Tuesday, December 01, 2009

Interviewing Mr Speaker

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:

Anonymous said...

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...

Matt Raven said...

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.

Unknown said...

How does Bercow justify the £100,000 pa salary of his communications/PR adviser?

Norton Folgate said...

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.

procrustes said...

Can he recommend a good decorator?

Gareth said...

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?

Penfold said...

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.

Unsworth said...

Ask him about Mrs Bercow's academic career - and his own, for that matter.

Unknown said...

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.

Londonerr said...

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' ?

Mirtha Tidville said...

Just when does he intend to stop being a clone of his wife and develop his own spine..

Mirtha Tidville said...

Oh yes Iain almost forgot....what does he think of Nigel Farrage

Melvin Cragsbury (a pseudonym) said...

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?

Anonymous said...

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?

Mark Thompson said...

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.

Alfred said...

... and has he got any second-hand tellies he wants shot of? Fair price offered, guv...

Adrian said...

"Why has nothing changed?"

Anonymous said...

When did you first have an ambition to become Speaker? Was that when you began to suck up to New Liebor?

Cynic said...

How do you intend to make the House more relevant in 21st Century politics?

ukipwebmaster said...

What are his thoughts on Nigel Farage?

Lord Blagger said...

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

Daniel Bond said...

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.

Number 7 said...

Has he got a job lined up for when he loses to Farage?

Unknown said...

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.

True Belle said...

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?

Malcolm Clarke said...

Ask him what he thinks of the blog community and if he has ever considered starting one.

Rebel Saint said...

If he's disposed with all the ceremonial wear ... what's the point of the silly cape he's decided to wear instead?

Pete said...

If Farage beats him will he renounce his Speaker's pension after occupying the position for such a short period?

Clameur de Haro said...

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?

Unknown said...

The promise he made, that ministers should make announcements to parliament before speaking to the press?

Joe Public said...

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?

Sungei Patani said...

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.

Tom said...

Would he consider wearing a ceremonial wig as his current guise makes him look like a school headmaster?

Anonymous said...

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?

Hopeless said...

How do you intend to make the House more relevant in 21st Century politics?

Kate j Norden said...

Has he had 'how to look as smug as is humanly possible' lessons?