John Bercow defects to Labour

[GusB]

While not a fan of the Tories, I have a lot of respect for John Bercow. I wasn't expecting this:

John Bercow defects to Labour with withering attack on Johnson

Former Speaker joined the Conservatives aged 17 but says party has become reactionary and xenophobic under its current leadership

www.theguardian.com

John Bercow, the former Tory MP and Speaker of the House of Commons, today delivers an extraordinary broadside against Boris Johnson and the Conservative party as he announces he has switched his political allegiance to Labour.

In an explosive interview with the Observer, Bercow says he regards today’s Conservative party as “reactionary, populist, nationalistic and sometimes even xenophobic”.

Bercow, who stepped down as Speaker in 2019 after 10 years, says he joined the Labour party a few weeks ago because he now shares its values and sees it is as the only means to removing the current Tory government from office.

“I am motivated by support for equality, social justice and internationalism. That is the Labour brand,” he said. “The conclusion I have reached is that this government needs to be replaced. The reality is that the Labour party is the only vehicle that can achieve that objective. There is no other credible option.”


Bercow says that despite Johnson’s professed commitment to “levelling up”, he has no interest in those less privileged than himself. He also describes as “utterly shameful” the decision to cut international aid.

‘‘He is a successful campaigner but a lousy governor,” he said. “I don’t think he has any vision of a more equitable society, any thirst for social mobility or any passion to better the lot of people less fortunate than he is. I think increasingly people are sick of lies, sick of empty slogans, sick of a failure to deliver.’’

While Downing Street is likely to dismiss Bercow’s comments as those of an embittered remainer out for revenge because he has not been offered a peerage, as is customary for a retired Speaker, the news caps one of the most difficult weeks of Johnson’s premiership to date.

*Edit* Could this possibly be the start of a "Where did it all go wrong for the Conservatives?" thread?

 

[yorksrob]

That's interesting. Wasn't Mr Bercow a bit of a Thatcherite firebrand in his younger days ?

 

[jfollows]

It's an interesting development and one with which, on the face of it, I'm sympathetic.

I grew up politically in the 1980s, I was a few months too young to vote for Thatcher in 1979, and probably wouldn't have done anyway, but I was a "convert" subsequently and voted Conservative until 1997.

I was a member of the Oxford University Conservative Association, after Theresa May and before Boris Johnson.

I voted Labour for the first time in 2019, not because I supported Corbyn or expected him to win, but because I felt it presented a better alternative to Boris Johnson.

Of course I think our departure from the European Union to be an unmitigated disaster, and Boris Johnson's role in this to be fundamentally wrong.

I decry the reduction proposed in international aid as fundamentally wrong, insular and xenophobic.

Most of which probably coincides with John Bercow I think.

EDIT I should add that we're of similar ages, that might mean something, John Bercow is slightly more than a year younger than me. If we're in any way a product of our times, that might be relevant.

Essentially I recognise a fellow traveller down a political path, from Thatcherism in the 1980s to supporting Labour today.

 

[DarloRich]

That is unexpected!

 

[yorksrob]

I'm not a Boris-ite, but I don't see him as the great villain that some do. If I were a Tory, I doubt I'd defect to the opposition over him or his Government.

The foreign aid cut is of course troubling - but I would like to see what other Western countries percentages are as a comparison before forming my full opinion.

 

[brad465]

I certainly sympathise with this move and admire him generally, but I do wonder what impact it will have if any? In our die-hard tribal society at the moment, all leavers/most Tories loathed him for perceived remain bias in his last Speaker days, to them I imagine this just confirms their suspicions. Most of those who praised him as a Speaker probably were already Labour/Lib Dem supporters. If there is an impact, it will be to further the cause the Lib Dems showed up in Amersham & Chesham, unless or until Labour start talking more about Brexit and/or its problems are exposed once the covid smokescreen fades.

 

[yorksrob]

It's interesting that in the interview, Johnson is characterised in not having any interest in levelling up or assisting those less fortunate than himself.

Can this criticism not equally be levelled at Cameron/Osborne who foisted ten years of austerity on the country ?

 

[nlogax]

This is no great surprise. My view is he's been waiting to do this until Labour had a leader that wasn't Corbyn. Also not a good look as an ex-speaker to state a new allegiance such as this until years after leaving the post.

 

[edwin_m]

It's interesting that in the interview, Johnson is characterised in not having any interest in levelling up or assisting those less fortunate than himself.

Can this criticism not equally be levelled at Cameron/Osborne who foisted ten years of austerity on the country ?

It can, but as they are out of power it's not particularly important to do so.

Wikipedia notes speculation about defection to Labour as early as 2007.

 

[Spamcan81]

Good on him. I wish many more Tories would wake up, smell the coffee and do likewise.

 

[yorksrob]

It can, but as they are out of power it's not particularly important to do so.

Wikipedia notes speculation about defection to Labour as early as 2007.

Ah, that is interesting.

Fair play to the man, he feels strongly and is prepared to act on it.

And he did a very good job of standing up for the rights of parliament as speaker.

 

[DarloRich]

I certainly sympathise with this move and admire him generally, but I do wonder what impact it will have if any? In our die-hard tribal society at the moment, all leavers/most Tories loathed him for perceived remain bias in his last Speaker days, to them I imagine this just confirms their suspicions. Most of those who praised him as a Speaker probably were already Labour/Lib Dem supporters. If there is an impact, it will be to further the cause the Lib Dems showed up in Amersham & Chesham, unless or until Labour start talking more about Brexit and/or its problems are exposed once the covid smokescreen fades.

Agreed. Little impact beyond publicity unless it shows a wider change in support by more liberal/moderate tories

There could aslo be a book

 

[Ianno87]

.

And he did a very good job of standing up for the rights of parliament as speaker.

Credit to the guy - as speaker he was absolutely committed to enforcing the correct rules in the house, even when that made him unpopular.

 

[JamesT]

Credit to the guy - as speaker he was absolutely committed to enforcing the correct rules in the house, even when that made him unpopular.

That’s one view of it. He seemed very willing to break with precedent when it favoured the Pro-Remain side at times. The Speaker is supposed to be neutral and impartial.

 

[daodao]

as speaker he was absolutely committed to enforcing the correct rules in the house

That is incorrect. As Speaker, he broke a lot of rules/conventions.

He also didn't take a neutrai view of Brexit, as was his duty as Speaker; some may recall the "Bollocks to Brexit" sticker on his car.

 

[AlterEgo]

That's interesting. Wasn't Mr Bercow a bit of a Thatcherite firebrand in his younger days ?

He was a huge racist, being the immigration and repatriation secretary of the Monday Club which aimed to forcibly deport ethnic minorities.

He’s a leaf blown on the wind, a horrid man, a shameless careerist and history will show him to be a poor Speaker.

People who respect him need their heads checking!

 

[yorksrob]

He was a huge racist, being the immigration and repatriation secretary of the Monday Club which aimed to forcibly deport ethnic minorities.

He’s a leaf blown on the wind, a horrid man, a shameless careerist and history will show him to be a poor Speaker.

People who respect him need their heads checking!

Thanks for the background. I vaguely recall him being on the more extreme wing of the Tory party, although the Mondy Club sounds extreme even by their standards.

In terms of parliament, recent events have shown that it can be easily by-passed if the executive isn't watched and I don't think anyone can accuse him of allowing that to happen on his watch.

 

[daodao]

He was a huge racist, being the immigration and repatriation secretary of the Monday Club which aimed to forcibly deport ethnic minorities.

I am surprised at that, given that his paternal grandparents were Eastern European Jewish immigrants whose original surname was Berkowitz.

 

[Darandio]

I am surprised at that, given that his paternal grandparents were Eastern European Jewish immigrants whose original surname was Berkowitz.

They were particularly opposed to non-white immigration. Pro apartheid too.

 

[AlterEgo]

I am surprised at that, given that his paternal grandparents were Eastern European Jewish immigrants whose original surname was Berkowitz.

He’s just a weak man with no ideology of his own, desperate to fit in. Blown by the wind as I said. Unworthy of respect as a serious politician let alone as a Speaker.

Anyone who was in a political pressure group aiming to remove people based on their race or ethnic origin should have no career in mainstream politics at all.

That’s before we mention the several bullying allegations levelled against him.

 

[Whistler40145]

I salute John Bercow to defect to Labour away from all those Tory Twits with Boris Johnson being the biggest twit born ever

 

[AlterEgo]

I salute John Bercow to defect to Labour away from all those Tory Twits with Boris Johnson being the biggest twit born ever

Well, I note from your other postings you are a:

fully paid up member of The Labour Party, I've only ever vote for them.

I'd rather scrub the Town Hall steps than vote Tory, their all self centred, more interested in what they can do for themselves.

So I’m keen to understand why someone in the Labour Party would be keen to have a man like Bercow on board. Especially since his career has really been about what he can do for himself, no? You’ve got to ask why he was in the Monday Club; is it because he was a Massive Walloping Racist, or was it because he thought that was where the best opportunity lay for his political aspirations? Or perhaps both?

 

[61653 HTAFC]

You've given an account of a person's alleged past beliefs (but submitted no evidence to support those allegations), and when challenged have asked others to submit evidence to the contrary. That which can be asserted without evidence can also be dismissed without evidence.

I don't particularly have a dog in this fight, but you can't simply say "These are the facts" without evidence to support them.

That's not to mention that I don't really care if someone had horrific views in the past, as long as they no longer hold those views. We can learn a lot from people who have gone down that rabbit hole and managed to get out.

 

[AlterEgo]

You've given an account of a person's alleged past beliefs (but submitted no evidence to support those allegations), and when challenged have asked others to submit evidence to the contrary. That which can be asserted without evidence can also be dismissed without evidence.

I don't particularly have a dog in this fight, but you can't simply say "These are the facts" without evidence to support them.

Sorry, what? The fact Bercow was in the Monday Club and was secretary of its immigration and - ahem - repatriation committee, is a matter of public record and is something he’s talked about several times. How do people not know this?

BBC News Online | Politics | The John Bercow story

news.bbc.co.uk

He claims he left because it was full of massive racists (well duh) yet seems to be fireproof from the same accusation. The most charitable explanation is that he joined the Big Racist Deport-the-Ethnics Club because he is a careerist who simply chooses the path that best suits his personal ambition, and he still doesn’t come out well if that’s what you think.

Nearly all of Bercow’s political decisions can be explained as charitably as that if you so choose, so I don’t see why some of the Labour Party’s members are so keen to have him. Perhaps he’s in it for himself and not you? After all…he was a Tory, right?

 

[ainsworth74]

Things got a little heated here earlier. Lets please try and keep things civil and in line with the Forum Rules.

Thanks,
ainsworth74

 

[Bayum]

It's interesting that in the interview, Johnson is characterised in not having any interest in levelling up or assisting those less fortunate than himself.

Can this criticism not equally be levelled at Cameron/Osborne who foisted ten years of austerity on the country ?

On the one hand, Boris has been unable to do anything other than focus on the pandemic so hasn’t been able to focus on what he’d have liked… on the other hand, I cannot stand the man and nothing he has done in his political career seems anything other than pushing himself higher. Even recent quotes about his desperation to leave 10 Downing Street and get back to making money and being ‘excited’ to earn millions more than he is currently - me me me. I don’t see his current career as being anything other than a way to demand higher salaries/public speaking payments.

 

[yorksrob]

On the one hand, Boris has been unable to do anything other than focus on the pandemic so hasn’t been able to focus on what he’d have liked… on the other hand, I cannot stand the man and nothing he has done in his political career seems anything other than pushing himself higher. Even recent quotes about his desperation to leave 10 Downing Street and get back to making money and being ‘excited’ to earn millions more than he is currently - me me me. I don’t see his current career as being anything other than a way to demand higher salaries/public speaking payments.

It will be interesting to see if he does stick around after the crisis, and what sort of policies he would pursue in 'normal' times.

He doesn't seem to be particularly antagonistic towards the railway (as an example) although all bets are off if revenue doesn't recover.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Sorry, what? The fact Bercow was in the Monday Club and was secretary of its immigration and - ahem - repatriation committee, is a matter of public record and is something he’s talked about several times. How do people not know this?

BBC News Online | Politics | The John Bercow story

news.bbc.co.uk

He claims he left because it was full of massive racists (well duh) yet seems to be fireproof from the same accusation. The most charitable explanation is that he joined the Big Racist Deport-the-Ethnics Club because he is a careerist who simply chooses the path that best suits his personal ambition, and he still doesn’t come out well if that’s what you think.

Nearly all of Bercow’s political decisions can be explained as charitably as that if you so choose, so I don’t see why some of the Labour Party’s members are so keen to have him. Perhaps he’s in it for himself and not you? After all…he was a Tory, right?

Why are you surprised that someone asked you to support your statement with a citation? You've done so now, so it presumably wasn't that hard. For those of us that weren't aware of Bercow's past, did you expect us to just blindly accept it?

Anyway, it's good to know that you don't believe that people can ever change their minds, learn from their past mistakes, and grow for the better. Once a racist always a racist, eh? Perhaps you should add "White American Youth" by Christian Picciolini to your reading list.

 

[317 forever]

He admitted the other week to voting for Sadiq Khan. I believe is wife is a Labour Councillor. So maybe his decision was inevitable at some stage.

 

[AlterEgo]

Why are you surprised that someone asked you to support your statement with a citation? You've done so now, so it presumably wasn't that hard. For those of us that weren't aware of Bercow's past, did you expect us to just blindly accept it?

Anyway, it's good to know that you don't believe that people can ever change their minds, learn from their past mistakes, and grow for the better. Once a racist always a racist, eh? Perhaps you should add "White American Youth" by Christian Picciolini to your reading list.

No, I’m surprised that people didn’t know this given he was the Speaker and a very prominent figure in the political fallout of the last few years. It’s remarkable his membership (sorry, not just membership: secretary of!) of a far right racist organisation has just been memory-holed. It’s been a matter of public record that has resurfaced several times yet nobody seems to care.

I’m not sure how you seem to have missed my point, which I’ve explained in several posts. There are two explanations as to why Bercow was in a far right group. One is that he’s a racist, and the other, more charitable and perhaps more plausible one, is that he saw this at the time as merely a vehicle for his political and personal ambitions (you can read quite a lot into Bercow’s career, who just like many other career politicians, has simply chosen his political positions based on personal ambition). Either way, why would the Labour Party want him?

Still haven’t covered his bullying allegations the results of which aren’t fully public yet. That’s more dry powder for his Labour career. Looks like a pretty unwise and rather desperate recruitment decision from Labour for me, and nobody has mounted any form of defence against what I’ve said regarding Bercow.