MP attacks 'biased' speaker

Published 30 Jul 2012 16:00 2 Comments

READING East MP, Rob Wilson, has accused House of Commons speaker John Bercow of favouring Labour over his own Conservative party.

Mr Wilson - a known critic of the speaker - has published figures showing the number of urgent questions (UQ) granted to MPs by Mr Bercow since he took up the role in 2009.

The report highlights that Coalition ministers are more likely to be made to answer an urgent question than their Labour predecessors were.

Mr Bercow granted 70 to Labour but just 25 to the Tories. Of these, Labour have had 66 since they lost power in 2010, while the Conservatives had only 15 when in opposition under the speaker.

Mr Wilson said: "I am concerned at how the number of UQs has ramped up since the General Election.

"Many MPs believe that UQs are important to hold the Government to account, but that they should be used sparingly so that their impact is widely felt.

"It is now believed that UQs have become an instrument for the opposition to bash the Government on the issue of the day.

"I'm not sure that this is their best use as the currency soon becomes debased, which would not be in the best interests of Parliament. "

He added: "Some colleagues feel that this is an example the Speaker making things more uncomfortable for one Government as opposed to another."

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This article appeared in Local Berkshire 30 Jul 12

Have your say. Post a comment on this article.

• 

  Gizelle Bunion
  Unregistered User
  Jul 30, 18:06
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  Is it not normal for the opposition to question the government more than the government question themselves?
  
  Recommend?   Yes 12     No 1

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  NotJohn
  Unregistered User
  Jul 31, 12:04
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  Sounds like Rob need to grow up and concentrate on things important to his constituents.
  
  Recommend?   Yes 5     No 1

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