John Bercow: Brexit Is UK's Biggest Mistake Since Second World War

THE GUARDIAN: Former Speaker tells foreign media UK is better off as part of EU power bloc

Days after bowing out as Speaker of the House of Commons, John Bercowhas described Brexit as the biggest mistake Britain has made since the second world war.

Bercow, who was persistently accused of bias by Brexit-backing MPs during his term as Speaker, gave a valedictory speech to the Foreign Press Association, revealing himself to be a remainer.

“I don’t think it helps the UK. Brexit is the biggest mistake of this country after the war. I respect [the] prime minister, [Boris] Johnson, but Brexitdoesn’t help us. It’s better to be part of the [EU] power bloc,” Bercow said, according to the journalist Antonella Guerrera, of La Repubblica, who attended the event in London.

However, Bercow rejected the idea he had blocked Brexit, insisting “it was parliament” that had prevented Britain from leaving before now, “not me”. » | Heather Stewart, Political editor | Wednesday, October 6, 2019

John Bercow is right, of course. Brexit is our biggest mistake since WWII – Mark

Constitutional Chaos after Third Vote on Brexit Deal Blocked

THE GUARDIAN: PM likely to have to request long article 50 extension after Bercow intervenes

Theresa May’s government has been plunged into constitutional chaos after the Speaker blocked the prime minister from asking MPs to vote on her Brexit deal for a third time unless it had fundamentally changed.

With 11 days to go until Britain is due to leave the EU, May was forced to pull her plans for another meaningful vote because John Bercow said she could not ask MPs to pass the same deal, after they rejected it twice by huge margins. EU officials meanwhile were considering offering her a new date for a delayed Brexit to resolve the crisis.

Quoting from the guide to parliamentary procedure, Erskine May, Bercow said the question “may not be brought forward again during the same session” and that it was a “strong and longstanding convention” dating back to 1604. It must be “not different in terms of wording, but different in terms of substance”, he said, suggesting there must be a change in what the EU is offering. » | Jessica Elgot, Rowena Mason and Daniel Boffeyin Brussels | Monday, March 18, 2019