Speak Up

So I'm a bit behind on this but even so I would just like to point out one thing:


I was SO right!


John Bercow is, of course, our new speaker. He's 46 so the youngest we've had in recent times but pretty much his life's work has led up to this. Let's examine:

1. Bercow began his political life in the ultra-right wing group the Monday Club. Controversially, the group, at this time, supported the repatriation of Immigrants. Bercow became secretary for the committee based on this issue, despite still being a teenager. He left the group due to an increasing level of racism. Significantly, Bercow is the son of a Jewish taxi driver
2. At the University of Essex he took charge of the Conservative Student Association and subsequently the FCS, graduating in Government (he got a first and everything!
3. He then ran in two general elections, became a South London councillor, and a deputy leader on the Tory group on Lambeth council. Finally, in 1992, he landed a job in the Commons with Jonathan Aitken (as a special adviser - boo).
4. However, Aitken was arrested, Bercow moved on to another member of Major's dying government, and in '96 he became the Member for the Conservative safe seat of Buckingham. Phew.
5. A skilled orator he was originally seen as a staunch Thatcherite. However, in the 1999-2001 Bercows political stance completely changed, with him almost turning his back on his own party and background. It is this that explains both his Labor support and Tory adversity.

Due the change in his stance front bench politics for his party quickly became out of the question for Bercow. It was in 2005 that he turned his thoughts to the job of speaker. He is, indeed, controversial, primarily due to the lack of support from his own party. But this is very different from the universal tide of opinion based on Michael Martin. Bercow has a big mouth, and it may well be that in the centrist political world of today, a big mouth is very much needed. As always though kids, we'll see...