John Bercow's greatest moments as House of Commons speaker

Advertisement
John Bercow's greatest moments as House of Commons speaker

Advertisement
john bercow parliament

Reuters

John Bercow

  • The UK House of Commons Speaker John Bercow has announced his resignation.
  • Bercow has become famous around the world, with clips of his interventions often going viral.
  • Here are some of his greatest moments in the House of Commons chair.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The UK House of Commons Speaker John Bercow announced his resignation in an emotional speech on Monday.

Bercow has become famous around the world for his bombastic style, with clips of his interventions in parliament regularly going viral online and featuring in late night comedy shows.

Here are some of Bercow's greatest moments as Speaker.

Read more: John Bercow resigns as House of Commons speaker in emotional speech

Advertisement

Bercow bans Trump

Bercow hit the headlines around the globe for his decision to ban Trump from speaking in the UK Parliament. He said that the president should not be allowed to address members and peers due to his record of "racism and sexism"

Bercow's death stare

Bercow is popular with opposition members of parliament and unpopular with the Conservative government, due to his willingness to intervene in the favour of backbenchers. In 2015 the then Prime Minister David Cameron presided over an attempt to oust him from the Speaker's Chair, which ultimately failed. Bercow's expression when MPs rejected the attempt has gone down in parliamentary history.

Bercow tells Michael Gove to "be a good boy"

 

Bercow accuses Boris Johnson of sexism

The Speaker has never shied from clashing with the prime minister of the day, from David Cameron to Theresa May, to Boris Johnson. This moment, which took place while Johnson was Foreign Secretary under May, is particularly notable.

Bercow's musical turn of phrase

Bercow has an often lyrical way with words, which has inspired some social media users to put them to music.

Advertisement

Here he is saying the name of Conservative MP Peter Bone to the tune of Beethoven's fifth symphony.

And here he is calling Labour MP Bambos Charalambous to the sound of Queen's Under Pressure.

And most gloriously of all, here he is calling Labour MP Thangam Debbonaire to speak in the Chamber, to the tune of Bon Jovi's Living on a Prayer.

Our Brexit Insider Facebook group is the best place for up-to-date news and analysis about Britain's departure from the EU, direct from Business Insider's political reporters. Join here.

{{}}