BBC ‘journalist’ harasses Bercow on the street over refusal to allow third ‘meaningless vote’ on Brexit

John Bercow: Politeness and restraint.

When I reported that Commons Speaker John Bercow had ruled out a third “meaningful vote” (three? They’d be more aptly described as “meaningless”) on Theresa May’s duff Brexit deal, I did not expect her to try to get around it by underhand means.

As she is determined not to change a single line of her appalling document, options included a “paving vote” to set aside the convention under which the same proposal could not be put to the vote twice in a single Parliamentary session, or proroguing Parliament – ending the current session and starting a new one to get around the issue.

And then there was the lowest tactic of all – pretending that Mr Bercow made his ruling in order to derail democracy (and halt Brexit), rather than as a matter of duty as the chairperson of the House of Commons, responsible for ensuring that its decisions comply with law and precedent.

The aspect of it that really astonishes This Writer is that the BBC – currently under investigation by Ofcom on the possibility that it has been failing in its duty of impartiality – seems to have led the attack on Mr Bercow’s credibility.

And the corporation got what it deserved. Consider this response to a BBC reporter’s on-street harassment of the Speaker on his way to work.

Mr Bercow responded with politeness and restraint. The BBC reporter’s questions were – well – as Tom Pride described them.

One more thing: Suppose Mrs May manages to get another vote on her deal, and it wins support from MPs. Will they be doing so because they honestly believe it is a good deal, having read the nearly-600-page document from cover to cover?

Or will they just be tired out and afraid that they’ll lose the support of an impatient public if they don’t?


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5 thoughts on “BBC ‘journalist’ harasses Bercow on the street over refusal to allow third ‘meaningless vote’ on Brexit

  1. Stu

    This Government has consistenly moved goalposts using many underhand and sneaky tactics to get their own way like spoiled brats (then forced to u-turn).

    As I’ve said before, even Tory MPs are saying May’s deal awful and call it “the best worst option” – isn’t that how the USA got Trump?

  2. Barry

    I actually felt sorry for Bercow being harassed by a loony remainer reporter when he had actually managed to walk through the crowd without being noticed by the public before being harassed, at least he didn’t do a sorry and yell for the police. The reasons for his decision had been given in the the house so why the reporter thought he should harangue him as if he was incorrect in his decision was clearly not acceptable.

    1. Mike Sivier Post author

      “Loony retainer”?
      Conservative government supporter, more like.
      We are seeing a huge amount of insulting and divisive language from the Leave-supporting contingent of the commentariat. It is unwelcome.

  3. Daphne Nicholas

    Why is Mrs May allowed to keep asking for another vote to her deal when the people who voted leave were lied to (and this has been proved) and we are not allowed another vote to the referendum.

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