John Bercow, English politician, Speaker of the House of Commons

John Simon Bercow, born on 19 January 1963, is a prominent former British politician best known for his impactful tenure as Speaker of the House of Commons from 2009 to 2019. Simultaneously, he served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Buckingham constituency from 1997 until 2019. Prior to assuming the Speakership, a position traditionally demanding strict impartiality, Bercow was a long-standing member of the Conservative Party. His election to the Speakership was particularly notable as he was the first MP since Selwyn Lloyd in 1971 to be chosen for the role without having previously served as a Deputy Speaker, a pathway often considered a customary precursor to the top parliamentary post, highlighting a departure from established convention. After a decade in the Speaker's Chair, he resigned in 2019 and chose not to seek re-election as MP for Buckingham in the general election held that year, thereby concluding his extensive parliamentary career. In a significant shift in his political alignment post-Parliament, Bercow announced in 2021 that he had joined the Labour Party; however, he was subsequently suspended from the party in 2022 following the emergence of serious conduct allegations.

Bercow's political journey began at a local level, serving as a councillor in the London Borough of Lambeth from 1986 to 1990. This early experience in local governance provided a foundational understanding of public service before he set his sights on national politics. He unsuccessfully contested parliamentary seats in the 1987 and 1992 general elections before finally securing the Buckingham seat in the 1997 general election, marking his entry into the House of Commons. His ascent within the Conservative Party saw him promoted to the Shadow Cabinet in 2001, where he held various ministerial portfolios, including Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury and Shadow Secretary of State for International Development, under the leadership of Iain Duncan Smith and later Michael Howard. A notable episode in his early parliamentary career occurred in November 2002 when Bercow resigned from the Shadow Cabinet due to a principled disagreement over his vocal support for the Adoption and Children Act 2002. This landmark legislation aimed to reform adoption laws and enhance child welfare by promoting the adoption of children, but his pro-reform stance placed him at odds with some within his party, particularly those from its traditional right-wing faction who held differing views on social policy. Despite this, he returned to the Shadow Cabinet a year later, only to be dismissed in 2004, indicating persistent tensions regarding his evolving views. While initially strongly associated with the right-wing of the Conservative Party, Bercow's political views gradually evolved, showing a more socially liberal and less rigidly partisan stance on various issues. By 2009, this noticeable shift even led to widespread speculation and rumours that he might defect to the Labour Party, highlighting his increasing divergence from mainstream Conservative ideology before his Speakership.

The pivotal moment in John Bercow's career arrived in June 2009 following the resignation of the then-Speaker, Michael Martin, amidst a parliamentary expenses scandal. Bercow successfully stood in the subsequent election to replace him, emerging victorious. Upon assuming the Speakership, a constitutional convention dictates that the individual must resign from their political party to maintain strict impartiality and ensure fair conduct of parliamentary business for all MPs, thereby serving as an independent custodian of the House's rules and procedures. Consequently, Bercow formally left the Conservative Party and served as an independent throughout his tenure. His perceived effectiveness and robust style in the role were underscored by his unopposed re-election at the commencements of the new Parliaments in 2010, 2015, and 2017. This unprecedented series of re-elections made him the first Speaker since the Second World War to have been elected four times, a testament to his enduring, albeit sometimes controversial, support among his parliamentary colleagues. Furthermore, he distinguished himself as the first Speaker since the war to have served alongside four different Prime Ministers: Gordon Brown (Labour), David Cameron (Conservative), Theresa May (Conservative), and Boris Johnson (Conservative), navigating the complexities of their respective administrations, particularly during the turbulent Brexit period. In September 2019, Bercow announced his intention to stand down as both Commons Speaker and MP on 31 October, coinciding with the Brexit deadline at the time. He officially remained Speaker until he was appointed to the traditional nominal office of the Manor of Northstead on 4 November 2019, a procedural mechanism used by MPs to legally resign their seat in the House of Commons, as direct resignation is not permitted. Having served for a remarkable ten years as Speaker, Bercow became the longest-serving incumbent in that role since Edward FitzRoy, who held the post for nearly fifteen years between 1928 and 1943, a period encompassing the challenging years of the Great Depression and the early phases of the Second World War.

Following his departure from Parliament, John Bercow transitioned into academic roles, leveraging his extensive political experience. In 2014, he was appointed Chancellor of the University of Bedfordshire, a largely ceremonial but significant role involving representing the university at key events and promoting its interests. In July 2017, he also took on the Chancellorship of the University of Essex, stepping down from this position in November 2021. Demonstrating his commitment to education and political analysis, in January 2020, he became a part-time professor of politics at Royal Holloway, University of London, contributing to academic discourse and student learning. However, his post-parliamentary life has also been marked by serious controversy. In 2022, an independent Commons complaints body, established to investigate allegations of misconduct within Parliament and ensure accountability, concluded a formal inquiry into Bercow's conduct during his Speakership. The body found that he had persistently bullied staff members, engaging in aggressive and intimidating behaviour, including swearing at them over the course of more than a decade, and on one occasion, made an undisclosed discriminatory remark. The gravity of these findings led the body to state unequivocally that it would have recommended Bercow's expulsion from the House of Commons had he still been an MP. Furthermore, it recommended that he should never again be permitted a pass to the Parliamentary estate, effectively barring him from official access to Westminster, a significant punitive measure for a former Speaker. In light of these severe findings and the subsequent public report, the Labour Party, which Bercow had recently joined, promptly suspended his membership.

Common Questions About John Bercow

Who is John Bercow?

John Bercow is a prominent former British politician best known for his impactful tenure as Speaker of the House of Commons from 2009 to 2019. He also served as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Buckingham from 1997 to 2019.

What is the primary role of the Speaker of the House of Commons?

The Speaker is the chief officer and highest authority of the House of Commons, responsible for presiding over parliamentary debates, maintaining order, interpreting and enforcing the rules of the House, and ensuring fairness for all MPs while remaining politically impartial.

Why was John Bercow's election as Speaker considered notable?

His election in 2009 was notable because he was the first MP since Selwyn Lloyd in 1971 to be elected Speaker without having previously served as a Deputy Speaker, breaking a long-standing tradition.

What is the "Manor of Northstead" and why was John Bercow appointed to it?

The Manor of Northstead is one of two nominal Crown stewardships (the other being the Chiltern Hundreds) that MPs are appointed to in order to legally resign their seat in the House of Commons, as Members of Parliament are not permitted to resign directly. Bercow was appointed to it upon leaving his Speaker role and Parliament.

What significant controversies surrounded John Bercow after he left Parliament?

After leaving Parliament, an independent Commons complaints body concluded in 2022 that John Bercow had persistently bullied and sworn at parliamentary staff over a decade. As a direct consequence of these severe findings, he was suspended from the Labour Party, and the body recommended that he should never again be permitted a pass to the Parliamentary estate.

How long did John Bercow serve as Speaker of the House of Commons?

John Bercow served for a remarkable ten years as Speaker of the House of Commons, from June 2009 until November 2019, making him the longest-serving incumbent in that role since Edward FitzRoy (1928-1943).