The task facing Theresa May to get Brexit legislation through parliament was underlined today when John Bercow warned he would not hesitate to trigger difficult votes.
The Speaker insisted ‘nothing is too toxic’ for the Commons to debate as he set the stage for battles over citizens’ rights, trade deals, and so-called Henry VIII powers.
Mr Bercow also put the PM on notice over the new Tory tactic of boycotting Labour motions in the chamber where they risk defeat.
Mr Bercow made his combative comments as he took part in a question and answer session set up by the Institute for Government in central London this afternoon
The combative comments came as Mr Bercow took part in a question and answer session set up by the Institute for Government in central London this afternoon.
Mr Bercow, who has repeatedly faced criticism for being too outspoken while chair of the House, made clear he had no intention of taking a less controversial approach.
He said he thought Mrs May should face an hour-long grilling at Prime Minister’s Questions.
The session is currently supposed to run for 30 minutes, although it has been going on for over 45 minutes recently and Mr Bercow admitted he allows ‘injury time’ to make up for interruptions from rowdy behaviour.
Mr Bercow also hit out at the ‘quite extraordinary’ comments reportedly made by George Osborne about wanting Theresa May ‘chopped up’ in his freezer.
And he condemned the ‘patently absurd’ size of the House of Lords, arguing it could be halved.
Without a Commons majority for her party, Mrs May is vulnerable to rebellions over amendments to the EU Withdrawal Bill.
The Speaker will make the final choice of amendments selected for debates and votes at the crucial report stage of the legislation.
Stressing his duty to the Commons and the wider public, Mr Bercow said: ‘I have not shown myself reluctant over the years to select amendments for debate and vote which may not be for the convenience of the executive.’
He added: ‘Nothing is too toxic for Parliament to consider.’
Mr Bercow, who has previously admitted backing Remain, hinted at concerns over David Cameron’s reasons for calling the EU referendum, but said the former prime minister did the ‘honourable’ thing by quitting after he lost the public vote.
Theresa May is vulnerable to rebellions over amendments to the EU Withdrawal Bill
A referendum on EU membership could have been justified because as a way of settling the issue because all the main parties backed staying in the bloc, a general election was not the way to settle the matter, he said.
‘I leave you to judge whether this referendum was called on that basis, and some of you may think it was, others of you may think it was called as a means by which to facilitate effective party management or the crowding out of another political force,’ he said.
‘The former argument for a referendum is compelling, the latter argument less so.’
Tory sources have indicated that given the ‘pretty heavy legislative agenda’ the whips ‘are not necessarily going to ask Tory MPs to vote on non-binding opposition motions’.
Mr Bercow said he would be discussing the situation with the Government and added: ‘Parliamentary votes do matter. I think it would be a very worrying development if they were to be treated lightly or disregarded.’
He said it would be a ‘matter of widespread concern’ if it was to happen on a ‘regular basis’, but he wanted to hear what the Government had to say on the matter.