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Nicholas Lezard writing in the Independent today: “Forgive Bercow his past indiscretions” :http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/nicholas-lezard-forgive-bercow-his-past-indiscretions-1835530.html points the finger at disgruntled Tories who think that he is now a “bit of a Lefty”.

Although as general principle, I don’t think that he is wrong in terms of people in public life all too often being ‘attacked’ for the wrong thing by the Media, in terms of his article and Speaker Bercow, I think that he rather misunderstands or misrepresents the position somewhat.

The Past is the Past

Whilst I would agree that what people did or did not do in their youth should not be held against them 20 years later when they have clearly “moved on” and indeed as Cameron said when hounded by the media over whether he ever took drugs in which they were supported by the Labour Party, that was then and such things should be left private unless clearly criminal.

For most of us, what we did in our youths exposed to public gaze today, might well be embarrassing and in my case, the various failed love affairs in my 40s and 50s, even more so but, I am not of ‘public interest’, Lord help those who are.

It Was a Poor Appointment

However, to portray the general dislike for Bercow as Speaker as down wholly to Tory die-hards because they think he is now a “Lefty”, is foolish and overlooks the key facts and genuine concerns concerning him as Speaker.

Michael Martin was forced to go because he was incompetent and but for tribal motives, would never have got the job in the first place. Following his resignation, the Labour Party and mainly out of spite, made sure that Bercow got the job. Bercow at a crucial time for Parliament and its relationship with the electorate following the Expenses Scandal, has hardly put in the stellar performance required in the job particularly at this time or, in these times, he looks little better than the man he replaced.

What Should Have Happened

In my opinion, MPs should have appointed a clearly “temporary” Speaker this close to a General Election and Widdercombe who is standing down anyway, might have been a good choice because love her or loath her, through the media she had a direct line of communication with the electorate that Bercow doesn’t indeed, his problem is that he looks ‘introverted’ in comparison and worse, smug.

The problem with appointing Bercow was a bit like some total unknown in the Communist Party suddenly being appointed to a very senior post on the Politburo. His appointment was an ‘insider deal’ at a time that needed someone with personality and was known to the public at large and could reach out to them. If MPs continue to suffer from the Expenses Scandal today, in no small part it was Bercow’s election that have contributed to their woes.

What was needed was a well known and trustworthy person who could reassure the public that what was wrong would be righted and that they would keep everyone informed along the way. I am not that tall either but frankly, Parliament just didn’t need a “Shorty Smug Pants” all pleased with himself and apparently oblivious to the dangers surrounding our democracy.

Looking at the two best choices for a Speaker, neither stood, I hope they do after the next election, Frank Field and Vince Cable, either would I have no doubt do a Stirling job.

The Recent Coverage

The recent spark of interest arose from Bercow’s wife Sally who wants to stand for public office as a Labour Councillor and giving in the process a rather slap dash interview the purpose of which one suspects was to get out in the open any past indiscretions now, so that they could not come to haunt her later. A fair enough tactic but rather badly handled by her, she should have prepared more and/or taken better advice and some media training.

However and on the whole, it led to lots of “Embarrassing Relatives” headlines rather than any personal vitriol. Comparing various American politicians such as Bill Clinton and his brother rather than Cherie Blair and the “Booths” so, I didn’t get the impression that “Long Tall Sally” got a pasting by the media over it all.

The Real Issue…

But underlying the whole thing is the simple fact that Bercow is no better at the Speaker’s job than was his predecessor Martin and sooner rather than later, really has to go and be replaced with someone who can bring to Westminster that strange combination of skills that Betty Boothroyd and Lord Tonypandy bought to the role. This has nothing to do with which party or what “political bent” the Speaker has, it is to do with restoring both affection and respect among the public for the institution of Parliament.

The true “magic” of the Monarchy is that it can “speak directly to the people” over and above party politics in times of national emergency and provide a unifying national view. At a lesser level today, the Speaker must emulate the Monarch and be able to reach out and unify the people behind the “Institution of Parliament” and regardless of the nature of the current incumbents. The Speaker’s job is not to be a “Shop Steward” for MPs, certainly not, they too are the ‘enemy’ of the people (once elected). His job is to preserve Parliament against all-comers which is why he has an apartment on the premises.

One of the Speaker’s titles is “The First Commoner” because when the Executive was the Monarch, the Speaker was the interface between the Legislature (Commons) and the King. As the modern day King in the shape of the PM sits inside the Commons, it is probably the case that to some extent, the Speaker should be the interface between Parliament, “the Institution” and the Electorate, in this regard Bercow doesn’t fit the bill and will always attract flack, and needs to be replaced.

Apparently like his predecessor, he really, really wanted the job but having had a 6 month run, he clearly isn’t the man for it and for whatever reason, just hasn’t risen to the challenge. “Cometh the Hour, cometh the Man…” is just not working out in this case so, time for a change.