Boris Johnson tears into John Bercow with a series of backhanded compliments about him being a political ‘player’ and ‘not just an umpire’ on Speaker’s last day in Commons
- John Bercow to stand down as Commons Speaker after 10 years in the chair
- Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn praised Mr Bercow at his final PMQs session
- Mr Bercow will quit tomorrow and his successor will be elected on Monday
Boris Johnson tore into John Bercow this afternoon with a series of jibes as the Commons Speaker oversaw his final Prime Minister’s Questions session.
Mr Bercow is due to step down tomorrow after a decade in the chair and he was on the verge of tears as MPs paid tribute to him while his wife Sally and their three children looked on from the gallery.
Mr Johnson kicked off the session by speaking warmly about Mr Bercow’s public service.
But he could not resist delivering some pointed barbs as he noted that the Speaker had been a political ‘player’.
The PM made clear his displeasure at the way in which Mr Bercow had put himself at the centre of the Brexit battle in recent months.
Mr Johnson told MPs: ‘After 10 tumultuous years this is your last Prime Minister’s Questions.
‘As a distinguished former Wimbledon competitor, you have sat up there in your high chair, not just as an umpire ruthlessly adjudicating on the finer points of Parliamentary procedure with your trademark Tony Montana scowl.
‘Not just as a commentator, offering your own opinions on the rallies you are watching, sometimes acerbic and sometimes kind, and sometimes as a player in your own right.
‘Pounding every part of the chamber with your own forceful opinions like some tennis ball machine.’
John Bercow was visibly moved as he oversaw his final PMQs as Commons Speaker. He is due to step down tomorrow
Boris Johnson led the tributes to Mr Bercow but he could not resist a final dig at the Commons Speaker who has been a thorn in the side of the government on Brexit
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn began his questions at PMQs by paying tribute to Mr Bercow.
Mr Corbyn said: ‘I want to thank you Mr Speaker for the way that you’ve used your speakership in the decade-long tenure you’ve had.
‘You’ve done so much to reform this House of Commons and our democracy is the stronger for the way that you’ve done it.’
He also joked: ‘You’ve served for ten years, you’ve given real power to backbenchers, vastly expanded the use of urgent questions which has been overwhelmingly popular with all government ministers.
‘And opened up the number of emergency debates, which is even more popular with even more government ministers.’
Father of the House and former Tory chancellor Ken Clarke also praised Mr Bercow.
He said: ‘During your decade, there have been unprecedented attempts really to try to, at times, increase the power of the Executive at the expense of this Parliament.
‘You have been very formidable in maintaining the duty of government to be accountable to this House.
‘I trust your successor will try to live up to your very considerable achievement.’
Mr Bercow said Mr Clarke is ‘one of the most popular and respected politicians in our country’.
Jeremy Corbyn told Mr Bercow: ‘You’ve done so much to reform this House of Commons’
The Speaker’s voice cracked with emotion as he paid tribute to former staff and his family.
He said his family have displayed ‘support, stoicism and fortitude through thick and thin’ during the last decade.
Mr Bercow said he would ‘never forget it and I’ll always be grateful for it’ as MPs applauded.
In September Mr Bercow announced his intention to step down on October 31.
There had been speculation that he could stay on as Commons Speaker after the UK’s departure from the EU was delayed.
But he is due to walk away from the role tomorrow with the election of his successor scheduled to take place on Monday next week before Parliament is dissolved for the December 12 general election.