John Bercow, the outspoken former Speaker of the House of Commons and one-time Conservative MP, has dramatically switched his political allegiance to the Labour Party, delivering a scathing critique of Boris Johnson and the current Conservative leadership.
In a revealing interview with the Observer, Bercow did not hold back, describing today’s Conservative party as “reactionary, populist, nationalistic and sometimes even xenophobic.” This represents a significant shift for Bercow, who served as a Tory MP for over a decade before becoming Speaker.
Bercow, who stepped down from the Speaker’s chair in 2019 after ten years of presiding over Parliament, revealed that he joined the Labour party several weeks prior. He stated that his decision was driven by a fundamental alignment with Labour’s values and a conviction that it is the only viable political force capable of removing the current Conservative government from power.
“I am motivated by support for equality, social justice and internationalism. That is the Labour brand,” Bercow explained. “The conclusion I have reached is that this government needs to be replaced. The reality is that the Labour party is the only vehicle that can achieve that objective. There is no other credible option.”
Bercow directly challenged Johnson’s signature “levelling up” agenda, arguing that the Prime Minister lacks genuine concern for those less privileged. He also condemned the government’s cuts to international aid as “utterly shameful.”
‘‘He is a successful campaigner but a lousy governor,” Bercow asserted. “I don’t think he has any vision of a more equitable society, any thirst for social mobility or any passion to better the lot of people less fortunate than he is. I think increasingly people are sick of lies, sick of empty slogans, sick of a failure to deliver.’’
While Downing Street may attempt to dismiss Bercow’s sharp words as those of a disgruntled “remainer” seeking retribution for not receiving a peerage – a customary honor for retiring Speakers – the move comes at a particularly turbulent time for Johnson’s premiership.
This defection marks a remarkable turn in Bercow’s political journey. He initially joined the Conservative party at the young age of 17 and once identified as a staunch right-winger. However, by the early 2000s, Bercow had gravitated towards the more liberal and internationalist faction within the party. Upon becoming Speaker in 2009, he was required by convention to relinquish his party membership, a position that demanded impartiality.
Image: John Bercow delivering a speech in the House of Commons chamber during his tenure as Speaker.
The Conservative party’s recent unexpected loss in the Chesham and Amersham parliamentary byelection to the Liberal Democrats, where a substantial 16,000-vote majority was overturned, has ignited serious questions among Conservative MPs and activists. The defeat has raised concerns about Johnson’s ability to appeal to both working-class voters in traditionally Labour-supporting areas and more affluent voters in the southern regions of England.
This electoral shockwave has already triggered signs of a government U-turn on proposed planning reforms, which critics argued would weaken public appeal rights against development projects. This issue was identified as a significant factor contributing to the Conservative loss in the recent byelection.
[John Bercow: ‘I may be pompous and an irritant. But I am completely authentic’
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Reflecting on the byelection upset, Bercow suggested that many traditional Conservative voters are disillusioned by the Johnson government’s perceived failure to align actions with rhetoric. He pointed to recent decisions to limit education catch-up funding and to reduce the international aid budget as evidence of the government’s true priorities.
“I think what it [the byelection result] tells us is that there is very considerable distrust on the part of voters in the south of England of this government. I don’t accept the thesis that this was just an anti-HS2 vote. I think that is very convenient for the government, but it suffers from the disadvantage of being wrong. I think people in very large numbers are disappointed, in some cases disgusted, by what this government has done.”
Bercow’s later years as Speaker were marked by controversy and allegations of bullying staff, matters he declined to comment on, citing “confidential” issues.
During his time as Speaker, Bercow became an increasingly polarizing figure, particularly among Conservative Prime Ministers who viewed his interventions on Brexit as attention-seeking and potentially biased.
He reserved some of his harshest criticism for the current government’s approach to Parliament, implying a belief that they consistently conceal the truth from Members of Parliament.
“I regard the government’s treatment of parliament as a disgrace. I believe the truth matters. I believe parliament matters. And I believe that telling the truth in and to parliament matters. There is growing, extensive and incontrovertible evidence that the government is disrespecting parliament, telling untruths to parliament and bypassing parliament. That is wrong. Period. Some people may not immediately think that it matters. It does, but it is a slow-burn issue.”
When questioned about Labour’s prospects under Keir Starmer to defeat the Conservatives, Bercow expressed uncertainty but held out hope. “The jury is out. I am, however, hopeful because I observed Keir Starmer at close quarters from the Speaker’s chair. He may not be Bill Clinton or Barack Obama but he is decent, honourable and intelligent and he came into politics as public service. I believe that Keir Starmer is motivated by an earnest and consuming desire to better the lot of the vast majority of the people of this country who do not enjoy the privileges that he does.”
Karl Turner, the shadow justice minister, expressed no surprise at his “friend” Bercow joining Labour and conveyed his delight at the news.
John McDonnell, former shadow chancellor under Jeremy Corbyn, praised Bercow for his “scrupulously fair” treatment of MPs, including the former Labour leader. “He won our respect, especially for his fight to protect the rights of parliament. I wholeheartedly welcome him into the Labour party,” McDonnell stated.
Conversely, Guy Opperman, the pensions minister from the Conservative side, remarked that the situation was “going from bad to worse” for Starmer, adding, “Labour are welcome to Bercow.”
[The blue wall: what next for the Tories after a shock byelection defeat?
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Bercow’s wife, Sally, has been a long-standing member of the Labour party and previously stood as a Labour candidate for Westminster council.
In a sign of potential increased cooperation between the Liberal Democrats and Labour, Lib Dem leader Ed Davey hinted that his party’s voters should support Labour in the upcoming Batley byelection. “Political parties campaign where they can win,” Davey told the Observer.
“We thought we could win in Chesham and Amersham. Labour didn’t campaign very much. In Batley and Spen, we will have a presence – we’ve got councillors there. But we’re not going to be able to, frankly, pour in the resources that we put into Chesham and Amersham.
“Voters are far smarter than people give them credit for. Liberal Democrat voters may well notice that this is a Labour-held seat with the Tories in a close second, and they’ll draw their own conclusions. But that shouldn’t be stitched up in a back room by party leaders.”
Image: A photo of John Bercow with his wife Sally Bercow, who has been a long-time member of the Labour party.
