John Bercow announced he will stand down by October 31st – the date the UK is scheduled to leave the EU – if Parliament does not vote for an early general election this evening. The Speaker of the House was met with a huge round of applause from MPs during an emotional resignation speech in the Commons earlier this afternoon. However, footage showed those of the Government frontbench, including Michael Gove and Dominic Raab, refused to applaud the Speaker’s speech.

Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage criticised Mr Bercow’s legacy, claiming he was responsible for the Brexit chaos that the country was currently in.

Nigel Farage told listeners on LBC: “As far as I am concerned, good riddance! We have had speakers for years who have been neutral.

“This speaker hasn’t even pretended to be neutral!”

LBC’s political correspondent Theo Usherwood told Mr Farage that the Speaker could even allow a “final stitch-up” with the selection of the new speaker in the two weeks before he leaves.

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He said: “He didn’t want Government Whips to put in a soft touch into that position.

“At every opportunity Bercow, his critics claim, has found a way of giving extra debates.”

Mr Farage added: “He has allowed Parliament to take over the job of the Executive.”

The Brexit coordinator for the European Parliament was among those who praised the Speaker following his announcement.

Guy Verhofstadt tweeted: “John Bercow is a driven speaker and gifted orator but above all the keeper of the great British parliamentary tradition.

“I would love if we could welcome him in the European Commission or European Parliament.”

Responding to Mr Verhofstadt’s tweet, talkRADIO Breakfast Show presenter Julia Harley-Brewer wrote: Take him! He’s yours! We’ll all club together for his Eurostar fare.”

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Earlier this evening, MPs voted in favour of a motion calling for the release of documents relating to plans to suspend Parliament and prepare for a no deal Brexit.

This allow MPs to seize contol of the Prime Minister’s communications to specific advisors on the issues of prorogation. 

In other news, the legislation aiming to prevent the Prime Minister taking the country out of the EU at the end of next month without a deal  was given final approval by the Queen.

The Royal Ascent is effectively a rubber-stamp from the monarch for the law, which passed through Parliament last week.

The legislation requires Mr Johnson to ask the EU for an extension to Brexit, but he has insisted he will not do that.

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