John Bercow threatens to stay on as Commons Speaker until 2022 to wreak revenge on Tories denying him a peerage
Cabinet big guns have vowed to block his elevation to the Lords over his 'biased' handling of Brexit debates
Cabinet big guns have vowed to block his elevation to the Lords over his 'biased' handling of Brexit debates
JOHN Bercow is planning to stay on as Commons Speaker for at least another two years – to wreak revenge on his Tory critics.
He has told pals he is “seriously reflecting” on his decision to step down this summer after ministers threatened to deny him a peerage.
Cabinet big guns have vowed to block his elevation to the Lords – the traditional reward for an outgoing Speaker – over his “biased” handling of Brexit debates.
They are furious at him allowing rebel MPs to hijack the process and warn that someone who has “cheated centuries of procedure” should not expect it.
But a source close to Mr Bercow said he was now wondering whether to stay on beyond the summer – possibly until 2022.
He is said to be disappointed at what he sees as government attempts to “bully” him into toeing the government line.
The insider said that if the government was seeking to “punish” the Speaker for how he ran business – and defy convention themselves – he could well exercise his right to remain in the Commons chair until the end of this Parliament.