John Bercow: five memorable moments from a decade as Speaker

After 10 years as House of Commons Speaker, John Bercow will be stepping down by 31 October. Well known for his theatrical shouts of 'Order' to unruly MPs, he has also proved to be a controversial figure in one of the most turbulent episodes in British politics. From his thoughts on Donald Trump addressing parliament to accusations of calling the leader of the house, Andrea Leadsom, a 'stupid woman', here are five of his most memorable moments in the role
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[@guardiannews]

We've adjusted the music because a lot of you were right.

[@isaacfisher2482]

What?

[@slax4884]

@@isaacfisher2482 maybe music mix was off

[@jpr1est783]

Music is psychological manipulation. A low single note drone or a heroic and triumphant buildup can give the same scene in a movie a drastically different interpretation. Same goes for speeches. Words do not need to be underscored. You'd think journalists would understand this and be objective. But then if you were objective you wouldn't exclusively select anti-Brexit, anti-Trump, anti-Conservative or, well, basically anything that isn't the far-left.

[@syukwan-kerr8118]

@@jpr1est783 Everything I don't agree with is Far-Left (not Über-Liberal)

[@guardiannews]

@@isaacfisher2482 People saying the music was too loud in the comments. They were correct.

[@erinhand]

Shame they are writing him out of brexit season three. He was my favourite character.

[@Sharon-lj8kb]

Lol😂😂👍

[@RFSA180]

Saying Season instead of Series is exactly why Brexit happened

[@Rezzo64]

Three seasons is rather undercutting everything, we're on at least season 7 at present

[@Rezzo64]

Season 1 Cameron and the Public Vote Season 2 See You, EU Season 3 A Quick General Election Season 4 A Deadline Begins to Loom Season 5 There May Be a Problem Season 6 Extension: Granted Season 7 Enter the Bojo

[@jonistan9268]

Yeah I'm going to stop watching this show

[@hexa3389]

"I couldn't give a flying flamingo about what your view is" This man is fuckimg legend

[@anasnagati5079]

Don't you mean flamingo legend?

[@user-kn8mk8lx5b]

sorry, what does flying flamingo mean?

[@TMBARD]

@@user-kn8mk8lx5b It’s an airborne bird.

[@user-kn8mk8lx5b]

@@TMBARD ohyet', you managed to open my eyes. My world starts to play by different colors. Thank you so much

[@TMBARD]

@@user-kn8mk8lx5b I could really give a flying flamingo what you think

[@peeper2070]

He's only 32 but the stress of being an Arsenal fan makes him look nearly 40.

[@legendaryubagel2383]

Was him being 32 a joke

[@LaraClement]

he's 56 aha

[@matty.r23]

Peeper, can i cook u in my submarine

[@jakethomson1986]

He is literally a 56 year old man mate

[@killerfunghoul3948]

Peeper 😂😂👍🏼

[@Laura-yd3ds]

Poor man 10 years of madness he has seen

[@Dreamskater100]

Poor man probably has a MASSIVE salary.

[@bruh-sf4gw]

@Ant Everett "dear liberal" are you forgetting that bercow was a conservative before becoming the speaker

[@cockneycharm3970]

Poor? 😂😂 He should have left ages ago.

[@islamispeace333]

@Bo Pik you must be dense as bricks to think that

[@TheScience69]

*caused* you mean. Brexit would be done by now. This guy voted remain so has held it up for years, cackling like a 10 year old girl in glee while he undermines democracy to get his own way. All the remainers can think its funny and amazing...what happens when the next thing he doesnt want is something YOU voted for?

[@sanirday]

0:56 how you look on the first day of school 2:36 how you look on the last day of school

[@DarkCreed]

He went super saiyan

[@frankenelimtangco2400]

Mate 😂😂🤣🤣

[@dilapnapunjabi703]

haha

[@him050]

When he gave Boris a dressing down for his addressing of the foreign secretary I instantly fell in love with him. A gentleman is measured on his character, which is ultimately addressed on how he treats others. His refusal to let slip a man pretending he doesn’t know a woman’s name then to just to refer to her via her husbands title is admirable.

[@kevinhall3188]

THAT WAS A SET UP TO MAKE YOU THINK IN A CERTAIN WAY.. AS WITH MANY OTHER TELEVISED "SET PIECES"...

[@him050]

@@kevinhall3188 how can you set things up in the House of Commons? And the chamber is always televised so what you’ve said doesn’t really make much sense.

[@TMBARD]

To be fair, many women ride the coattails of their husband’s success - Just look at the Duke of Sussex’s wife (whatever her name is) who was formerly married to a film producer in California because she was an actress.

[@totallynotarussianspy5336]

@@TMBARD you know Meghan’s name, dont play dumb. Markle was famous before Harry, as you said yourself, she was an actress.

[@BrucknerMotet]

@@kevinhall3188 AS IN USING ALL CAPS IN A VAIN ATTEMPT TO INJECT SOME MARGIAL ADDITIONAL TANGIBLE "OOMPH" OR EMPHASIS TO A POINT/MESSAGE/CLAIM/ARGUMENT, A RATHER FRUMPISH AND DUMPY OOMPH THAT SOME READERS MIGHT, BUT NOT NECESSARILY WILL OR SHOULD, TREAT NOT AS THE MERE PUFFERY AND VACUOUS SURPLUSAGE THAT IT IN FACT IS, BUT RATHER AS SOME SORT OF ACTUAL ADDITIONAL RELEVANT AND MATERIAL EVIDENCE/BACKING/WARRANT THAT, TO THE DELUDED MIND, APPEARS TO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO SAID POINT/MESSAGE/CLAIM/ARGUMENT. Or something along those lines.

[@sinopino2812]

The way he says order, in so many different ways, is just music to my ears.

[@corn4073]

I always thought it was " oh deaaaar" :)))

[@JohnHillRSNStudios]

That flying flamingo line was epic!

[@BEASTLYHACKZ]

It was epic, haha.

[@kurgo_]

He's been using it for years, truth be told. Still lovely.

[@veebee854]

I am going to use that in my speech now, especially because people expect me swear all the time!

[@martinmatocha3496]

I love that Mr. Bercow's 'ORDER' plays in between the segments

[@Schlotzinger]

How much will I miss him! He defined "Mr. Speaker" as an independent, strong, honourable and reliable person. That is what a parliament needs.

[@DracoSuave]

He definately followed in the steps of Bootroyd, who was similar in many ways.

[@JfK--OBJECTivE]

independent, strong, honourable and reliable person? Your comment is sarcasm, right?

[@DracoSuave]

@@JfK--OBJECTivE Move away from the position of a brexit partisan hack for a moment, and understand that from the standpoint of a speaker of the house, allowing MPs to vote who represent the 49.5% who did NOT vote for brexit is well within his mandate of defending the interests of democracy and the house of commons, in the face of a government that actively sought to try to use the rules to deny votes on parliamentary measures. That is precisely what an independant, strong, honorable, and reliable speaker should do. Even if it opposes their original party, and even if it opposes what some voters would want to happen. A reminder that until brexit, not a single brexit hack had anything poor to say about Bercow, and in fact, those same hacks re-elected him to speaker AFTER brexit even started. Unanimously.

[@jeremysmith8035]

widely regarded as the worst speaker ever in the UK parliament history, however I wouldn't want his Job as someone famously said, you won't find a bigger hive of criminals, con artists and lunatics than in the house of commons

[@Olicom]

​@@jeremysmith8035Mate that's on you for thinking that way because the previous speakers before bercow are so incompetent compared to him

[@royblekman8186]

Parliament Will never be the same without John Barcow.

[@mattiafioravanti8475]

@Phil Earl If you think that the House of Common is corrupted, take a look at the italian parliament. Now THAT'S corrupted

[@dannygoode2255]

@@mattiafioravanti8475 he's not in the Italian parliament so who cares. He's in the European maffia.

[@cjmaritz]

Yes that's bloody true. It will be a much more humane, and humble parliament once he jogs on and a better speaker takes less devicive control!

[@mrmetal1680]

It will be exactly the same. Parliament is owned by the bankers and corporations. It's an oligarchy people, one day everyone might just get it.

[@roger1952]

Get rid of him now he is a joke.

[@mattiafioravanti8475]

Why, I ask WHY, would you feel the need to play a stupid music loop in the background?

[@dewbottle]

the music is to cover up his sad little voice !

[@NUFCOfficial]

They uploaded it without and then made the video private and reuploaded with the music loop to appear trendy and appeal more to young people even though it makes the video terrible.

[@lydiagould3090]

Hate music. It gets everywhere. Buy earplugs

[@kungfublob5951]

Blame the hipsters

[@ralph17p]

Maybe it's copyrighted and therefore easier to take down elsewhere when it gets re-uploaded by others.

[@utubebroadcaster]

Orderrrrr the door, orda the door, orda door, hodor

[@lydiagould3090]

🤣🤣🤣

[@dennydaydreamer]

o'dourves~~~~

[@Phoenix_cataclysm_in_2040]

That sounds more like speaker Martin, bless him.

[@novemberalpha6023]

One of the best funny Line I heard in years 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@idontremembermylogin]

"five memorable moments from a decade as Speaker" and yet the oldest moment is from 2017

[@pault5947]

Maybe there weren't any before that.

[@KasumiRINA]

@JonnyRed801 well, it seems Tories can be people too... (am non-a-Brit so we kinda see Brexit as direct betrayal of Europe so here's that)

[@bearberenstein5202]

Did the narrative just show a little light with this comment?

[@NateSearson]

The last 3 years of UK Politics has felt as long as a decade tbh

[@ShiroKage009]

They didn't include the moment that lead to Cameron's attempt to oust him.

[@wisleylau3149]

I feel sorry for Britain to lose such a great speaker

[@mddanishalikhan316]

Yae.

[@zulkiflijamil4033]

Yes, I too feel sorry that British Parliament lost such a great speaker.

[@jodellkesterseegobin2039]

Best of luck John "ORRRDAAA" Bercow! Hoping Martin Freeman will play him in the Brexit movie

[@Outside85]

Skip Freeman, you need Brian Blessed for the voice.

[@royalassistance4566]

That is a big pity Mr Bercow will no longer be The Speaker. A man of great charisma, charm and intelligence.

[@liambartlett7093]

This guy is amazing

[@liambartlett7093]

Well same as all... at least this guy stands up for parliament and does his job properly

[@Niribu]

My friend is obsessed with politics and loves yelling OORRRRRDDDAAAAHHH and I have been wondering what on earth he’s been on.

[@jaredsilvers2782]

AND NOW YOU KNOW

[@thereisalwaysarainbowafter1364]

He’s on politics and only the savage ones

[@tovekauppi1616]

“I couldn’t give a flying flamingo what your view is.”😂🤣😂

[@elliotwoodhouse2459]

I'm going to miss that man's ties

[@Chowder12345able]

Even worse, nobody yells "ORDAH" quite like he does

[@LordHeath1972]

The most obvious one that comes to mind which surprises me in being absent from the video was the time he told David Cameron "he HAS finished, and he can take it from me that he's finished!"

[@geoffpoole483]

"Mr Gove you are a very excitable individual! Calm down, man!"

[@norawright807]

My admiration and respect for Speaker Bercow is enormous. He was once a hard right Tory; a member of the 1922 committee. And then John met Sally. Praise de lawd. Thank you for being a magnificent speaker, Sir.

[@richardharrold9736]

1922 isn't hard right? It's simply the constitutional committee of the party. Are you thinking of the Monday Club?

[@randomrangoon5476]

I'd like to shake his hand for standing the ground and putting people in their places in the most well spoken way.

[@rutereis8403]

John Bercow is the best of the BEST. From Portugal, I heard the House of Commons live as a great momentum of diplomacy, honour and courtesy. Great values in a Speaker, in a Person, if John Bercow had a channel live, I would certainly follow him :)

[@SuperAna1954]

Exactamente.

[@xb0xguru]

Caught the season finale last night. Was right to stick around for the end credits scene.

[@MrBizteck]

Beats S8 of GoT thats for sure!

[@PB-mo1fs]

The man is a legend. He will be much missed.

[@Fidelisjoff]

By those that hate impartiality.

[@difruntanguls]

Hahahahahahahaha

[@Sam-qh1sh]

P B no!! He’s a little tosser, who won’t be missed at all

[@ohgodwhy]

Bah so many people have recently just jumped on the Bercow bandwagon because the media's started giving him a platform.

[@zunaidislam5804]

He’s the type of guy that could make up some word and I would believe it’s a proper English word

[@lord_scrubington]

absolute legend of a speaker

[@zachcurry7008]

Boris Johnson is actually clapped ngl

[@MaggieOliver68]

eu Police holding Brexit protesters hostage wtf, shame on you labour and lib dems

[@reman3000]

🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@bobble123Martin]

No u

[@deanwilliams8845]

John is by far the best speaker I have seen. He leads the house and keeps orrrrrrrddddddder

[@iain075]

What a wonderful manner of speaking he has, and the way he stresses particular words whilst looking directly at the audience. Pure charisma in my view. Just as well he took a benign path in politics.

[@jamieguthrie1760]

"Five memorable moments from the last 18 months as speaker"..

[@marknc9616]

I am from the US. I first heard of John Bercow in a video where Boris Johnson and others were telling funny stories about his time as speaker at his retirement. I enjoyed that video. I have since watched other John Bercow videos and enjoyed those too.

[@mjrsnafu]

Bravo Mr Bercow, your steady hand will be sorely missed in these troubled times

[@holli1st]

He`s simply ingenious! Best regards from Gernany.

[@alllove3270]

I think we all know what he was trying to say when he screamed flying flamingoes!!!!!!

[@IIIIIIIIIIIIIIPKIIIIIIIIIIIIII]

Living legend. Deserves so much better than being in the zookeeper of the world's most uncontrollable zoo. You did a fine job Mr Bercow, you should be proud.... if Tories hate you then you did something right. Nobody wants to be a Tory.

[@ElectricityTaster]

You forgot the time he called and MP "an incorrigible delinquent".

[@clareunderwood6690]

Annoying music distracts from the footage...

[@Kishishev1903]

Whoever put the video together is stupid af

[@alevine1951]

From the States - love this guy! His example of cordiality and principled patriotism shows Mitch McConnell and most of his conservative cronies as the cowardly corrupt careerists that they are.

[@curmudgeon1933]

@kindinot . And Trump, Mitch McConnell, Mike Pence, Mike Pompeo, KellyAnne Conway, Stephen Miller, Steve Mnuchin, Betsy DeVos, etc, being right-wing, are paragons of honesty. smh.

[@alevine1951]

@kindinot Oh yes ",,,and everyone knows it." Everyone! How convincing! Wicked smart! The standard Trumplicker's 2nd grader thinking skills. Not worthy of any more time.

[@chrishewson40]

Such a great character, very professional and a fantastic speaker, i love the way he puts down mps that are out of order. He'll be very missed, he's actually one of the main reasons i watch politics.

[@mbell985]

The flying flamingo line could be straight out of Monty Python lolol

[@lauraartud]

Ótimo orador e condutor da Câmara dos Comuns. Vai fazer falta.

[@stevenxia2944]

the greatest speaker at all time! Master of English language!

[@MODERNDAYJESTER]

Just bloody found this guy and now gutted he's juts steped down! Pure genius!!!

[@lindorsibande]

The occasional "Ordeeeeerrr!" gets me 😂

[@thegugge99]

the background music is a joke, why ruin a perfectly adequate video?

[@aaroninky]

the guardian are TERRIBLE for putting inappropriate electronic/hip-hop music on their videos. it's like, we get it, one of your interns has a few spotify playlists. we can buy our own bonobo tickets.

[@Zak-ob5ze]

Fixed

[@VeggieBond]

aaroninky hahah, hilarious comment. And on that note ORDEHHHH

[@hugoclarke3284]

@@aaroninky What a presumptuous fellow you are. Is a "five memorable moments from a decade as Speaker" youtube video where you seek to educate yourself on matters of politics? This is merely a tribute, and the artistry behind the chosen soundtrack represents a great deal more maturity than you'll find in the House of Commons today.

[@introspectivedreamer3864]

Thank you for all these posts, like other folks here, I watch and rewatch and always enjoy Mr Bercow's eloquence and his huge broad range of diction and vocabulary. I think a lot of us learn new words and phrases from watching him. I hope he doing well in whatever he is doing now.

[@Jack1dg]

Video should be called "5 moments the speaker said something The Guardian liked"

[@KasumiRINA]

@Macsen Wledig you do know that English is an international language and non-Brits also watch this disaster movie series? Like, for Europeans, a converted Torie is like an Uruk-Hai that stopped serving Mordor, so of course we like that plot twist... duh!

[@rustyshackleford6874]

I mean... It's the Guardian. I think that's kind of fair enough.

[@claraadams5909]

I can't believe he actually came to my primary school

[@cjoutright9255]

I love how every transition you hear ORDAAAAAAAA in the background

[@BrevoryFoster]

I love how the transition between events is him saying ordah

[@joecrockrell04]

I'll miss him. ORDAHHH!

[@lesserspottedmugwump.363]

The people he bullied won’t.

[@martydav9475]

@Ant Everett As opposed to your Brextremist nutter one.

[@Chowder12345able]

@Ant Everett John Bercow is a conservative

[@culturethevibe2125]

I like how in the transition it says “ Order” 😂😂😂😂😂😂 Everytime he says that I get all excited 😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@bluesrike]

I can't be the only one who noticed that they used his "ORDAAAHHH!" in the transitions. 😂

[@clangunn2726]

Goodbye , take care , you ll be missed

[@forza223bowe5]

How are these people so confident and charismatic people?

[@Smudgie]

Didn't age well did it? The Guardian is usually first to point out when despicable little men make dispicable decisions. Don't seem to care however when the politics of someone reflects that of their own.

[@JfK--OBJECTivE]

I cannot remember any other speaker being banned from Parliament.

[@PedroSacramento2022]

That flying flamingo joke. XD Haha.

[@veramentegina]

love this guy.!! there will be nobody like him.

[@mickey1175]

John Bercow needs to be reinstated as the Speaker of the House of Commons. (Period)

[@TMBARD]

“I couldn’t give a flying flamingo” lol I’m using that one ☝️

[@CalvinK300]

I’m just surprised his ‘flying flamingo’ has not caught on.

[@TedCornish]

He WILL BE MISSED

[@dianamarieabaigar2258]

I could die in peace when I am as eloquent as him.

[@Edrwad]

Thank you very much indeed.

[@sgrizzo48]

the flying flamingo absolutely killed me XD

[@marvaff6878]

Anyone know the instrumental in the background? Funnily enough, I think it fits for Bercow and the montage in an ironic way.

[@stevenking8554]

I don’t think the speakers voice has ever cracked.

[@joshfrench5773]

Even in the ghettos of swansea we love the bercow. Ordaa! Ordaaaaaaa!

[@rhysherridge3614]

Where's the 'incorrigible' one!? I don't agree with his politics, but what a great character and sophist

[@JDOrtiz-qt8zm]

That’s right chaps I don’t give a flying flamingo

[@paulstephens4858]

He will be missed. You wait and see!

[@gazlink1]

He can't go soon enough. He's not made the chair more powerful, he just made it more political. He's been catastrophic for voter trust, from an unelected position.

[@birgerkagan6087]

@@gazlink1 What do you mean "unelected"? Did parlament not vote him as speaker?

[@gazlink1]

@@birgerkagan6087 once there he could do what he wanted. He was unaccountable from then on. But, yes he was elected once.

[@birgerkagan6087]

@@gazlink1 correct me if I'm wrong but I was under the impression that every new parlament would vote for whoever should be the speaker during that assembly? of course if nobody announced their candidacy such election would not give meaning

[@nadiazidane6794]

You are the best Bercow 😂😂😂😍😍😍👍✌👏👏👏👏 j'adore what a Charismatic gentlemen

[@tierarkhamus2893]

That last one was a epic British put down in the most gentlemen like way

[@vilstef6988]

I need to order and 'ORDAAA' shirt from TLDR. I'm from the US and most people will go "WTF?"

[@Silver_lad]

I would give a flying flamingo

[@theravenman]

He has a great voice and command of the English language

[@harunsuaidi7349]

I like how you make his iconic ORDAAA as transitions.

[@leeterry688]

“Flying flamingo” 🤣🤣

[@kushSomething]

Man I got know about him yesterday and I am now his fanboy... his skills are just amazing

[@besiktasbey4579]

I came for 5 moments of bercow and stayed for ORDEEEEHHHHH

[@PaulJamesMuldoonGYST]

What a dropkick.

[@louisguidotti679]

3:00 when the teacher gives me an isolation for a grade 1 haircut

[@eddiehitler3139]

i mean this video is a bit ridiculous innit, you're basically saying the only memorable moments are brexit moments or better yet, you just didn't care to pay attention to parliament before brexit

[@pizzaboy3946]

Yep, this is the sort of dishonest bully that the guardian champions.

[@alllove3270]

“That sticker is not mine and that’s the end of it”🤟😈😈😈😈 You’ve got to love his witty, funny cheeky side. But he was also a courages, empathetic, fair, excellent listener, funny and firm when the occasion calls for it. He would have made an amazing Prime Minister. Thank you Bercow.

[@doctor-atuti]

legend right here

[@Hey_its_Koda]

Bercow cracks me up. Im gonna miss him as speaker. " i dont give a flying flamingo!" 😂😂😂😂

[@Jonthebard]

Jon bercow is my favourite person in Parliament haha

[@dipayannag7413]

He was the best speaker of the house in a long time.

[@NuisanceMan]

Newsflash: Flamingo flies through Parliament

[@cleverusername9369]

He's been giving Americans like me something fun to watch in politics.

[@BlitzOfTheReich]

So no instance of him scolding labour?

[@towenaar4142]

Can't upset these champagne socialists.

[@jazz_soroyuza]

flying flamingo hahahahah

[@ArmyofLove]

Mr speaker using his position for popularity? John Bercow will definitely have a great future in entertainment.

[@robmiddleton01]

That sticker.. Its not mine! Soo British!

[@constantinegeist1854]

Why are they cheering or booing like they're watching a TV show? Is it normal?