John Bercow was elected as Commons Speaker last night and immediately put on probation by a Tory party that had largely refused to vote for him. The maverick former rightwinger was, as tradition dictates, dragged to the Commons Chair after convincingly winning a final run-off with another Tory, Sir George Young. But he was warned by fellow Conservatives that his tenure in the job could be short. Mr Bercow’s election came at the end of a day of extraordinary tension, but he could be one of the shortest-serving Speakers in history if senior Conservatives follow through with threats issued privately last night to challenge him if David Cameron wins next year’s election. The warning reflects Mr Bercow’s journey from the fringes of the far Right to a point where he was suspected of being ready to defect to Labour. He succeeded with the support of many Labour MPs Men's Eagle Short Sleeve Rhinestone Polo in White
who knew him to be a thorn in Mr Cameron’s side. He won the final round by 322 votes to 271. While Labour MPs cheered loudly, most Tories sat on their hands glumly. One Tory MP, on hearing the result, shouted: “Not in my name.” Speakers have to be re-elected at the start of each Parliament and one member of the Shadow Cabinet said that there was a “100 per cent” chance that Mr Bercow would face a contest unless he exhibited total impartiality. The shadow minister added: “He has to demonstrate in the Chair that he will hold the executive to account. He has to show that he believes in modernisation and that modernisation is not going to be defined by the people who helped get him the job.” The remarks referred to suggestions that senior Labour figures had tried to organise support for candidates who might not take matters such as the appointment of members of select committees out of the hands of whips. Another Shadow Cabinet member said that Mr Bercow would face a challenge to be re-elected next year. “He is not popular. He has enjoyed being Labour’s man in this contest. His speech today was dreadful. He is quite unacceptable.” Nevertheless, Men's Death or Glory Short Sleeve Polo in Grey
it remains doubtful that Mr Cameron would want one of the first acts of a Tory government to be the removal of a Tory Speaker. On taking the Chair, Mr Bercow said that he was keenly aware of the obligations into which he had entered. He had said earlier that any Speaker had permanently to cast aside all of their political views. He told MPs that they needed reform but that most members were decent people who entered politics not to feather their nests but to heed the call of public service. Mr Bercow did not escape criticism over his expenses. He said he would repay ￡6,500 in capital gains tax after it was found that he “flipped” his second home designation before selling two properties. He also repaid ￡1,470 claimed under his office allowance. It is the first time that a Speaker has been elected by secret vote. Ten candidates in the first round were reduced to six in the second. With Mr Bercow and Sir George well ahead, Ann Widdecombe,Men's You Only Live Once SS All Over Print Special
Sir Alan Haselhurst, Margaret Beckett and Sir Alan Beith then dropped out and Mr Bercow was elected on the third ballot. In short speeches to the Commons earlier, all ten hopefuls stressed the need for reform after public outrage over MPs’ expenses revelations — the issue that led to Michael Martin stepping down as Speaker after nine years. Men's Eagle & Flower Short Sleeve Platinum Tee in
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