OK, I have now recovered from the shock & disappointment of John Bercow being elected Speaker and my blood pressure has resumed to almost normal levels - so it's probably safe for me to post a few thoughts.

 

It is quite difficult to be objective and put the "tribal politician" in me to one side, however here goes.

 

Firstly I guess we all have to hope that John Bercow does a good job - after all he will be in post for at least the rest of this parliament and I suspect for the next parliament.

 

I suspect it is unlikely that the Conservative Party will try to "assassinate" this Speaker after the next General Election - no matter how much he is despised and distrusted by so many Conservative MP's and activists.

 

Another change of Speaker within a year or so of Michael Martins removal would reflect very badly on our parliament and would do little to restore the public's faith in our national politicians.

 

So, accepting that Speaker Bercow is likely to be a fixture for the foreseeable future what do we need him to do?

 

I have no original thoughts on this (sorry).

 

It would be great if Gordon Brown & his cabinet (and next year hopefully David Cameron et al) were required to answer questions in parliament rather than simply reply by deliver rhetoric and prepared statements.

 

Ministers should announce policy in parliament rather than on the broadcast media - The Speaker should insist in this & reprimand ministers who fail to do so.

 

Some reform of parliamentary procedure would be welcome - I could do without the nonsense of calling each other "honourable members" - just saying the "member for  X" would do for me.

 

Reform of voting protocols would be good - why on earth in the 21st century does it take so long for a division to take place - use some technology for heavens sake............

 

However, even if Speaker Bercow manages some or all of this it sticks in my craw that New Labour have managed to block vote in the one candidate from a field of 10 that they knew would be utterly unpalatable to the overwhelming majority of the Conservative Party.

 

At a time when The Speaker need to unify parliament we have a man in post who is unacceptable to almost every opposition MP.

 

I don't know John Bercow so my opinion of him is influenced by the media image he has cultivated and from media reports.

 

He seems to have placed his personal ambition ahead of party loyalty, he appears to have prostituted himself to New Labour and already he seems more interested in getting his face on TV than some of his recent distinguished predecessors.

 

The following You Tube clip has appeared widely on the "Blogosphere"  - it certainly does nothing to improve my view of the new Speaker and arguably doesn't show him in a great light.

 

 

 

I am disappointed that my MP, Charles Walker, supported Bercow and was one of the 2 MP's involved in the charade (sorry - theatre) of dragging him to the chair.

 

However, as I have posted previously, Charles was typically up front about his support for Bercow and I respect that honesty - even if I profoundly disagree with him on this matter.

Some say it was just a publicity stunt for Bacardi.....................

 

Blast...................

 

 

The announcement of £5m worth of aid from the GB to Zimbabwe (although I can't think of it as being anything other than Rhodesia) is a worry.

 

The conditions that the people of this failed state have had to live under in recent years are appalling.

 

It is shameful that the Western world has allowed Mugabe & his thugs to keep their grip on power in what should be one of Africa's wealthiest and most productive agricultural countries.

 

The cynic in me thinks that if Zimbabwe produced oil then the US, UK and EU would have been into Zimbabwe to effect regime change pretty swiftly.

 

However, whilst I agree that aid is urgently needed I do wonder how much of the £5m will get to the people who need it and how much will disappear into the pockets of the ruling classes?

 

As an aside, I understand that Mr Tsvangirai didn't receive a favourable welcome from Zimbabwean exiles in London today - perhaps because of concerns that he did an unacceptable deal with Mugabe and that the real power still sits with that deeply unpleasant and apparently unmovable dictator.