United Kingdom and Gibraltar European Union membership referendum
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90 minutes of eulogies are long - especially if Parliament's agenda is already overcrowded. Until well after midnight, MEPs met in the British House of Commons at night on Tuesday. But there had to be enough time to appreciate the work of John Bercow. The longtime President of Parliament had announced his resignation by 31 October at the latest.
Praise came especially from the opposition, for which Bercow became a decisive advocate in the Brexit turmoil. Labor leader Jeremy Corbyn was the first to jump up: "This Parliament is stronger because they were its president, our democracy is stronger because they were the Speaker," he shouted. Some Conservative MPs remained demonstrative or left the room.
PRU / AFP
It was Bercow who, by virtue of his office, approved an emergency debate at the beginning of September, thus depriving the government of its power over the parliamentary agenda and paving the way for the law against unregulated Brexit. For his sake, Prime Minister Boris Johnson will now have to make a pilgrimage to Brussels and ask for postponement of the withdrawal date, should no valid withdrawal agreement exist until mid-October.
Bercows attitude is clear - and surprising for a conservative, who himself moved into parliament as a deputy for the Tories. His party membership rests since he became Speaker of the House of Commons in 2009.
Johnson could now be happy to get rid of the troublemaker from his own ranks. Instead, the Cabinet members on Bercov's announcement at the government bank looked "as if they had to vomit," as British media put it. For the resignation of the 56-year-old, who was with his "Oooorder" calls in the weeks and months of the Brexit disputes in parliament for media travel, is not a gift to the Tories, but a last joke that he beats the Brexiter.
Why is Bercow coming back now?
That he wanted to resign, for the sake of his family, Berow had said two years ago. Nevertheless, he remained in office. Last spring, following the postponed withdrawal from the European Union on 29 March, he told the Guardian that "it would be unreasonable to vacate the chair" if Parliament were faced with such major challenges.
Since then, the challenge of Brexit has grown rather than smaller. Nevertheless, the timing of Bercows withdrawal is well calculated. After the two failed re-election requests by Boris Johnson and the beginning of parliamentary recess, no elections can now take place before the Brexit meeting on 31 October. So, if Bercow resigns, the current parliament can still choose his successor - and thus minimize the government's influence on the future speaker.
New elections could shift the power relations in the lower house in favor of the Brexiteers around Boris Johnson. The hardliners could then install a speaker who interprets the procedure, unlike Bercow, rather in favor of their raunchy exit course. Brexit advocates promptly accused Bercow in the British media of playing the "system" in the hope that his successor would be elected by a Remain-friendly parliament. In the past, Tories had repeatedly accused the Speaker of opposing the withdrawal from the EU.
Half he wants, half he has to
Bercows resignation, however, is not quite as self-determined as it may seem. Since haggling the government's no-no-deal bill, it has been hailing criticism from the Conservatives against their erstwhile party colleague. Many say he's closer to Labor than the Tories. "The speaker betrayed us last week," wrote Andera Leadsom, Secretary of Commerce, Johnson. With his support of the opposition proposal Bercow broke the parliamentary rules.
But now again the Tories wanted to break with a convention to lift Bercow from office. Last Sunday, they announced that they would set up a rival candidate in Bercov's Buckingham constituency at the next election. Actually, it is customary that out of respect for the office of the speaker, no one else runs in his constituency, if this applies again for a seat in the lower house. The speaker, like other parliamentarians, must first be elected to parliament in a new election, then he can take over the additional office there. With his resignation Bercow now comes before the impending imposition of a rival candidate.
Who follows as a speaker - and what does that mean for Brexit?
In the lower house now begins the race for Bercows succession. Allegedly, some parliamentarians have been campaigning behind the scenes for support for their candidacy since January, after rumors of a resignation Bercows made the first round. As one of the first, still on Monday night, his deputy, Labor MP Sir Lindsay Hoyle, announced his candidacy on Twitter. He wrote that in unprecedented times like these, Parliament needed an experienced speaker who could provide stability and leadership. "I believe that I have proven myself to be independent and fair, enabling all Members of Parliament to exercise their right to speak on behalf of the electorate and hold the government accountable."
In addition, Labor veteran Harriet Harman could stand for election, which was briefly in the case of a vote of no confidence against Premier Johnson as head of a transitional government in conversation. It is regarded as a majority over fractional boundaries. Hoyle and Harman are already favorites, the online betting agency Coral booked for them betting odds of 4: 1.
Bercov's second deputy, Conservative Eleanor Laing, has also announced her candidacy. Her supporters say she can be chosen, even if, like Bercow, she comes from the Tories. As is custom, the two major parties alternate with the occupation of the office. However, this tradition was interrupted in 2000.
A historic moment. Speaker Bercow has said that he will step down. He has been a friend of mine for 32 years and has achieved an enormous amount during his tenure. I wish him well. I want to be a candidate. I want to be a candidate.
- Eleanor Laing (@eleanor4epping) September 9, 2019British media also mentions Labor MPs Meg Hillier and Chris Bryant as potential contenders. Bryant said, "People who know me know that I will be unreservedly impartial, and I hope I can dispel any tension with very, very sensitive humor." Some Brexit advocates want to support the Conservative Sir Henry Bellingsham. In the latter case, however, the current sentiment values offer significantly fewer opportunities than Hoyle and Harmann.
One thing is certain: regardless of whether Labor or Tory, the current distribution of power in parliament will hardly make Brexit a hardliner for Bercows successor. That this Parliament makes the decision as to who can sit next in the largest chair in the hall and call "Oooorder", for the Bercow has provided for the date of his resignation.
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