow’s is different. The others pose in ornate flummery. He is depicted in mid-argument at the chair in plain academic robe.

“Of course I have aged in the job,” he said, comparing his silvery spikes with the long fringe of the younger man in the portrait.

“I get up early in the morning and I go to bed late at night. But did I ever feel frazzled? I can honestly say I have never lost sleep over a work matter. I tend to compartmentalise.”

His decade in the chair began after the expenses scandal, which he tried to repair with a modernising blitz that ruffled feathers. Without Brexit, he would be remembered as a reformer who opened Speaker’s House to ethnic diversity, LGBT causes and school visits.

But the epic battles after 2016 ensured his place in history as a referee who controversially interpreted the rulebook to give Parliament its say, and crucially, its way.

“The Speaker should not be the craven lickspittle of the executive branch,” he said.

Personal highlights were the passage of the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill — “it did nobody harm and brought great happiness” — and hosting Barack Obama who was “principled, charismatic, inspiring” and of course the critical Brexit debates, which he chose to chair in person without any break.

“This is the Clash of the Titans!” he enthused, “a privilege” to umpire.

He once stayed in the chair for 14 hours without a break for a Europe debate, and over 11 hours in the Syria showdown. Barry Gardiner dubbed him Golden Bladder. He avoids coffee and water before sittings.

Critics bemoan his verbosity and a patronising or even plain rude manner towards MPs who irritate him.

“It is true that I can be irascible and I can have a short fuse now and then in response to criticism,” he agreed, but he was less “acerbic” nowadays and preferred to use light humour.

John Bercow in the House of Commons
Matt Writtle

But he relishes being fearless in the chamber. “I’m capable of hacking it when I’m on my feet.”

And MPs who retire hurt usually have themselves to blame, he claimed. “I try to treat my colleagues with respect. If a member is frankly in the wrong... and he’s corrected and sits there sneering, well, in a sense, he’s got it coming.

“People can’t have it both ways. They can’t ignore the rules and show no regard for the referee and then complain if the referee treads on them.”

He likes living at the Commons, albeit a “gilded cage, a cloistered environment” where he can’t nip to Tesco without being waylaid by MPs. His children have grown up there, from ages five, three and one to 15, 13 and 11.

His wife Sally will be glad to leave. “Sally has always been very open and honest about the fact that she doesn’t particularly like living here. You know, the furniture isn’t ours and the pictures aren’t ours ... you don’t quite have the same privacy you would have if you lived in your own place.”

The children were “pretty sanguine” about political rows, but sometimes “discombobulated” to see Dad under fire on the front pages.

Sally was “magnificently supportive” and he defended the Bollocks to Brexit sticker on her car, adding: “Sally is my wife, not my property.”

He professed to take little notice of newspapers, which he accused of playing “games” and printing “rubbish” about him “plotting with rebels”. But to the charge of “plotting” he delivers a thunderous riposte that spells out what he believes the Speaker exists for. “That’s wrong and disingenuous. It is not a question of plotting with one side or the other. It’s a question of taking a view on what is legitimate for what MPs can attempt in Parliament. I think I’ve been fair to both sides.

“I’m engaged in a mission to facilitate the House of Commons doing what it wants to do. If it wants to authorise and enable a no-deal Brexit, that is its prerogative. What I don’t want is for the House of Commons to be crowded out and ejected from the centre stage of Brexit resolution at this most critical period in the fortunes and history of this country.”

So, who does he speak to more — Boris Johnson or rebel Sir Oliver Letwin? “People come to you if they seek your advice,” he points out. He stressed he has done the same for Brexiteers like Sir Bill Cash, whom he respects. Even arch-Spartan Mark Francois has popped round for a chat.

More important to him is the public verdict. He gets “lots of people coming up to me on trains, on Tubes, at tennis and football matches, making very positive remarks”. People seek selfies and constantly mimic his trademark “Order, order”.

A man recently got him to bellow the phrase into his phone for his girlfriend. Bercow noticed for the first time this week people clapping in the public gallery when he rebuked a minister.

He has heard from one family whose children are chastised Bercow-style: “will the honourable middle child please cease making such a discordant noise, it would greatly aid our proceedings in the household”. He doesn’t think he is a public favourite though: “I think I’m Marmite.”

Evening Standard Political Editor Joe Murphy interviews the Speaker of the House of Commons John Bercow
Matt Writtle

Politics had changed in his decade. Social media was “democratising” for millions given a voice for the first time, but a “poisonous” platform for intimidation.

“I myself have had several death threats which have been reported to the police,” he disclosed. What next? He lists enthusiastically public speaking, writing, working in the private sector, charity work, time with his family and time to enjoy his passions for Arsenal FC and tennis.

He will continue to promote LGBT and diversity, and commented: “I hope I have well and truly atoned and repented for my disgraceful time in The Monday Club 35 years ago and demonstrated my support for gender and racial equality.” The Monday Club was an anti-immigration Tory group linked to “Hang Nelson Mandela” posters.

He admitted one big regret, failing to avoid the Clerkgate furore when he tried to change the role of expert clerks, shifting executive powers to a manager. “I handled it clumsily and I was maladroit,” he said.

The next Speaker, he said, must push ahead with changing the culture of Westminster which was rocked by sexual harassment and bullying scandals. He himself faced historical claims of bullying former staff members, which he has denied. “I would like a fully embedded culture of respect across the piece. That hasn’t always been the case. The next Speaker will have an important role in leading the process.”

He loved the James Graham play This House and saw it twice. Which actor should play him in a Brexit play or movie? We suggested Simon Callow: “I certainly wouldn’t object.”

He loves tennis and he has written a book about the 20 greatest players. Judy Murray send him a message when he announced his retirement, to which he replied: “I would like to have more time for the two most important things in life — family and tennis”.

He is a fan of Andy Murray but his all-time hero is Roger Federer, who visited the Commons last year. “He turned heads. He was so gracious. He had time for everyone.” Perhaps a career umpiring at Wimbledon beckons.

Unnamed ministers recently suggested Bercow may be denied a peerage as revenge for letting Parliament taking back control. But who needs the Upper House if they feel they have the moral high ground? “I’m not going to be a supplicant,” ruled Speaker Bercow before marching off. “I’m just going do what I think is right.”

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