How John Bercow accused Jo Swinson of ‘ruining Remainer plot’ after critical error
Mr Bercow will be releasing his memoir ‘Unspeakable’ at the beginning of February. Throughout his decade as the House Speaker, Mr Bercow ruffled many feathers and was criticised for allegedly showing anti-Brexit bias, which would violate the requirements of his role. He was supposed to be completely neutral – but since standing down at the end of October, he has admitted that he has always been a Remainer, and told the Foreign Press Association that “Brexit is the biggest foreign policy mistake in the post-war period” just days after leaving the role.
Mr Bercow explained how at a gig in a community centre in Holland Park earlier this month the chance to stop Brexit was thwarted back in October, when Mr Johnson was stuck at an impasse in Parliament.
Writing in The Spectator, author Lloyd Evans quoted the former speaker as saying: “A short-term coalition government to administer and deliver a People’s Vote might have been formed.”
He then poured blame on Ms Swinson for preventing the Remainer plot going ahead.
Mr Bercow claimed: “Jo Swinson wasn’t prepared to allow Jeremy Corbyn to be temporary prime minister.
“But the fear that this would lead to years and years of Corbyn and John McDonnell is for the birds.”
He continued: “Jo Swinson saw some evidence that she might win 60, 80 or 100 seats, and [there would be] every chance of a coalition government.”
In October, the polls were showing an increase in support for the Liberal Democrats.
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Yet, Mr Bercow dubbed this a “mirage”, because “Boris held his nerve”.
The former speaker’s observation is particularly poignant as the Liberal Democrats were the most anti-Brexit party in the general election.
Ms Swinson started her election campaign by claiming she would revoke Article 50 without a public vote if the Liberal Democrats secured a majority in parliament.
She also announced she was a “candidate to be prime minister”.
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The Liberal Democrats went on to have a humiliating performance in the December election.
Not only did the party’s total number of seats in Parliament drop from 12 to 11 – nowhere near the majority Ms Swinson had suggested at the beginning of her campaign – but the leader also lost her seat.
Ms Swinson was the leader of the Liberal Democrats for less than six months before she lost out to the SNP candidate in her Scottish constituency of East Dunbartonshire.
Labour too had a tough time in December, with its worst performance since 1935.
Mr Bercow’s accusations towards Ms Swinson are also of interest due to his seemingly positive relationship with the Lib Dem leader when they were both in Parliament.
When he announced he would soon be resigning back in September, Ms Swinson tweeted her thanks to the Speaker: “Thank you John Bercow, for being an unstinting guardian of parliamentary democracy, as well as a moderniser and reformer.
“I’m proud to have supported your election as Speaker back in 2009.”
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