John Bercow | Cambridge Union

January 24th 2023 at 18:00 in the Debating Chamber
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Thumbnail Photo Credits: Alex Lau
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John Bercow is a political icon. Speaker of the House of Commons for over a decade and known for his booming voice, he became a figure above partisan politics, defending parliament in the face of an increasingly aggressive government.
His legacy is mixed, with accusations of bullying balanced against estimable efforts to engage young people and charities.
Stepping down amidst the 2019 parliamentary chaos over Brexit, he was both championed as an impartial speaker and vilified as a Remainer saboteur.
Either way, Bercow has rejuvenated the speakership and captured the public's attention throughout one of the most turbulent periods of British politics. We are honoured to have him speak for us.
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[@Crowborn]

Highly respect this guy for changing politically as he did. Will miss him

[@seanneary1370]

John talks a lot of good common sense with a balanced view on many matters. Interesting how his political stance has changed from a relatively right wing stance to that of left wing. All credit to him.

[@joshua.910]

"Relatively right wing"? 😂 guy was further right than the BNP😂

[@J.B24]

Him chairing the youth parliament that first time was one of the things that really impressed me. As an American I wish our Speaker of the House or President pro tempre of the Senate would do this. I'm bet those kids loved it and will never forget it. You can see he choked up a little when he talked about it.

[@tytn9978]

John Bercow impressed and delighted me during his time as Speaker, and he continues to do so in any "interview" I watch. He does a remarkable "Winston Churchill" as well!

[@douglasclouatre165]

How about is abusive, narcissistic sociopath? This is a man who abused staff - there is an 85 page report from British judges finding that he was the most despicable character. You need to find new role models.

[@deepikayadav2499]

Orrrdeerrrrrr!!!!. Such a impeccable...geezer!

[@Terpsichore1]

I’m almost certain you meant “despicable”.

[@douglasclouatre165]

You are being too kind to call him despicable. I cannot believe the people who worshipped at the feet of this sociopath. @@Terpsichore1

[@DTL9164]

I miss his odddddeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeerrrrr!!!!

[@jacobtapianieto9655]

So do I!

[@munrocrerar]

09:35 👀

[@2triangles]

Couldn’t take the poor audio. The interviewer who (respectfully) we’re not here to see is holding the mic instead of the guest of honor? 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@divest6527]

That ken clarke impression is spot on.

[@douglasclouatre165]

I would prefer his impression of a sociopath who screamed obscenities at his staff - I heard he did that on a weekly basis.

[@divest6527]

@@douglasclouatre165where did you hear that?

[@xinniandong4042]

江山如画，一时多少豪杰。

[@xinniandong4042]

青山不与兴亡事，只共垂杨伴海潮

[@bangkokcanon]

lord bercow 👏

[@j.x.x.r3645]

Baron Bercow of Buckingham (his old constituency) has a ring to it, although I think only hereditary peers are called baron

[@bangkokcanon]

@@j.x.x.r3645 bbb

[@douglasclouatre165]

I think you meant "Lord, God almighty don't put that sociopath Bercow into the Peers. @@j.x.x.r3645

[@george_anak_lihi]

take back your job in parliament london tq

[@jonnnyren6245]

Mr. Speaker, if you're bored will you please be so kind to come here to Canada and take the Premiership from Justin Trudeau? Please I AM BEGGING!!!!

[@DerekWong967]

Why did Cambridge Union invite a man who isn't even allowed to enter Parliament because of his harrassing behaviour while in office.

[@JK-br1mu]

1:58 ......uhhh, you heard that you could get away with bullying lower ranking staff? And that mimicking multiple people in your office, as part of your Little Man Syndrome, would not be frowned upon?

[@douglasclouatre165]

A typical narcissistic personality on Bercow.

[@karldelavigne8134]

Ridiculous narcissist, whose first action as Speaker was to ditch his uniform because his vanity was greater than the office. And then he was inebriated by the exuberance of his own verbosity.

[@discy12345]

"Inebriated by the exuberance of his own verbosity". That could have been said a lot simpler.

[@karldelavigne8134]

@@discy12345 I was quoting Disraeli, but maybe you missed the irony.

[@elgee6202]

He wasn't the first Speaker to drop parts of the uniform. Betty Boothroyd ditched the wig and Michael Martin chose not to wear knee breeches, silk stockings, or the traditional buckled shoes.

[@karldelavigne8134]

@@elgee6202 Some allowance was made for the first woman speaker, whose hairdo was quite substantial. The court dress aspects of the uniform were not, as I remember, daily. Speaker Martin was not a good example, but at least he kept a semi-judicial appearance.

[@chrisdavie8163]

Who'd bother inviting him?

[@jonhoskin]

Trashed the high office of Speaker. A disgrace. Pompous & arrogant. Got what he deserved when retiring - nothing.

[@geraldbutler5484]

Compared to that oaf Johnson he is shy and retiring.

[@kevinbrown5737]

Has his name suggests he was nothing but a Berk worst speaker we have ever had

[@geraldbutler5484]

You have a very short and biased memory.

[@kevinbrown5737]

@@geraldbutler5484 biased but not short

[@mattjames88]

He's a bully