Speaker John Bercow, centre, demanded that the mace be returned. Reuters
Speaker John Bercow, centre, demanded that the mace be returned. Reuters
Speaker John Bercow, centre, demanded that the mace be returned. Reuters
Speaker John Bercow, centre, demanded that the mace be returned. Reuters

BBC: British parliament’s speaker John Bercow to quit


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The speaker of Britain’s lower house of parliament, John Bercow, will leave his post next summer, the BBC and other local media reported on Tuesday, but his office said he had made no announcement about a leaving date.

An investigation published on Monday said the House of Commons had allowed a culture of bullying and sexual harassment to thrive, and its top officials may need to be replaced to restore confidence.

The BBC and other British media outlets reported that Mr Bercow had told friends of his plan to quit next year. His office downplayed the reports.

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“The Speaker has made no announcement about his leaving date. He was elected by the House in 2017 for the course of the parliament. In the event he has anything to say on his future plans, he will make an announcement to the House first,” a spokeswoman said in a statement.

The parliament is due to run until 2022.

Tuesday's debate on the harassment investigation prompted some lawmakers in parliament to call for Bercow to quit. The Speaker has himself faced allegations of bullying from former members of staff, which he has denied.

Mr Bercow is the highest authority within the House of Commons, which gives him considerable influence over the political agenda in parliament.

For example, he is expected to be faced with a crucial decision in the upcoming vote on any Brexit deal Prime Minister Theresa May is able to strike with Brussels.

He will likely have to decide whether to permit opponents of Mrs May’s Brexit plan to try and change the terms of the debate into one on a second referendum – a key decision which could allow lawmakers to put pressure on Mrs May to avoid a ‘no-deal’ exit.

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

Read part one: how cars came to the UAE

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