For hundreds of years, the position of Speaker of the House of Commons has been one of enormous significance and stature. He currently stands, in order of precedence, as the most senior citizen after members of the Royal Family, the six highest ranking church leaders in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, the Prime Minister, Lord Chancellor and Lord President of the Council. He is, in short, someone who should set an example to the rest of us.
The current Speaker, John Bercow, was elected in somewhat controversial circumstances and created more upset when he dispensed with all the traditional trappings of the post. His performance in the House of Commons has caused a degree of unhappiness among some of its members and there have been rumblings about attempting to force him out of office.
To add to his unpopularity, Mr Bercow's wife, Sally, seems to be using her new-found position as a means to promote herself and to further her own political ambitions. Her recent appearance on the front page of a national newspaper, wrapped only in a sheet, shows an appalling disrespect for the position her husband holds and surely also raises the most severe questions about his own judgement and outlook. Never before has a Speaker's wife behaved in this way and for him to do nothing about it is unacceptable.
Mr Speaker Bercow has a choice. He must either set about controlling his wife's behaviour, which seems unlikely, or he must resign. If he does neither, the damage to the standing of this high office may be irreparable.
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