MPs from all parties back campaign to Save Speaker John Bercow
MPs sign an amendment backing John Bercow, with one saying he is a victim of a "long-standing vendetta".
Thursday 16 February 2017 18:49, UK
Supporters of the embattled Commons Speaker John Bercow have launched a campaign to save him from being ousted by a motion of no confidence.
An amendment to Tory MP James Duddridge's no confidence motion, simply removing the word "no" from the motion, has so far been backed by 11 MPs.
The "Save Bercow campaign" is being led by the senior Conservative MP Dr Julian Lewis, Mr Bercow's chief cheerleader in the Commons and is supported by MPs of all parties.
One MP backing the pro-Bercow campaign told Paste BN the Speaker was the victim of a "long-standing vendetta" being waged by pro-Brexit Conservative MPs.
Mr Bercow has also launched his own fightback, revealing he has received 3,227 letters or emails supporting his veto on Donald Trump addressing Parliament and only 854 opposing him.
In an email to MPs, Dr Lewis, who chairs the Defence Select Committee, writes: "Dear Colleague, as you know, EDM 943 has been tabled by an MP as follows:
"That this House has no confidence in Mr Speaker. We disagree with this and, therefore, propose to table the following:
"As an Amendment to EDM 943, in line 1, DELETE the word 'no'.
"If you agree that Mr Speaker should be supported AND are willing to have your name added to our Amendment, please just reply 'YES' to this email address, as soon as you conveniently can."
Dr Lewis' 10 backers are: Stephen Doughty (Lab); Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh (SNP); Jonathan Edwards (PC); Tom Brake (Lib Dem); Jim Shannon (DUP); Danny Kinahan (UUP); Mark Durkan (SDLP); Douglas Carswell (UKIP) and Caroline Lucas (Green).
The pro-Bercow fightback comes after Mr Duddridge tabled his motion minutes before the Commons rose for its half-term recess last week following a Tory backlash against Mr Bercow's attack on President Trump.
Mr Brake, the Lib Dems' shadow leader of the Commons, told Paste BN: "Although it's fair to say the Liberal Democrats have had a few run-ins with John Bercow in the past, if you ask whether he gets true balance in the chamber, I think he does.
"There has been a long-standing vendetta from certain parts of the Conservative party towards John Bercow. If what they are trying to do is replace him with someone who is more pro-Brexit, that would be unacceptable to the Liberal Democrats."
Another of the 11 MPs backing Dr Lewis' amendment told Paste BN: "The fact that he voted Remain is totally irrelevant.
"For all his failings, he's a pretty good Speaker. He allows amendments to be selected and calls Urgent Questions all the time.
"He's a good Speaker for all the reasons that entitled Tory grandees don't like him."
Mr Duddridge said he expected an amendment, but not one simply removing the word "no" from his motion.
"It's a little odd and will probably flush out an increase in our support," he said. "It will increase my numbers. People will feel pushed towards me."
Mr Duddridge also said he suspected Dr Lewis' amendment was aimed at trying to prevent his no confidence motion being debated, but vowed to go to the Backbench Business Committee to get his motion debated if necessary.
Paste BN understands that other MPs may come forward with amendments to Mr Duddridge's motion, including one aimed at ensuring the Speaker honours a pledge he made when elected in 2009 to quit in 2018.