2020 - Dentistry

THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW Review of Parliament

benefit, and the end to the benefits cap, both policies introduced by the coalition government. The result of the leadership election will be announced on April 4 and with it, the nature of the opposition in the years to come.

in early January, she argued that “Our biggest asset is the people in every community and workplace”. Often touted as aligning herself with the centre-left, she has called for the removal of means-tested child benefit, favouring universal child

Bercow’s controversial tenure comes to an end

The nature of parliament itself has been fundamentally altered already, with the departure of one John Bercow. First elected Speaker in 2009, and despite early controversies and his consistent, and often exhaustive, loquacity, it was the Brexit process that truly thrust him into the limelight. Key to these disputes was his interpretation of parliamentary convention. His actions heightened Conservative criticism towards him for a lack of impartiality, while others, especially Remain-supporting mPs, championed him as a defender of parliamentary sovereignty against an overbearing executive. These contradictory judgments were most stark after mr Bercow announced he would step down as Speaker on October 31. His tenure as Speaker was also dogged by accusations of allegations of bullying. Writing in The Sunday Times on January 25, 2020, former Black Rod David leakey revealed he was filling a formal complaint John Bercow was not the only person to leave the Commons at the end of last year. Following December’s election, 140 new mPs were elected to the House of Commons, with a number of grandees losing their seats or retiring from politics. Big Beasts lose seats

Bercow’s tenure as Speaker lasted for a decade

against mr Bercow with the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, highlighting his first-hand experience of the former speaker’s “volatile rages, foul language and personal insults”. “If John Bercow is allowed to become a peer,” wrote mr leakey, “the declining reputation of politicians and parliament would, sadly, be yet further diminished.” mr Bercow was replaced as Speaker by lindsay Hoyle, a veteran labour mP widely viewed as a more moderate choice than his predecessor.

Senior Conservative figures Philip Hammond, Sir Oliver letwin and Sir nicholas Soames all announced that they would not stand at the next election. The election also brought to an end a truly remarkable 49-year career in parliament. Often described as the

62 | REVIEW OF PARLIAMENT