John Bercow vows to stay on as Speaker
Controversial Speaker says it’s ‘for the birds’ to believe no-deal Brexit can be forced though

John Bercow says he plans to stay in his post as Speaker of the House of Commons despite previous expectations he was about to leave.
Bercow told The Guardian it was not “sensible to vacate the chair” while there were major issues before the Commons.
Speaking at an event in the US, he also warned Tory leadership hopefuls not to try to force a no-deal Brexit without the permission of MPs.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The Daily Telegraph says Bercow’s comments “risk angering hardline Eurosceptics” and The Sun says they could spark “a fresh rift with that bloc”.
Bercow has become a “pivotal” figure in Brexit debates, the BBC says. His remarks “will be read as a rebuke to the favourites to succeed Theresa May, including Boris Johnson,” The Guardian says, though his assertions “were quickly rejected” by supporters of a no-deal, The Times reports.
It has been widely believed that Bercow would quit his post in July, when he will have had 10 years in the post but he denied this. “I’ve never said anything about going in July of this year,” he said. “Secondly, I do feel that now is a time in which momentous events are taking place and there are great issues to be resolved and in those circumstances, it doesn’t seem to me sensible to vacate the chair.”
Earlier, in a speech at the Brookings Institution in Washington, he said it was “for the birds” to believe that the Commons could be excluded from the debate over Brexit.
He said: “The idea that parliament is going to… be evacuated from the centre-stage of the debate on Brexit is unimaginable. It is simply unimaginable.”
Britain is scheduled to leave the EU on 31 October unless the government and Brussels agree another extension to the Article 50 process.
Both Boris Johnson and Dominic Raab have pledged to take Britain out of the EU by 31 October with or without a deal if they become prime minister. The Independent says that Bercow’s comments therefore “set up a constitutional clash with potential future prime ministers”.
However, Iain Duncan Smith, a former Tory leader and a supporter of a no-deal Brexit, rejected Bercow’s warning. He told the Huffington Post: “European law is very clear that we leave on a set date unless a request for an extension is made and the EU grants that extension.
He added: “That’s it. So parliament only gets its say in terms of legislation, it can’t take over the government at any stage, it can’t run the legislative programme.”
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
The Week Unwrapped: Will Europe beat China and India to the North Pole?
Podcast Plus, is the man who designed the iPhone going to kill his own creation? And what's going on at the equalities watchdog?
-
Is it finally all change for train Wi-Fi?
In The Spotlight South Western Railway's 5G Wi-Fi service has changed the way passengers connect – but will the new system catch on?
-
The week's best photos
In Pictures A cheesy chase, a cinema on water, and more
-
Angela Rayner: Labour's next leader?
Today's Big Question A leaked memo has sparked speculation that the deputy PM is positioning herself as the left-of-centre alternative to Keir Starmer
-
Brexit 'reset' deal: how will it work?
In Depth Keir Stamer says the deal is a 'win-win', but he faces claims that he has 'surrendered' to Brussels on fishing rights
-
Are we entering the post-Brexit era?
Today's Big Question Keir Starmer's 'big bet' with his EU reset deal is that 'nobody really cares' about Brexit any more
-
Is Starmer's plan to send migrants overseas Rwanda 2.0?
Today's Big Question Failed asylum seekers could be removed to Balkan nations under new government plans
-
Can Starmer sell himself as the 'tough on immigration' PM?
Today's Big Question Former human rights lawyer 'now needs to own the change – not just mouth the slogans' to win over a sceptical public
-
Has Starmer put Britain back on the world stage?
Talking Point UK takes leading role in Europe on Ukraine and Starmer praised as credible 'bridge' with the US under Trump
-
Left on read: Labour's WhatsApp dilemma
Talking Point Andrew Gwynne has been sacked as health minister over messages posted in a Labour WhatsApp group
-
New Year's Honours: why the controversy?
Today's Big Question London Mayor Sadiq Khan and England men's football manager Gareth Southgate have both received a knighthood despite debatable records