The Conservative MP attempting to oust House of Commons speaker, john bercow, has claimed that he has support from all parties and several ministers. James Duddridge, the MP for Southend and Rochford who is starting proceedings to motion a vote of no confidence against Bercow, said that he has been told parliament will arrange a time for a vote of no confidence to be debated.
'Enough is enough'
Duddridge, speaking to Radio 4, said: 'Ministers and MPs have been on the phone to me over the weekend discussing the speaker. People from all parties. Many have told me that they will vote with me in the lobbies against Speaker Bercow.
I feel like the time for Bercow to step down has come. enough is enough. We need a new impartial Speaker in the House'.
The campaign to motion a vote of no confidence against John Bercow started when he told the House of Commons that he would not allow President Donald Trump to address the Houses of Parliament during his state visit to the United Kingdom later this year. The campaign to oust Bercow gained further support over the weekend after a video of Bercow telling students at Reading University that he voted to remain in the European Union.
'Time to resign'
This morning, Duddridge alleged that Speaker Bercow was 'using the Speaker’s chair to consider international affairs' and 'only allowing his friends to speak' rather than being impartial.
Duddridge demanded that Bercow resigned on his own volition: 'He has broken his impartiality by discussing affairs not pertinent to his position. It is time for the speaker to resign from his position'.
On the 'Andrew Marr Show,' David Lidington, the leader of the House of Commons, said parliament would discuss the suitability of Bercow.
Lidington said:'There will be a big reaction among pro-Brexit MPs for his comments made in Reading. The speaker requires the confidence of the House and Speaker Bercow appears to be losing that'.
Tom Brake, the former deputy leader of the Commons, defended Bercow. He said that Bercow has made enemies with frontbenchers because he grants opposition parties the platform to criticise the executive.
