Of course, Labour was in a strong position then.By contrast Johnson has no power or ability to whip enough MPs to choose the Speaker.Even his ability to influence it is severely limited, especially if the rebel alliance holds together.
Johnson will get a Speaker chosen by the opposition in this Parliament and that Speaker will endure for his entire time as Prime Minister.
To the best of my knowledge the PM has never chosen the speaker and it isn't a party political appointment.
Whether a remainer or brexiter is supposed to be irrelevant.
Shame that Bercow broke the convention on impartiality, so that people now seem to think that they might get someone from "their side" in place.
Party leaders can whip their MPs (but of course not enforce givennits a private ballet). Thankfully Johnson, being so weak, is in no position to do that.
Perhaps the next speaker will have a faithful wife too.
Have any party leaders ever done that?
Genuine question, but to the best of my knowledge they never have.
And back to the point. The political leanings of the speaker should be irrelevant. Bercow has damaged the impartiality of this important role so much that everyone thinks they need to get their side into the job.
I miss Betty Boothroyd.
Maybe Emily Thornberry could be the next Speaker. After her performance on Question Time last Thursday she showed she's not fit for anything else.
It'll be HH
Harriet Harman to run for Commons Speaker
Harman would be a good choice IMHO.
A terrible choice. I certainly wouldn't trust her to be impartial.
She was recently being suggested as the head of an anti brexit government. I see her being suggested as part of the politicisation of the speaker role that Bercow has started.