Non-Speaker! Croaky John Bercow's voice falters in Commons as MPs offer him Strepsils

David Harding
·Contributor
Updated
Speaker of the House of Commons John Bercow (Parliament TV via REUTERS)
Speaker of the House of Commons John Bercow (Parliament TV via REUTERS)

There might be some people in the House of Commons who won’t be too upset by this, but it seems that House of Commons speaker John Bercow is losing his voice.

The high-profile speaker, who has become famous all over the world for his booming shouts of “Order! Order!” during Brexit debates in the House appeared in the Commons this morning with an incredibly croaky voice.

Some MPs even offered him Strepsils to help his throat.

And those on social media claimed Mr Bercow sounded a bit like Star Wars character Darth Vader as he called the Commons to order this morning.

As he croaked to get MPs to pay attention, it was noticeable it was his - very recognisable - voice was faltering.

Some of those in the Commons laughed as the Speaker faltered, but Mr Bercow responded: “It won’t last long, don’t you worry.”

His voice will, no doubt, be needed later in the Commons as the Prime Minister Boris Johnson will tell MPs more details of his latest Brexit plan today.

Ministers have been briefed on the details of the latest 'two borders' plan for Northern Ireland at an emergency cabinet meeting and MPs will hear more later, amid scepticism from Brussels.

Britain's Speaker of the House of Commons John Bercow, talks to the media outside the Houses of Parliament, in London, Britain September 24, 2019. REUTERS/Henry Nicholls
John Bercow, talks to the media outside the Houses of Parliament in September (REUTERS/Henry Nicholls)

Bercow has become a major figure in the Brexit battle in Parliament.

Brexiteers have accused him of damaging the the public's perception of Parliament.

Jacob Rees-Mogg recently claimed that: “"But his recent mistakes have to my deepest regret as Leader of the House of Commons damaged the standing of the House in the eyes of the British public to the lowest point in modern history.”

But those on the other side of the debate have supported him for “backing” Parliament during one of the most contentious periods in modern British politics.

He has announced he is standing down at the end of this Parliament, a piece of news which trended in Germany, where Mr Bercow has become especially popular.

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