John Bercow joins Labour insisting 'this Government needs to be replaced'

19 June 2021, 19:51 | Updated: 19 June 2021, 20:53

John Bercow has joined the Labour Party
John Bercow has joined the Labour Party. Picture: PA

By Patrick Grafton-Green

Former Conservative MP John Bercow, who became the scourge of Brexiteers as Commons Speaker, says he has joined the Labour Party.

Mr Bercow described the Tories under Boris Johnson as "reactionary, populist, nationalistic and sometimes even xenophobic".

Having stepped down as Speaker in 2019, he announced on Saturday that he had recently joined Labour.

READ MORE: Bercow claims PM doesn't treat Commons 'with respect' and calls for Covid inquiry

READ MORE: John Bercow: 'Brexit is the most colossal foreign policy blunder post war'

"I am motivated by support for equality, social justice and internationalism. That is the Labour brand," he told the Observer.

"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."

Mr Bercow served as a Tory MP for 12 years until he was elected Speaker in 2009.

John Bercow: 'Truth matters' in politics

His career was dogged by allegations of bullying from parliamentary staff which he always denied.

Mr Bercow was also the subject of intense ire from Brexit-supporting MPs who believed a series of rulings he made during his time as Speaker favoured Remain.

In September 2019, he announced his intention to stand down from the role, as well as MP for Buckingham, and vacated the Speaker's chair at the end of October that year.

John Bercow doesn't believe the PM treats the House with respect

He claimed last year there was a "conspiracy" to stop him getting a seat in the House of Lords.

Labour nominated him for a peerage after the Tories declined to do so, breaking with the long-standing convention that Speakers are elevated once they retire.

Asked if there is the possibility of being recommended for a peerage by Sir Keir Starmer, Mr Bercow told the Observer: "There has been no such discussion and I have asked for no such thing. This isn't about revenge. That is not what motivates me."

The Labour leader's office declined to comment on Mr Bercow joining the party.

'Brexit was the most colossal foreign policy blunder post war': Bercow

Shadow justice minister Karl Turner said he was unsurprised his "friend" had joined Labour, but was "delighted that he has".

John McDonnell, who was shadow chancellor under Jeremy Corbyn, said Mr Bercow had been "scrupulously fair" in his treatment of MPs, including the former Labour leader.

"He won our respect, especially for his fight to protect the rights of Parliament. I wholeheartedly welcome him into the Labour Party," Mr McDonnell said.

On the Conservative side, however, pensions minister Guy Opperman said it was "from bad to worse for" Sir Kier, adding: "Labour are welcome to Bercow."

A senior Government source said: "This will surprise nobody and shows Labour is still the party of Remain."

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Music-Green Day UN

Green Day to headline UN-backed global climate concert

Israel Palestinians Britain Aid

UN top court orders Israel to open more land crossings into Gaza

Exclusive
Starmer has vowed to resurrect Boris Johnson's 'Levelling Up' policy

Failure to ‘level up’ Britain would be ‘catastrophic’, Wes Streeting admits, as Starmer vows to resurrect Johnson policy

Border Force staff will walk out from April 11

Hundreds of Border Force officers at Heathrow Airport to stage four-day strike

Stephen Bear was ordered to pay Ms Harrison £5,000.

Disgraced reality TV star Stephen Bear ordered to pay £27,000 over revenge porn conviction or face nine months in jail

Sam Bankman-Fried

FTX founder Bankman-Fried sentenced to 25 years in prison for crypto fraud

Exclusive
Covid no excuse for death of Finley Boden who was murdered by drug-addled parents, child protection chief says

Covid no excuse for death of Finley Boden who was murdered by drug-addled parents, child protection chief says

Israel Palestinians UN Security Council

Russia ‘abolishes’ monitoring of sanctions on North Korea with UN veto

France Valentino

Former Gucci designer Alessandro Michele named Valentino creative director

Know your limits this summer, Brits have been warned

‘Know your limits’: Brits heading to the Euros this summer warned against drinking ‘too much German beer’

Russia Shooting

Russia arrests another suspect in concert hall attack that killed 143

Sam Bankman-Fried has been jailed for 25 years for a $8bn crypto fraud

'Crypto King' Sam Bankman-Fried jailed for 25 years for stealing billions of dollars from his customers

Michael Gove has been urged to 'get on with' passing the rental reforms

Ministers accused of making 'major concessions to landlords' after renters reforms 'watered down'

Supermarket opening times for Easter 2024: Trading hour revealed for Sainsbury's, Asda, Tesco, Morrisons and Aldi

Supermarket opening times for Easter 2024: Trading hours revealed for Sainsbury's, Asda, Tesco, Morrisons and Aldi

It is believed the litter picking tool was mistaken for a firearm, Northumbria Police said

Schools locked down by police after litter picker mistaken for firearm

Lewes prison

Medical incident declared at Lewes prison after several inmates hospitalised with food poisoning