New Times,
New Thinking.

16 May 2010

Tories who seek to oust Bercow better think again

The party is not in a position of strength to get rid of the Speaker.

By James Macintyre

Yet again, a fringe group of Tory backbenchers looks intent on ousting the reforming Speaker of the House of Commons, John Bercow, as — bizarrely — a matter of priority.

I wrote about this plot at some length in January. Back then, however, almost everyone thought the Tories were sure to win an outright majority.

Now they do not have that majority on their own, and must rely on a coalition with the Liberal Democrats instead. And they are not in a position of strength to indulge in such political assassinations.

Sources close to the Speaker did fear a sizeable Conservative majority; my Lib Dem sources now say that they will not allow their government partners to move against him.

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