Brexit in a nutshell

Sonic67

??? He's already said he voted Remain.

Did you miss this bit?

                                                                       

SteakAndCake

So you're saying that any MP who has made clear their referedum voting intention is ineligible to stand for speaker?

Considering most MPs have made their referendum voting intention clear either explicitly, or implicitly via their actions and votes, how do you propose that any MP in the HOC is now suitable to become the new Speaker?

All MPs will hold personal opinions on a range of political issues.  Surely this doesn't matter unless it is shown that the Speaker's actions draw from this bias when making decisions.  Nobody has given clear examples where Bercow did this.  Just knowing his voting intention does not make his actions biased against your political flavour.

SteakAndCake

That fact does not make his wife's car his own.  This fact also does not demonstrate or prove he acted on his own personal bias when executing his duty as speaker.

EarthRod

You are of course entitled to your beliefs.

SteakAndCake

Well unless you show evidence of actionable bias, it happens to be fact, not simply my belief.

EarthRod

Of course not.

But if they take a public position on future issues then that is undermining the impartiality of their role in which they are meant to be entirely apolitical.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                What is the role of the Speaker of the House of Commons?                                                                                                        The Speaker of the House of Commons occupies a pivotal role in shaping how Parliament debates issues and passes legislation. The role has come under renewed scrutiny as Brexit continues its parliamentary journey.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk                                                                                The modern Speaker is politically impartial and expected to avoid taking a political stance or favouring particular interests over others.

SteakAndCake

If I was the proverbial Man Utd fan turning up to referee a Man Utd match as part of my profession I would not turn up in a car with Man Utd stickers on it. Even if I could show they belonged to my wife. (And he can't prove that).

If my job is to be impartial why would I allow anyone to think otherwise by driving a vehicle clearly showing a bias?

kav

In politics? Not a chance.

I had a quiet snigger when I read that - good move

SteakAndCake

I'm not saying he doesn't hold personal bias.  It's clear he has an opinion on Brexit.  I also accept that it's reasonable for people to suspect he might act with bias.

However, I've still seen no evidence that he has acted with bias or failed to undertake his duties with impartiality.

EarthRod

Thanks for confirming that there's no evidence and people just don't like that he voted Remain. I'll stick to observing how he conducts himself in Parliament rather than letting myself be influenced by a car bumper sticker.