Tomorrow afternoon I will be interviewing John Bercow, the Speaker of the House of Commons, for the January edition of
Total Politics. I'm starting to think of the questions I will ask him, so if you have any suggestions, do feel free to leave them in the Comments.
36 comments:
Having done away with the tights and knee breeches associated with the Speakership, what other Parliamentary traditions does he deem fit for ditching? Does he, for example, want to see the end of honorifics in the Commons? No more references to 'another place' instead of the House of Lords? Added to that, does he think Parliament gains anything from its traditions - or do they just make it seem remote and out-of-kilter with modern Britain?
I think we should be told...
How about"You have made a fair start with PMQs by saying that the PM should stick to his own policies when answering questions (although he tends to ignore that entirely), but will you try to make him actually answer the questions? He always says "You should be asking your leader" or similar. It is PMQs, it is not unreasonably to ask the PM questions and expect at least a vague answer.
How does Bercow justify the £100,000 pa salary of his communications/PR adviser?
Ask him why he allows Brown to spout tractor stats and overly rehearsed soundbites repeatedly week after week and why he allows him to constantly avoid answering any of the questions.
Can he recommend a good decorator?
You've indicated that you would be prepared to preside over a debate on the establishment of an English parliament. In the event of a hung parliament where non-English constituency MPs hold the balance of power, might this debate be the very first on the agenda?
How do you justfy your expense claims in the light of the Telegraph revelations and the hardship that ordinary citizens, taxpayers, are going through who have no recourse to screwing public monies. Indeed, if you're unfortunate enough to be unemployed, you can be guaranteed a miserly mite and an inquisition at the Job Centre to get that.
Ask him about Mrs Bercow's academic career - and his own, for that matter.
i have a fine photo of Mrs Speaker taken but 9 years ago when she was in gainful employ. it happens to have been taken in our office in Moscow.
1. Would he stand down in the event of a huge Con majority if DC asks him to;
2. What does he make of Farage's attempt on his seat;
3. How is Parliament served by planted questions and soft soap answers during PMQs; and
4. What does he feel about the poor press he gets especially being caricatured as 'Squeaker' ?
Just when does he intend to stop being a clone of his wife and develop his own spine..
Oh yes Iain almost forgot....what does he think of Nigel Farrage
We've heard a lot about MPs and their expenses, but many of their ridiculous claims were passed by the Fees Office. Why have the Fees Office staff not all been sacked for being at best incompetent or at worst simply alseep on the job?
I would like you to please ask him to justify spending so much money on re-decoration in the middle of expensesgate and a huge economic recession.
Would it not have been prudent to set a better example to the parliamentary parties. As such it just looks like he is saying, spend what you like?
Why has he not put a stop to the baying and heckling from MPs? Has he any idea how dreadful the entire circus looks to the outside world? Ask him to try and imagine what the reaction would be if a few people in a business meeting or seminar routinely jeered, heckled and tried to put whoever was speaking off. They would be thrown out of the meeting and professionally embarrassed.
It's pathetic and it needs to stop.
... and has he got any second-hand tellies he wants shot of? Fair price offered, guv...
"Why has nothing changed?"
When did you first have an ambition to become Speaker? Was that when you began to suck up to New Liebor?
How do you intend to make the House more relevant in 21st Century politics?
What are his thoughts on Nigel Farage?
The code of conduct for MPs, in force for a long time, is quite clear. MPs must avoid even the appearance of personal benefit at the public's expense.
Now, Gordon Brown has had over 12,000 pounds over the last 5 years and has paid that money back.
However, he's paid no interest on it. It is an interest free loan. That's a huge benefit he has received at the public's expense.
Will he repay the interest?
Will he repay the interest at 10%, the same rate that the Department of Works and Pensions says that pensions earn on their savings? (Borrowing rates will be higher than saving rates)
If not, will he pay tax on it? It's not exempt, as it is not an expense? MPs have voted them a tax exemption.
Lastly, will he abolish the MP's special tax haven
Nick
Ask what he thinks about Nigel Farage standing against him in the next general election and whether he's at all worried about Conservative voters abandoning him in the same way that he looked very likely to abandon them for the Labour party at one point.
Has he got a job lined up for when he loses to Farage?
Please do ask him about the redecoration. It will give him a chance to give his side of the story instead of the UKIP propaganda.
Does Bercow have to stand on a stool or up a step or to have a cuddle /snog with his dearly beloved?
How do short men cope? What do they talk about?
Ask him what he thinks of the blog community and if he has ever considered starting one.
If he's disposed with all the ceremonial wear ... what's the point of the silly cape he's decided to wear instead?
If Farage beats him will he renounce his Speaker's pension after occupying the position for such a short period?
You might perhaps ask him whether he considers his appointment has legitmacy, considering that his vote from half of the House was openly not for him, but merely to spite the other half?
And also whether his wife campaigning for office in the name of one of thetwo main parties doesn't compromise his independence?
The promise he made, that ministers should make announcements to parliament before speaking to the press?
If his new Taxpayer-funded kitchen refurbishment includes a clock on his cooker, and, a clock on his microwave, why should the taxpayers also fork out for a bloody wall clock as well?
wv allsin - the status of all MPs?
Given his swing to to Nulabour, in order to suck up to Labour MPs to get their vote for the Speakership, how does he hope to defeat Nigel Farrage at the general election?
Buckingham is a very Conservative constituency and with his own expenses troughing (and his subsequent gross hypocrisy about it)and no longer labelled as a Conservative on the ballot paper he will have a hard fight on his hands
Nigel Farrage would have been a very creditable Tory candidate twenty years ago and he will go down well with the Buckingham voters who are probably very Eurosceptic.
Would he consider wearing a ceremonial wig as his current guise makes him look like a school headmaster?
Wasn't the pfaff re the refurbishment of his flat so it suited a family rather than an elderly couple typically misleading?
How many visitors are entertained there over a year/
Is he proud of the decor? Does it represent the best of British?
How do you intend to make the House more relevant in 21st Century politics?
Has he had 'how to look as smug as is humanly possible' lessons?
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