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| John Bercow is the youngest person to hold the role of speaker in 100 years (AFP Photo/HO) |
London (AFP) - John Bercow stepped down on Thursday after 10 years as speaker of Britain's House of Commons -- a role that rocketed him into the heart of the Brexit battle, and won him European fans.
The man in
the middle of more than three years of fiery parliamentary debates has proved a
controversial figure, loathed by pro-Brexit supporters and hailed by its foes.
Animated,
verbose and with an idiosyncratic style, the 56-year-old Bercow has yelled
"Order! Order!" more than 14,000 times during his tenure as the 157th
speaker.
His
detractors call him pompous -- one MP even branded him a "sanctimonious
dwarf" -- but his backers say he has bolstered the rights of backbenchers
to hold the government to account.
A social
media mash-up by German television of Bercow trying to calm down rowdy MPs has
been seen thousands of times. A Belgian newspaper called him
"irreplaceable".
Dutch daily
De Volksrant wrote: "The only order in British politics comes from John
Bercow's mouth in these turbulent days."
Both
Britain's main party leaders paid tribute to Bercow Wednesday as he chaired the
weekly prime minister's questions session for the final time.
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Bercow is
loathed by Brexit supporters (AFP Photo/DANIEL SORABJI)
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'Unreturnable volleys and smashes'
"Although
we may disagree about some of the legislative innovations you have favoured,
there is no doubt in my mind that you have been a great servant of this parliament
and of this House of Commons," said Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
Johnson, in
his own inimitable style, said the tennis fan had been "peppering every
part of the chamber with (his) own thoughts and opinions, like some
uncontrollable tennis ball machine, delivering a series of literally
unplayable, unreturnable volleys and smashes".
He also
likened Bercow's glare to a "trademark Tony Montana scowl", after Al
Pacino's character in the 1983 film "Scarface".
Opposition
Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn added: "You've done so much to reform
this House of Commons and our democracy is the stronger for the way you have
done it."
Bercow will
not stand in the December 12 general election.
His
replacement as speaker will be chosen on Monday. Nine candidates are standing,
including his three deputies and former Labour deputy leader Harriet Harman.
Bercow's
number two, Lindsay Hoyle, is the bookmakers' odds-on favourite to win.
By
convention, the main parties give the speaker a clear run in a general
election, standing down their candidates.
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John Bercow
will not be standing in the December 12 election in Britain
(AFP Photo/Tolga
AKMEN)
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'Egotistical preening popinjay'
Born in
1963 into a modest family, Bercow grew up in London and was a child tennis
champion, leading to his lifelong love of the sport, notably Swiss great Roger
Federer.
He was
always a Conservative, but in his youth held hard-right views that he now
rejects.
He became
an MP in 1997 and 12 years later was elected as speaker, becoming the youngest
person to hold the role for 100 years.
While the
Brexit clashes came to dominate his tenure, Bercow also caused a stir by saying
he would not allow US President Donald Trump to address parliament during a
planned visit.
Bercow
married Sally Illman in 2002 and they have three children.
She became
a household name after posing for a photoshoot in Bercow's official residence
in the Houses of Parliament draped only a sheet, and appearing on the
"Celebrity Big Brother" reality television programme.
Critics say
Bercow is filled with self-importance.
The Daily
Mail newspaper called him an "egotistical preening popinjay" who had
"shamelessly put his anti-Brexit bias before the national interest -- and
is a disgrace to his office".
But
Bercow's supporters say he has sought to modernise parliament, abandoning the
speaker's traditional robes for a simple gown over a suit, and seeking to make
it easier for female MPs with new babies.
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