Ex „Mr. Speaker“ John Bercowjoins the Alpensymposium 2020 in Switzerland

These were emotional days for the newly retired Speaker of the British House of Commons John Bercow. Since 2009, he was the President of the British House of Commons, nicknamed „Mr. Speaker“ and well known for his calls for „order!“.

During the last period of his tenure, however, John Bercow admitted to be increasingly shocked about the violent reactions of people in the Brexit discussion.

In a farewell interview with CNN, he said that “the Brexit debates were the worst discussions I had to witness in 22 years as an MP. Many of the insults that have been expressed against MPs in debates have been “level and vulgar.” „Many Britons obviously consider violence to be an acceptable tool to express another opinion“, he said in an interview with the German magazine „Der Spiegel“. John Bercow rejects that in all means. As spectators on TV, we were able to witness some of the scenes that took place in the British Parliament. And indeed, it did seem like a sad and shocking comedy many times.

On October 31, 2019, the day Britain actually wanted to leave the EU, John Bercow officially retired from office. It is unimportant that the United Kingdom finally decided to leave the EU exactly one year later. In any case, John Bercow has made his point. He left and will now be heard in a new way at the Alpensymposium 2020 and events alike. In his home country, he is either loved or hated. Critics accused him again and again of being partisan in dealing with the Brexit. It is true that it was no secret that he advocated Britain’s stay in the EU. But: “I have my private convictions, but in Parliament I am impartial,” he once said in an interview with the German daily newspaper “Die Welt”.

The same newspaper wrote a nice description about him: “Bercow is already the 157th “Speaker of the House of Commons”.

Several of his predecessors did not survive the post: they were beheaded. Today, it is the eccentric Bercow that trembles MPs.”John Bercow, a man of beliefs and principles who even dares to refuse to receive US President Donald Trump in parliament. His party membership, he was originally a Conservative and member of the Tories, rested since he became Speaker of the House of Commons in 2009. In fact, he was less able to identify with the content and behavior of his party. He saw and sees himself today more in the duty to restore order in a country in which violence seems to have become acceptable to express a different opinion. John Bercow positions himself openly against that.

„Mr. Speaker“ Bercow will undoubtedly be a huge gain for the Alpensymposium 2020. We are very much looking forward to welcoming him there!