Bercow: Dynamite MP practices like Guy Fawkes
John Bercow calls on MPs to "dynamite" existing practices "like Guy Fawkes"
Tuesday, 01, Dec 2009 12:44
By Elizabeth Davies
The Speaker of the House of Commons last night called for MPs to do everything in their power to repair the "reputational carnage" they had suffered as a result of the expenses scandal.
In a speech delivered to the Hansard Society last night, John Bercow called 2009 the most damaging year for Parliament in recent history, with the "possible exception" of 1941. In that year, the Nazis bombed the Commons chamber. For the 2009 damage, said Bercow, MPs had only themselves to blame.
Perceptions of the House of Commons suffered greatly as a result of the expenses scandal. In June an Ipsos MORI poll found that views of MPs' motives were the most negative of any year on record, with 62 per cent of respondents saying that MPs put their own interests ahead of anything else.
Bercow was elected Speaker after his predecessor Sir Michael Martin was criticised for failing to take sufficient action against MPs' expenses claims.
To repair this damage, said Bercow, MPs should stop complaining about the results of Sir Thomas Legg's expenses audit and repay the amounts asked of them in full. This should be part of a wider reform of Commons practices, which would "dynamite" the existing system "with as much vigour as Guy Fawkes intended to apply here in 1605".
Bercow announced that he would establish a new committee to reconnect the Commons with the public, the Speaker's advisory council on public engagement.
Since becoming Speaker five months ago, he added, he had already added 50 "outreach" events. However, significant reform inside the House of Commons was essential, he added: "nothing else will allow us back into the national conversation."
The Speaker himself has not been immune from criticism. He repaid more than £6,500 to HM Revenue and Customs after admitting that he had failed to pay capital gains tax on the sale of two properties in 2003. And despite agreeing on his appointment as Speaker to waive his second home allowance, the Daily Telegraph has disclosed that he ordered a £20,000 refurbishment of the Speaker's residence - which included more than £7000 for a new sofa and cushions.