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John Bercow began a programme of reform as Speaker today by dumping the traditional court robes and bringing a young family into Speaker's House for the first time.
But he took his place in front of a divided Commons, where Tories folded their arms in protest.
The new Commons Speaker wore a plain business suit and tie, topped by an academic gown, dispensing with the traditional white tie, wig and buckled shoes. He said: “I think it is perfectly proper that the Speaker should wear a business suit and have a simple and unfussy gown over that suit and that is what I intend to do.”
Taking the chair for his first session — health questions — Mr Bercow said “order, order” in a clear voice but stumbled over the order of business. He then told MPs he wanted short questions and quick answers from ministers.
“I am determined we make good progress through the order paper,” he added, to loud cries of “hear, hear”.
Junior health minister Ann Keen congratulated him on election and Mr Bercow asked MPs not to waste time by praising him further. However, Tory MPs were already silent and their health spokesman Tim Loughton did not join in the tributes.
It was an ominous start for a presiding officer who was warned by some Conservatives that he does not command the full support of the House.
With wife Sally he is planning to bring his three young children into the historic grace-and-favour apartment at the Commons overlooking the Thames, the first time a young family will have taken up residence there.
“We are keen to come to Speaker's House,” he said. “It's a fantastic apartment but it's not altogether child-friendly.”
Tory Mr Bercow, 46, said he would not claim a second-home allowance as a result and denied “milking” his Commons expenses by claiming the maximum for food.
“I have always behaved properly and honourably,” he said. “I have complied with the law, I have claimed allowances which I am entitled to claim.”
As the 157th Speaker, Mr Bercow gets a salary of £146,041 and a pension for life of £40,000 after he stands down, in addition to his free apartment.
Speaking to the Evening Standard, Mrs Bercow said: “I'm very proud of John. I think he will be a great reforming speaker and a great credit to the country.” However, after a bruising battle for the job, the new Speaker was today warned by former Conservative colleagues that he could be ousted after the next election.
Tory MP Nadine Dorries branded his success “a two-fingered salute” by Labour MPs to irritate David Cameron. She called it “the last hurrah of a dying Labour government” and a “vindictive political act”.
Mr Bercow's victory was by 322 votes over fellow Tory Sir George Young's 271. Ms Dorries claimed just two Conservatives backed him — which he denied.
Shadow leader of the Commons Alan Duncan urged Tories to respect the new Speaker. “What we have to do is respect the Speakership and the Speaker and make sure that the dignity of the House of Commons, which has gone through a very difficult few months, is restored.
“I think it's undoubtedly true to say that John is a motivated and complex character. I think that a lot of people, of course, are annoyed that he worked out how to get elected and got there.”
Gordon Brown today revealed that the new Parliamentary Standards Bill would make it a criminal offence for MPs to breach a new code of conduct on expenses.
Reader views (34)
By not wearing the traditional robes and wig of office the attrition of respect for that office is purely contemptuous. The last Speaker, 'Gorbal Mick', started the trend by not wearing the traditional wig. I would have thought that the new Speaker, whomsoever it would be, would have brought back the full tradition and by doing so, bring back the respect that the position holds. The eroding of traditions in the UK generally, demeans the nation of its identity. The wearing of the traditional dress in this position should be an obligation.
- Esther Clark, Los Angeles
Why could he have not wore a business suit or even jeans and trainers like the majority of citizens who will have to experience his posturings and pay for them?
Why the gown? appears camp to me.
Will he now throw out the expensive wall coverings, floor coverings charged to us by his predecessors and introduce vynil kid proof furnishings?
Why would his wife not be proud of him in securing a plum job like this in the middle of a recession with an inflation proof pension? They are secure for life on the back of all the tax payers in this country? Does she have to work in Sainsburys or Tesco for the minimum wage ?
He will have to work very hard to earn the salary and pensions he is being paid, the respect of the electorate, to clean up parliament, put a system of MP's pay/expenses in place that the citizens of this country will accept.
I am not convinced that he is the person to do it, he is a lightweight and from what I have seen in his TV performances (and they can only be described as performances) he will not be up to the job. But, if he performs well I may be convinced.
Thank you Gordon B, Peter M, and your cronies in the labour party for saddleing us with this person as speaker of the house. You guys will regret this and may find yourselves out of government for longer than ever before.
I cannot imagine, how you can all sleep safely in your beds at night with the treachery that you have unleashed on the loyal citizens of this state.
Gordon Brown leave now.
- John O'Meara, London
Why can we not have a proper election?
- Jacqueline, Hampstead, London
From th picture, it looks like he should be borrowing a pair of President Sarkozy's heels.
- Nobby Clark, Perth, the Scottish one
Are politicians the most self absorbed people on the planet? Nobody cares who the speaker is, what his political views are or were and whether he has the whole support of the house or not. People are more concerned about whether they will have a job or house over the next few months. Politicians have got to remember they are our servants and should behave as such and not arrogantly prance around stuffing their pockets with our money. It's time they learnt what it is to be humble and have humility!
- Annoyed Of Croydon, London
Bercow was a MERCHANT BANKER before he became an MP.
Bercow also has MORE THAN ONE JOB. He receives THOUSANDS OF POUNDS every year from a company registered off-shore in the Cayman Isles.
THE VERY LAST PERSON QUALIFIED TO WIPE OUT THE SLEAZE IN THE HOUSE OF CONMEN IS BERCOW.
ROLL ON DEMOCRACY.
- Reuben Camara, Republic of Morecambe, UK
So they ousted a speaker who'd fiddled his expenses and tried to defend it and have replaced him with an MP who fiddled his expenses and tried to defend it. Hmmmmm, would it be because most of them have fiddled their expenses and tried to defned it too?
- Bob, Cheam
Traditionally the major parties do not stand against the speaker at the GE but I suspect an independent will stand against this little twerp who now heads up the troughing classes.
How big is his property portfolio and who paid for it? Ermmmmmmmmmmm that a toughie. Let me think, not the taxpayer?
- Undercover Elephant, Dole Farm, Crays Hill, Essex
“We will have a look at it and see if we can make it more child friendly, that's the plan,” - and how much will that cost?
- Mikkiduk, Hackney, London
So this descredited Parliament has elected a Speaker who has repaid expenses previously claimed, but professes to have done nothing wrong, that everything was within the rules.
If the Speaker of the House of Commons, the body that ennacts legislation to raise taxes, sees nothing wrong in manipulating the the designation of his second home - an option only available to MPs - in order to avoid Capital Gains Tax, then this country really has plumbed the depths.
We need an election now with no "safe" seats!
- John C, Leatherhead, UK
Just when you thought that things couldn't get any worse, this seedy little man is appointed as Speaker!
- Dee Jay, Fleet Hampshire
Was his anxiety to get the job because he was otherwise facing homelessness? Or was the pension the main motivation? Sounds like he done good anyhow...but how long will it last. He may be wrapping his kids up in newspapers on the embankment yet if he isn't re-elected next June when Gordon opens the polls.
- Prototypical Englishman, Wormwood Scrubs
I don't like this choice. He says he's a reformer. But he was maximising his expenses claims, and was one of the MPs who (legally) changed his main home designation to avoid paying CGT. He then decided to "voluntarily" pay the CGT despite having no legal obligation to do so, but only once the public found out that he'd been "flipping".
So in my book, another pig with his snout in the trough, and definitely not the right person to be cleaning these particular stables. They really don't get it, do they?
- Nigel, London
Why does the Speaker have to be from one of the political parties. An independant appointee would b far more effective and partial. Give the "Berc" a chance although I would have prefered Anne Widdecombe. At least Margaret Beckett is not in the frame still she now has time to tender her hanging baskets. They don't make 'em any more like Betty Boothroyd, Bernard Weatherill or the great Lord Tonypandy.
- Strongbow Sullivan, Paris,France.
My fears for the integrity of Parliament are now allayed as in another article you write that one of the great things Bercow will bring is that his young family will make the speaker's apartment "ring to the sound of toys and childish laughter." Wonderful - that is all the public were asking for. That will make a difference to the ordinary voter!
- R Mitchum, Exeter UK
Better Bercow than Beckett.
- Nobby Clark, Perth, the Scottish one
If the election of Bercow to Speaker was a Brown stunt to derail the Conservative Party it, maybe seem at first hand to have succeeded. However, like so many of Brown's stunts, he does not take all the odds and options into consideration. All his stunts are designed to wrong foot Cameron whom he hates with a vengeance because he is young and a breath of fresh air. Brown's thinking is out of date, very narrow, does not reflect the mood of the country and illustrates what a poor politician he really is. The Clunking Fist as Blair referred to him is very accurate. In all his recent outpourings, saving the world, will not be moved from his views till the job is done, new tough rules for MP's, the 10p tax, car emissions taxes (a cockup that has destroyed the British motor industry), taking over busted banks, running the country into vast debt and so on have all exploded in his face. Mr Bercow may prove to be his final undoing. He is all the things that the present Commons and Mr Brown aren't and may surprise us all by changing it into a modern Parliament for a new, emerging country of vibrant young people.
- Albert Hall, hove england
How many homes will the TWO MPs be seeking expenses for after they move into the Speaker's apartments?
- Bj, London
The worst of british politics has been seen by a democratic vote. No politician should seek such high office in his manner. The fact that he is a traitor to his own party is an outrage and means he cannot be trusted.
- Billy, Bangkok, Thailand
As I listened with incredulity to the acceptance-speech drivel of New Labour's recently appointed Speaker of the House of Commons, two words immediately sprang to mind - MAVERICK and RENEGADE. Then, following a pause of around ten seconds (yes, it took as long as that) I rejected maverick.
It would seem that our new woodentop in Windbag Hollow is from the same pod as Brown - after all, both of them ached and lusted after jobs that are clearly beyond their talents. We know what has happened to McMitty's dream, and we now await the fate of woodentop Bercow with an almost overpowering sense of the macabre.
I believe that Bercow, once fully inflated with his inherent pomposity and thespian delusion, will, slowly, before our very eyes, deflate like a spent balloon come the result of the General Election.
Bring it on.
- Ted, London
Bercow would not know how to reform a bag of fish and chips.
He is a very smarmy piece of deviousness and has the gift of the gab, goodstyle.
Those muppets in the House of Conmen are still NOT LISTENING to Joe Public.
Do not get too comfortable in your Palace of Westminster suite BERK - you will definitely be out on your brass neck at the earliest opportunity.
- Reuben Camara, Republic of Morecambe, UK
Labour were not applauding Bercow, they were winding the Conservatives up.
- Frank, Home Counties, England.
Labours Childishnesh & Selfishness, Its just Sickening !!
- William, london,uk
Who will join me with my new political party. THE I AM NOT GOING OUT TO VOTE AT THE NEXT ELECTION PARTY.
- Shallotman, Basildon
If he is serious about reform his first action should be to reduce his own ludicrously high salary. I agree with "Max, Isleworth", "They still don't get it! ". A reform candidate should stand against Bercow at the next election and the public should vote him out.
- Mick, London, England
Make the most of it Berk er Berc as you will be out on your a*** after the next election!
- Alan, Chigwell.UK
She's a good looker, but oh dear, that giraffe-print dress next to her half-pint husband. Makes him look like Napoleon! #fashionfail
- Andrew Denny, Norwich
This was meant to be a new beginning, a halt in the decline of public opinion against MPS. They were meant to vote for the best candidate and it seems that the MPs have reverted to the norm and voted for the person most likely to annoy the opposition. Thank you for nothing , 'Honorable' Memebers of Parliament.
- Alex C, London
Max, Isleworth.
Wrong on all counts mate and how do constituents vote out a sitting Speaker.
- Fred, Wales
Yes of course it is going to need redecorating at great cost to the tax payer.
- Frank, Home Counties, England.
Oh no, are they going to renovate the building for the children? Can't they stay in their own flats, which must be near already? How much is it going to cost the taxpayer this time?!
E. Zeller, Switzerland
- Elisabeth Zeller, Berne, Switzerland
"I continue to believe the vast majority of Members of this House are upright, decent, honourable people who have come into politics not to feather their nests but because they have heeded the call of public service."
So, it's carry on flipping then.
- James Nalias, Leeds
They still don't get it! I can;t wait till the General Election! John Bercow will be voted out. He is not the right person for the job. He does not command the House respect. He integrity is severely lacking. To those MPs who have voted John Bercow, you should be ashamed.
- Max, Isleworth
Who knows - maybe the job will be the making of an otherwise dubious choice of Speaker. Only one way to find out. If his wife's political preference IS influencing his thinking though, he'd better get over it quickly. That is NOT a job where bias is an acceptable trait - as the last guy found out.
- Rogan, Irving
