John Bercow

John Bercow, born on January nineteenth, nineteen sixty-three, is a distinguished British former politician and political scientist. He served as the Speaker of the House of Commons from two thousand nine to two thousand nineteen, and represented Buckingham as a Member of Parliament from nineteen ninety-seven until his departure from Parliament in two thousand nineteen. Notably, he was the first MP since Selwyn Lloyd in nineteen seventy-one to be elected as Speaker without prior experience as a deputy speaker.

Before ascending to the role of Speaker, Bercow was a member of the Conservative Party and held various positions, including a councillor in the London Borough of Lambeth from nineteen eighty-six to nineteen ninety. His political journey included unsuccessful attempts to secure parliamentary seats in the nineteen eighty-seven and nineteen ninety general elections, before finally being elected for Buckingham in nineteen ninety-seven. He was promoted to the Shadow Cabinet in two thousand one, serving under Iain Duncan Smith and Michael Howard, although he faced challenges, including a resignation in two thousand two over a dispute regarding the Adoption and Children Act.

In June two thousand nine, following the resignation of Michael Martin, Bercow successfully stood for election as Speaker. His tenure was marked by his independence from party affiliation, as he left the Conservative Party upon taking the role. He was re-elected unopposed in two thousand ten, two thousand fifteen, and two thousand seventeen, making him the first Speaker since the Second World War to achieve this milestone. Bercow announced his intention to step down as Speaker and MP in September two thousand nineteen, officially leaving his position on November fourth of that year.

Beyond his parliamentary career, Bercow was appointed Chancellor of the University of Bedfordshire in two thousand fourteen and later took on the same role at the University of Essex in July two thousand seventeen, stepping down in November two thousand twenty-one. In January two thousand twenty, he became a part-time professor of politics at Royal Holloway, University of London. However, his political journey took a turn in two thousand twenty-two when he was suspended from the Labour Party following upheld complaints of bullying. As of two thousand twenty-three, he stands as the only living former Speaker of the House of Commons following the passing of Betty Boothroyd.