BY: Tom Baldwin and Roland Watson
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John Bercow would like to go down in history as a reforming Speaker of the Commons who helped to sweep politics clean and restore respect for Parliament.
Fulfilling those ambitions will depend on whether he can first overcome a challenge in his Buckingham constituency at the next election by an opponent determined to portray the Speaker as the embodiment of a discredited political system.
Mr Bercow is defending the safest seat in the country, on paper at least. Not only did he win the largest majority (18,129 votes) of any Conservative MP in 2005 but, in keeping with recent tradition by which serving Speakers are allowed a free run, Labour and Liberal Democrats have agreed not to field candidates.
Although many Tories openly distrust him, David Cameron urged “supporters of all parties — and of none — to vote for the Speaker John Bercow”. Similar messages of support are expected from Gordon Brown and Nick Clegg.
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It is testament to the febrile nature of today’s politics that these apparent advantages are now being used as sticks with which to beat Mr Bercow.
Nigel Farage, who stood down as leader of the UK Independence Party to fight the seat, greeted news yesterday of Mr Cameron’s statement by clapping his hands. “Great! It’s just what we wanted,” he declared. “This is an opportunity for the people of Buckingham to stick two fingers up to the whole political class as represented by the Speaker, the figurehead of Parliament.”
Yesterday the UKIP candidate could be found stalking votes for a council by-election next week in Maids Moreton — one of more than 80 villages that make up this rural constituency. He is spending up to four days a week in the seat and has promised to “drink a pint” in every pub that he can find.
On the doorstep Mr Farage seeks to merge UKIP’s old theme on Europe with personal hostility to Mr Bercow, whom he calls “Mr Very-pleased-with-himself”, as well as wider anger over expenses. Ann Moore-Martin, a retired head teacher, told him: “Bercow is good locally but I don’t think I really trust him. He does not really have the stature, or perhaps integrity, of some of those great Speakers.”
Some mentioned Mr Bercow’s own expenses problems. The Speaker has been asked to repay almost £1,000 for an “accidental over-claim” of mortgage interest. He has also voluntarily handed over £6,500 because he avoided capital gains tax when he flipped the designation of his taxpayer-funded second home.
Few were aware of the more serious antics involving UKIP. Tom Wise, a former MEP, who was jailed last year for two years over fraudulent claims of £39,000. Mr Farage said that he had “dealt with that problem ruthlessly”. [THIS IS OF COURSE A COMPLETE LIE AS DEALT WITH EXTENSIVELY ELSEWHERE ON THIS BLOG.
FARAGE TOOK ABSOLUTELY NO MEANINGFUL ACTION AND LET TOM WISE PAY OFF ONE OF HIS PERSONAL DEBTS WITH STOLEN MONEY.
HE NEVER REPAID THIS I UNDERSTAND YET HAS THE TEMERITY TO BERATE BERKOW ON SLEAZE WHILST PAYING HIS WIFE!
WISE QUIT UKIP WHEN HIS MEMBERSHIP RAN OUT IN MARCH 2009 DENNY BLOCKED A DISCIPLINARY TO HELP COVER-UP AND TREVOR COLMAN MEP HELPED OUT BY FAILING IN HIS DUTY HOLDING AN ENQUIRY! – ADDED G.L-W.]
In an interview with The Times Mr Bercow suggested that “we are witnessing the last remaining reels of a particular grisly horror movie” over expenses. He hoped that Parliament would be able to “move on” after voters delivered their verdict later this year.
While his aides dismiss any suggestion that MPs will be moving on without Mr Bercow, other observers believe that it is wrong to take victory for granted.
Mr Bercow insisted that he would be campaigning vigorously. He said: “I will campaign for re-election on the basis of my track record over 13 years as a local MP, my continuing commitment to the Buckingham constituency and my determination to restore faith in Parliament.”
Greg Lance - Watkins (Greg_L-W)
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