John Bercow is the new speaker...so what?

Well it has finally been confirmed. Conservative MP John Bercow is the new Speaker of the House of Commons.

Many Tory MPs did not want Bercow to get the position and it appears that Labour got their way, voting for a Tory that is disliked by many in his own party. It is sad that party politics got in the way of this appointment, but also inevitable.

Michael Martin the former failed speaker, was derided as a Labour chosen candidate during his time in office and Bercow promised "permanently to cast aside" his "previous political views". Admirable words indeed, but ones that were roundly ridiculed.

Neutrality

Bercow's statement even produced a joke from Gordon Brown; "It is said that you have now cast aside all your past political views - some of us thought you had done that some time ago."

This was in relation to Bercow's previous work in an advisory role to the Prime Minister, and rumours of his planned defection to Labour. It was significant to see many Conservative MPs refuse to applaud the new man as he was led to the speaker's chair.

Today was supposed to signal a big change in the way that parliament conducts is business, but is this really accurate? Bercow speaks of reform, but in reality the speaker is in no real position to offer it.

Need for change

The only way reform will happen is for all of the party leaders to agree on a clear way forward together, and this will not come from the speaker however much Bercow would like us to think it will.

On another point, it was sad to see Ann Widdecombe post such a low vote. Widdecombe is a politician with much integrity, but her decision to stand down at the next election may well have dissuaded MPs from voting for her.

The rise of the career politician is something that Widdecombe stands against, and this is arguably one of the biggest problems with today's parliament. The party whips have become too powerful, with some MPs reluctant to break party lines for fear of stalling their political careers.

Breaking with party policy was never something that bothered Ann Widdecombe and she will be a big loss to both parliament and party when she stands down.

Overplayed

In the past, the election of a new speaker has never usually been reported as a big event, it is only because of today's unique circumstances that it has now become one.

Parliament is still in crisis, and the sticking plaster of a new speaker, however much he talks of reform will not heal this wound.

Fundamental political reform is needed urgently, and for this to happen there needs to be agreement from all sides of the house, otherwise party politics will continue to cloud the debate.