John Thomas Bercow is a British politician who has been the Speaker of the House of Commons since 2009. He is a member of the Conservative Party and was a member of Parliament from 2001 to 2009. He was first elected to represent Buckingham at the 2001 general election before being appointed to be a member of the House of Commons Treasury Select Committee from 2002 to 2005, and served as a government whip from 2005 to 2008. In July 2008, he became Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government in Prime Minister Gordon Brown's second Cabinet
In September 2008, he was promoted as Leader of the House of Commons, making him third in line to succeed William Hague as party leader after David Cameron and George Osborne. He resigned as Leader of the House of Commons on 11 October 2009, two days after he had been elected Speaker following the resignation of Michael Martin, on the basis that it would be "inappropriate" for him to continue in his role while he sought re-election as an MP at the 2010 general election. Bercow succeeded Martin as Speaker on 19 October 2009.
Fairness is not about statistical equality.John Bercow
I think the record shows that as Speaker, I have taken the lead in cleaning up politics.John Bercow
I do strongly believe myself that members of the government who sit in the House of Lords should be accountable to the elected House because otherwise there is a democratic deficit, and that is wrong.John Bercow
Even youngish men can acquire wisdom as time goes by.John Bercow
