Ex-Speaker John Bercow nominated for a peerage by Jeremy Corbyn after Boris Johnson blocked him
BREXIT-blocking former Speaker John Bercow has been nominated for a peerage by Jeremy Corbyn. He was the first Commons Speaker in 230 years not to be immediately elevated to the Lords upon resigning, after his antics angered his fellow Tories. But he is among several political figures on a leaked list of names put forward […]
BREXIT-blocking former Speaker John Bercow has been nominated for a peerage by Jeremy Corbyn.
He was the first Commons Speaker in 230 years not to be immediately elevated to the Lords upon resigning, after his antics angered his fellow Tories.
But he is among several political figures on a leaked list of names put forward by the Labour leader.
Mr Corbyn’s ex-deputy Tom Watson and office director Karie Murphy are also in line to be ennobled.
All appear on Mr Corbyn’s eight-strong Dissolution Honours list.
They will all undergo vetting but, barring a calamity, will soon take their seats in the upper House.
Mr Bercow, a former Tory MP, enraged many Brexiteers by what they saw as favouring Remainers during the three-year stalemate after the EU referendum.
If he takes the Labour whip it would be unprecedented and many will consider it inappropriate as he would be expected to sit as a cross-bencher.
The move would infuriate many Tories who wanted to deny him the customary honour.
The ennoblement of Mr Watson and Ms Murphy will not be widely popular either.
Mr Watson was slammed for his part in a “witch-hunt” that targeted MPs accused of being involved in child sex abuse.
He was criticised for promoting the claims of fantasist Carl Beech who has since been jailed that there was a Westminster paedophile ring.
Brexiteer Ms Murphy has been Mr Corbyn’s biggest cheerleader, and is part of his inner circle.
But she has been accused of trying to shorten the contest for the Labour leadership in a “stitch-up” to boost his chosen successor.
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A shorter contest is seen to significantly benefit Mr Corbyn’s preferred choice, Rebecca Long Bailey. Also on the list of nominations are ex-MPs, aides and trade union officials, including former Unite union leader Tony Woodley.
Labour declined to comment.
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