Quote:
Originally Posted by Hugh
Also defuses the potential setting of a precedent of a major party putting forward a challenger in the Speaker’s constituency at Election time - future Speakers may not be in such safe seats.
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With the likes of the SNP’s Pete Wishart, hilariously devoid of self-awareness, calling for “this remainer parliament” to choose a new speaker designed to give one last “middle finger to the Brexit cult”, should the new speaker turn out to have been too closely involved in recent events, or should they rapidly make a nuisance of themselves to the government, I wouldn’t bet the farm on that precedent not being challenged.
I’d say there is a very good chance of Farage putting someone up against a remainer speaker in any case, especially if they represent a Brexit leaning constituency.
Bercow has presided over a bonfire of convention, asserting parliamentary sovereignty at the expense even of challenging the most ancient convention is that parliament legislates but it does not attempt to govern. Granted many people think he’s done a grand old job, but in the longer run his undermining of the principle of respect for convention may have serious unforeseen consequences for our constitutional settlement.