Ministers 'ready to help topple Speaker John Bercow' after Brexit comments

Facing backlash: Speaker John Bercow
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Ministers are ready to join moves to topple Speaker John Bercow, the Tory MP leading the revolt claimed today.

Backbencher James Duddridge also insisted there would be a vote on whether MPs have confidence in the Speaker after they return from the half-term recess.

Mr Bercow infuriated many Conservative MPs by recently telling students in Reading that he voted for Remain in the June referendum on Britain’s membership of the EU.

He was already under fire for backing MPs calling for Donald Trump to be barred from speaking in the historic Westminster Hall in Parliament during his State visit expected in June.

Former Foreign Office minister James Duddridge claimed Mr Bercow had “broken his employment contract effectively with MPs” by speaking out on policy issues.

He told BBC radio: “I have received reassurances that there will be a free vote for ministers and ministers have been on the phone to me over the weekend, as well as backbenchers, as well as people of all political parties saying if it comes to a vote of no confidence they will vote with me... against Speaker Bercow.”

Tory moves which could have ousted Mr Bercow were launched at the end of the last Parliament but failed.

A fresh attempt would risk damaging Parliament’s standing, particularly abroad, as it is likely to be seen as targeting Mr Bercow for being a Remainer.

It could also undermine the position of Speaker as Mr Bercow would be the second to be ousted since 2009 when Michael Martin was forced out, compared to none in the 300 previous years.

However, a number of the MPs who defended Mr Bercow in 2015 are arch Leavers and even some of his traditional allies are voicing concerns.

Conservative Conor Burns criticised him for “grandstanding” over Mr Trump.

He told BBC radio’s The Westminster Hour, said: “I hope the current controversy will pass and that John Bercow will be able to step aside as he said within the next year or eighteen months.”

Liberal Democrat chief whip Tom Brake, though, defended Mr Bercow’s handling of parliamentary debates.

“Clearly, those in support of Brexit, are getting, in my view as a Remain supporter, more than their fair share of time,” he added.

Mr Bercow is also credited with defying David Cameron to pave the way for the EU referendum.

A spokesman for the Speaker said; “The record shows that he has rigorously facilitated the raising of concerns of those on both sides of this argument, as he does on every other issue.”

It was not clear if the motion of no confidence tabled by Mr Duddridge would be debated.

However, Commons Leader David Lidington warned at the weekend that the Speaker must command the confidence of the whole House.

Braintree Tory MP James Cleverly tweeted: “The whole point of Speaker’s political impartiality is that I should never know whether I agree with him or not.”

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