Douglas Carswell's Blog

Is Bercow that bad?

First it was a Tory whip that had a very public spat with Mr Bercow. Then the Prime Minister apparently told unflattering jokes about him. Now another of my colleagues is reported to have had a bit of a confrontation. 

I don’t think I can be accused of excessive deference to House of Commons Speakers.  Yet I wonder if the criticisms levelled against John Bercow are entirely fair.

Some on the government side of the House complain that he’s not a Tory. While neither is Nick Clegg, but we seem to manage to work okay with him.

He's changed his views, mutter others.  I'm not sure that's a line of attack anyone who favours the "pragmatism" of Coalition politics wants to push to far.   

Bercow’s biased, complain others. If by that you mean he shows favour to one side of the Commons chamber or party, that is demonstrably not true. If anything he can be tediously even handed.

What bias Bercow does undoubtedly have is one which favours backbenchers against the frontbenches - and in support of the legislature over the executive.

Under Bercow, even tiddly little backbenchers like me can force ministers to come before the Commons and answer urgent questions. It makes their life difficult – and keeps them on their toes.

Commentators have observed the way in which this Parliament is more rebellious than others. One of the key reasons for this is the way the Speaker calls amendments. Under previous Speakers amendments tabled by backbenchers that the government might have found inconvenient would almost never get called. Now, there is every chance that they will.

I suspect that is precisely why part of the Tory hierarchy has taken against Mr B. It is because the legislature is slowly getting off its knees, no longer lying prostrate before the executive, that some inside the government remember fondly the days when Whips anointed Speakers – and Speakers behaved accordingly.

But Bercow – like committee chairmen – now owes his position to the whole House, not just the patronage of one man in Downing Street.  The chemistry and authority have changed.  

If it came to a test of authority, I suspect Bercow would win.

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