North MPs spent thousands on gadgets
Jun 24 2009 by William Green, The Journal
New speaker's vow to reform
NEW Speaker John Bercow presided over the House of Commons for the first time yesterday, breaking with tradition by appearing in a business suit and blue patterned tie in place of the court dress worn by his predecessors.
Mr Bercow won Monday’s secret ballot of MPs by a margin of 322 to 271 over Sir George Young – but his victory was greeted with dismay by some of his former Tory colleagues who regard him as too close to New Labour.
Conservative backbencher Nadine Dorries described his election as a "vindictive" act by Labour, sending a "two-fingered salute" to a future Tory Government under David Cameron.
She claimed just three Tory MPs backed Mr Bercow amid reports attempts could be made to unseat him if the Tories win a majority in the coming election. Mr Bercow pointedly referred to the Conservatives as "my former party", but insisted a significant number of Tory MPs had promised him their vote.
"I am not going to get into a numbers game and argue about how many people voted for me from one party rather than another, but I said I had broad support and I meant it and it is true," he said.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown said the new Speaker was committed to reform in the wake of the expenses scandal.
"Of course selecting a younger Speaker and someone who is not one of the old establishment makes a difference," said Mr Brown. "I believe he will prove himself, of course, over a period of time but I believe from what he has said that he is determined to speed up these changes."
One of Mr Bercow’s first jobs as Speaker was to chair a debate on a Government Bill to create a new independent authority to oversee MPs’ allowances.
He said the "vast majority" of MPs want to see reform and transparency but warned financial support must not be pared back so far as to make a parliamentary career unaffordable to anyone without a private income.
"The House of Commons has a responsibility to address the allowances issue and to do so in a timely fashion," he said. "I think we are all seized of the urgency of the issue and it must be dealt with as quickly as possible. It can’t be allowed to fester for, for example, a period of several months."
He rejected criticism of his own decision to repay £6,500 in capital gains tax after "flipping" his second home. "I have always behaved properly and honourably. I can hold my head up high."
