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Parliamentary Reform: It's not so hard
Saturday, 6th February 2010
Ever since the Parliamentary expense scandal broke last year, demands for comprehensive reform have grown. More
Trio of mayors defect to UKIP
Friday, 5th February 2010
Further proof that UKIP is on the up in the North West and gaining support from all quarters has been amply demonstrated in Congleton with three former local mayors defecting to UKIP. More
Nigel welcomes Cameron call on Speaker
Friday, 5th February 2010
UKIP's candidate for Buckingham, Nigel Farage, has welcomed the Tory Party's call to back his opponent, John Bercow, in the upcoming general election. More
Marta letter to David Cameron
Thursday, 4th February 2010
Marta Andreasen today challenged David Cameron to come clean about what he plans to do to defend British justice. More
UKIP appeals to Supreme Court
Thursday, 4th February 2010
UKIP has won leave to appeal to the Supreme Court over an earlier decision to allow an Electoral Commission forfeit on the Party for accepting donations from a donor whose name was inadvertently left off the electoral role. More
Godfrey slams pub code cost blunder
Wednesday, 3rd February 2010
UKIP has blasted the Government after an admission that the cost to every pub of adhering to a mandatory alcohol code will be than TRIPLE the original £246 estimate. More
Poll backs UKIP's burka ban
Monday, 1st February 2010
TWO out of three people believe burkhas should be banned in public, it was revealed last night. More
Latest Video
Professor Ian Plimer on climate change
Thursday, 28th January 2010
World leading climate change sceptic Professor Ian Plimer states the truth about global warming in this presentation hosted by UKIP's Godfrey Bloom in London recently. More
From The Times
February 5, 2010
Speaker faces challenge to Buckingham seat from former UKIP leader
Tom Baldwin and Roland Watson John Bercow would like to go down in history as a reforming Speaker of the Commons who helped to sweep politics clean and restore respect for Parliament.
Fulfilling those ambitions will depend on whether he can first overcome a challenge in his Buckingham constituency at the next election by an opponent determined to portray the Speaker as the embodiment of a discredited political system.
Mr Bercow is defending the safest seat in the country, on paper at least. Not only did he win the largest majority (18,129 votes) of any Conservative MP in 2005 but, in keeping with recent tradition by which serving Speakers are allowed a free run, Labour and Liberal Democrats have agreed not to field candidates.
Although many Tories openly distrust him, David Cameron urged “supporters of all parties — and of none — to vote for the Speaker John Bercow”. Similar messages of support are expected from Gordon Brown and Nick Clegg.
It is testament to the febrile nature of today’s politics that these apparent advantages are now being used as sticks with which to beat Mr Bercow.
Nigel Farage, who stood down as leader of the UK Independence Party to fight the seat, greeted news yesterday of Mr Cameron’s statement by clapping his hands. “Great! It’s just what we wanted,” he declared. “This is an opportunity for the people of Buckingham to stick two fingers up to the whole political class as represented by the Speaker, the figurehead of Parliament.”
Yesterday the UKIP candidate could be found stalking votes for a council by-election next week in Maids Moreton — one of more than 80 villages that make up this rural constituency. He is spending up to four days a week in the seat and has promised to “drink a pint” in every pub that he can find.
On the doorstep Mr Farage seeks to merge UKIP’s old theme on Europe with personal hostility to Mr Bercow, whom he calls “Mr Very-pleased-with-himself”, as well as wider anger over expenses. Ann Moore-Martin, a retired head teacher, told him: “Bercow is good locally but I don’t think I really trust him. He does not really have the stature, or perhaps integrity, of some of those great Speakers.”
Some mentioned Mr Bercow’s own expenses problems. The Speaker has been asked to repay almost £1,000 for an “accidental over-claim” of mortgage interest. He has also voluntarily handed over £6,500 because he avoided capital gains tax when he flipped the designation of his taxpayer-funded second home.
Few were aware of the more serious antics involving UKIP. Tom Wise, a former MEP, who was jailed last year for two years over fraudulent claims of £39,000. Mr Farage said that he had “dealt with that problem ruthlessly”.
In an interview with The Times Mr Bercow suggested that “we are witnessing the last remaining reels of a particular grisly horror movie” over expenses. He hoped that Parliament would be able to “move on” after voters delivered their verdict later this year.
While his aides dismiss any suggestion that MPs will be moving on without Mr Bercow, other observers believe that it is wrong to take victory for granted.
Mr Bercow insisted that he would be campaigning vigorously. He said: “I will campaign for re-election on the basis of my track record over 13 years as a local MP, my continuing commitment to the Buckingham constituency and my determination to restore faith in Parliament.”
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