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Tory hopeful John Bercow was embarrassed today when rivals unearthed old quotes attacking top Labour figures.
Mr Bercow is depending on Labour MPs to make him Speaker, but he wrote just eight years ago: “The saccharine smugness of Blair and his cronies will antagonise millions of voters who want to see results and not be force-fed on a diet of spin and statistics.”
Although Mr Bercow gave a treacly tribute to Speaker Michael Martin last week, he said in an interview in 2001: “I simply did not think that Michael Martin was of a calibre to be elected Speaker of the House of Commons ... ”
Former Tory chairman Lord Tebbit said of Mr Bercow: “I do not think he would be a particularly good Speaker. I think he is too eager to please those in power.”
