Podcast Summary
Emphasizing calmness and focus during adversity: John Bercow, the former Speaker of the British House of Commons, emphasizes the importance of staying calm and focused during times of adversity, even when facing constant recognition and criticism.
John Bercow, the former Speaker of the British House of Commons during the tumultuous Brexit saga, emphasizes the importance of staying calm and focused in the face of adversity. Bercow, known for his distinctive speaking style and ability to maintain order in the chaotic parliament, reflects on his career and adjusting to post-speakership life. Despite missing some aspects of parliament, he has moved on and enjoys his new work-life balance. Despite constant recognition and being shouted at in the streets, he remains humble and emphasizes that the office he held, not him as an individual, was the focus of attention during the Brexit debates.
John Bercow reflects on life after Speakership: John Bercow, despite criticism, is content with his post-Speakership life, focusing on new activities and interests, and does not regret not joining the House of Lords.
John Bercow, the former Speaker of the House of Commons in the UK, acknowledges the readjustment and transition he experienced after leaving a powerful position, despite facing criticism and desire to join the House of Lords. Bercow held the role for 10 years, and though he misses the privilege and experience, he has moved on and focuses on his current activities and interests. He does not regret his decision to not join the House of Lords and acknowledges the value of David Cameron's return to government. Bercow's motivation for being Speaker was to make a difference and contribute to debates, rather than for personal gain or attention. The criticism he faced regarding his enjoyment of the role was not entirely accurate, as he genuinely sought to use his position to make a positive impact.
Former Speaker of the House of Lords defends reality TV appearances post-politics: Michael Sheldrake, a former Speaker, argues that reality TV shows don't devalue political positions, and he enjoys the challenges they present despite concerns about absenteeism.
Michael Sheldrake, the former Speaker of the House of Lords, believes that participating in reality TV shows after leaving political office does not cheapen the position one once held. He argues that there is a distinction between what is acceptable during one's tenure and what is reasonable afterwards. Sheldrake himself has appeared on a reality TV show, "I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!", and despite contractual restrictions, expresses enjoyment for the experience and the challenge it presented. He acknowledges concerns regarding absenteeism while serving in parliament but maintains that the rules change post-office. Sheldrake also shares his humble background and discusses what drew him to politics, citing both negative and positive experiences.
John's Political Awakening: John's political beliefs were influenced by the Callaghan Labor government, Thatcher's speech, and his rejection of the extreme right-wing views of the Monday Club.
John's political awakening came during the Callaghan Labor government in the late 1970s when he was disappointed with the state of the country. However, he was inspired by Margaret Thatcher's speech and met her before the 1979 election, leading him to join the Young Conservatives. He was also influenced by his father's strong right-wing views. Later in his career, John rejected the extreme right-wing views of the Monday Club and its focus on immigration and repatriation, finding it authoritarian. This marked the beginning of his move to the left, and he now identifies as left of center. In summary, John's political journey was shaped by his experiences during the Callaghan Labor government, his encounter with Thatcher, and his rejection of the extreme right-wing views of the Monday Club.
A former Conservative MP's shift in political beliefs: Personal experiences and values can change political beliefs, leading individuals to reconsider their allegiance to a party.
Intellectual prowess and oratory skills do not necessarily equate to having sound values and judgments. The speaker, a former Conservative MP, shares his personal journey of shifting political beliefs, starting with the issue of equal age of consent for gay people. He came to question the justification for discrimination and voted for change in 2000. This led him to reconsider other issues, such as Section 28, gay adoption, and gays in the military. After the 2001 election, he had a more fundamental rethink and concluded that the Conservative Party under Tony Blair's Labour government was still unpopular due to underfunding public services, exacerbating the gap between the haves and have nots, and being perceived as anti-gay, anti-women, and anti-young people. He then joined the Labour Party after finishing his tenure as Speaker. He laments the Conservative Party's shift to the right since then, particularly on immigration and other related matters.
Rishi Sunak's Immigration Policy: Beyond the Moderate Image: Rishi Sunak's immigration policy is more hardline than perceived, with a focus on large numbers of legal migrants and a controversial asylum bill disregarding the Human Rights Act
Rishi Sunak, who was once considered a moderate or centrist Conservative Party leader, is actually a committed Brexiteer and Thatcherite with a hardline stance on immigration. The reality of his immigration policy involves large numbers of legal migrants, but there's a lack of positive argument for it. As for asylum policy, the proposed bill to send asylum seekers to Rwanda disregards the Human Rights Act and is an unprecedented move in British politics. During his speakership, John Bercow dealt with four prime ministers - Cameron, May, Johnson, and Brown. Despite the speaker's limited contact with the prime minister, Bercow shares his impressions of their relationships in the upcoming discussion.
The complex relationship between the Speaker of the House and the Prime Minister: John Bercow, former Speaker of the House of Commons, shared his experiences with Gordon Brown and David Cameron. He had a friendly relationship with Brown but faced resentment from Cameron. Bercow had to enforce boundaries during Prime Minister's Questions and dealt with issues of snobbery and classism.
The relationship between the speaker of the House of Commons and the prime minister can be complex and influenced by various factors. John Bercow, who served as speaker from 2009 to 2019, shared his experiences with Gordon Brown and David Cameron. He had a friendly relationship with Gordon Brown, but David Cameron was resentful of Bercow's win in the speakership contest. Bercow recalled instances where he had to cut off both prime ministers for overstepping boundaries during Prime Minister's Questions. Additionally, Bercow discussed the issue of snobbery and classism he faced during his tenure as speaker, with some individuals expressing disdain for his background. Despite these challenges, Bercow did not dwell on the negative experiences and instead focused on carrying out his duties as speaker.
Prime Minister May accuses Speaker Bercow of orchestrating breaches against her Brexit bills: Despite disagreements, Speaker Bercow maintains May's accusations are unfounded and expresses no ill will towards her, acknowledging her dedication as a public servant.
During her tenure as Prime Minister, Theresa May accused the Speaker of the House of Commons, John Bercow, of orchestrating breaches of parliamentary procedure to prevent her from getting her Brexit bills passed. However, Bercow maintains that May's accusations are delusional and that she lost the votes due to the lack of political support for her deal. Bercow also points out that May never raised her concerns with him at the time and only mentioned it in her book years later for the purpose of selling copies. The speaker believes that May, like many prime ministers, did not fully understand parliamentary procedure and relied on others for advice. Despite the disagreements, Bercow expresses no ill will towards May and acknowledges her dedication and hard work as a public servant.
Bercow defends actions as Speaker amidst accusations of favoring remainers: Bercow, former Speaker of the House of Commons, defended his actions during Brexit years, believing it was his duty to allow all voices to be heard in a minority government. He also criticized Boris Johnson as the most dishonest and corrupt prime minister, and Liz Truss as the most incompetent and failed one.
During his tenure as Speaker of the House of Commons, John Bercow was accused of favoring remainers during the Brexit years. However, he defends his actions, stating that it was his duty to allow all voices to be heard in a minority government. He also denounces Boris Johnson as the most dishonest and corrupt prime minister of his lifetime due to his conduct during the Brexit and COVID periods. Bercow believes Johnson was rightfully treated for lying to parliament, despite the fact that such actions cannot be challenged in a court of law under parliamentary privilege. He also criticizes Liz Truss as the most incompetent and failed prime minister of his lifetime.
Parliamentary investigations and criticisms: Both Boris Johnson and the Speaker faced investigations for misconduct allegations, but the age and evidence base differed, with Johnson's being more recent and concrete. Despite criticisms, the conclusions stood and both moved on.
Both Boris Johnson and the speaker, who have been involved in parliamentary investigations regarding allegations of misconduct, have criticized the processes that led to the conclusions against them. However, they differ in that Johnson's allegations were more recent, while the speaker's involved ancient cases with less concrete evidence. Despite the criticisms, the conclusions have stood, and both individuals have moved on from the issues in their day-to-day lives. It's important to note that the speaker has been accused of dishonesty in her evidence, while Johnson denies the allegations against him. The age of the cases is a relevant factor when considering the significance of the investigations, especially when there's a lack of a substantial evidence base. Ultimately, the conclusions reached in these parliamentary investigations remain a matter of record, even if contested.
Questions about fairness and timeliness of bullying investigations: The speaker raises concerns about outdated bullying allegations and the need for a fair and contextually appropriate approach to investigations.
The speaker's defense raises questions about the fairness and timeliness of investigations into allegations of bullying in the House of Commons, particularly when those allegations date back a decade or more. The speaker himself faced such investigations despite the House's policy against considering such old complaints. He argues that the process was flawed and that he was unfairly targeted for his reform agenda. He also suggests that the definition of bullying and workplace etiquette may have changed over the years, making it important to consider the context of each case. Ultimately, he urges caution and a case-by-case approach to such investigations.
Importance of anti-bullying policies and proper investigation: Personal experiences highlight the need for thorough investigations and qualified personnel in handling bullying allegations.
Values and standards in the workplace have changed significantly over the past decade and a half, and it's important for there to be strong anti-bullying policies in place. However, there should also be careful consideration given to the quality of evidence and investigators in these matters. The speaker, Michael Portillo, shared his personal experience of being investigated without proper qualifications or independent testimony. He also expressed his desire for a change in government and named Robin Cook as the most impressive parliamentarian he had encountered during his time in office.
Recognizing Great Parliamentarians and Potential Politicians: Robin Cook and Tony Benn are admired for their debating and oratorical skills. Andy Murray's principled, determined, and resilient nature makes him a potential political candidate. John Bercow's intriguing career and accountability questions are crucial in politics.
Admiration and recognition given to Robin Cook and Tony Benn as the finest parliamentarians, with Cook being the best debater and Benn the best orator. The speakers also expressed their desire to see tennis player Andy Murray in politics due to his principled, determined, and resilient nature. John Bercow, a former Speaker of the House of Commons, was praised for his intriguing career and impact on British politics. The conversation also touched upon the importance of questions such as "What power have you got? Who gave it to you? In whose interest do you exercise it? To whom are you accountable? And how can we get rid of you?" in holding those in power accountable.
