ORDER! Order! The dulcet tones of my good friend and former parliamentary colleague John Bercow will be greatly missed when he stands down as Speaker of the House of Commons. Television viewers across the planet will miss his style and lucidity. I will miss his integrity and steadfast commitment in reforming the archaic systems of Westminster.

After 10 years in this ancient post, which dates back to the 14th century, his reputation for being the most celebrated and outspoken Speaker of modern times is beyond argument. His entertaining “flying flamingos” and right honourable put-downs are legendary both at home and internationally, as is his firm hand with parliamentary chicanery and misbehaviour. As the 34th Incumbent of the Chair of the British House of Commons since the Act of Union in 1707, he will be remembered as both a courter of controversy and a loquacious orator.

Bercow’s time in this prestigious and powerful position has not been without its bumps in the road, to paraphrase our current PM. With such a substantial legacy, it will be interesting to see who steps into his shoes and if they continue his insistence on redressing structures of control, executive dominance and democracy at Westminster. One thing is for certain – the choice of Speaker should not be made lightly, and he or she will play a determining role in the outcome of the last stages of the UK’s new relationship with the European Union.

Bercow will be a very hard act to follow. His reputation as a major reformer is well merited. His mission to restructure the chamber, both inside and outside, as well as the actual role of Speaker, is both admirable and brave, giving an enhanced voice to backbenchers and the opposition, despite the expected displeasure from governmental high heid yins. No Speaker in history has done more than Bercow in facilitating the legislator to do its fundamental job of scrutinising the executive, and in this sense, he has made as many friends across Parliament as he has enemies in positions of power. Through his interventionist and innovative rulings, he has created a more egalitarian environment in Westminster, championing BAME and female politicians but still protecting fundamental constitutional conventions.

His desire to restore trust in our parliament and politicians is all the more noteworthy given his crucial role in the Brexit crisis which has dominated our political discourse these three-and-a-half years. Bercow is likely an instinctive Remainer but he is much, much more a dogged cheerleader for parliament and what he regards as the national interest. Indeed, as Mr Speaker has pointed out with relish to his Brexiteer critics, they seem to forget the days where he doggedly defended the right of their then minority view to be heard.

Bercow has fought back against the Government’s attempt to subvert parliamentary scrutiny through prorogation and other sneaky tricks and treats along the way. He has shone a light into all the dark spaces of this Brexit bourach and resisted efforts to slip through legislation without proper time for debate and discussion. He has railed against the establishment, against privilege and influence, refusing to give the government of the day their untrammelled way. Of course, his decisions have been met with much criticism from Brexit-supporting ministers and commentators, but they have been vindicated by the Supreme Court and a majority in parliament – that is a powerful combination of support.

In the final few weeks of his tenure, he has been a particular thorn in the side of Boris Johnson and his Brexit plans. His last stand in the chair on “Super Saturday”

was to allow Oliver Letwin’s amendment on the Government’s take-it-or-leave-it motion to ensure the PM had to send an extension letter to the European Union. Unimpressed with Johnson’s puerile unsigned letter stunt, the Speaker then refused the Government’s attempt to force his motion back into Parliament on the following Monday as “repetitive and disorderly”. Boris may not have been able to retaliate in kind, but his discourteous and churlish refusal to attend Bercow’s leaving party last week spoke volumes. As we say in Glasgow, “see yon Johnson – nae class”.

The Prime Minister will not be sad to see the back of the current Speaker but, for me at least, that should be regarded as another feather in Bercow’s cap. His detractors are certainly throwing

all kinds of mud at him, aided by their allies in the mainstream media, as he approaches his final days in post. This is merely an attempt to discredit him for future roles and undermine his formidable achievements, with a dollop of paying off old scores.

No doubt he will bat them aside as he has done for these past 10 years; in a recent interview in Der Speigel he admitted he is completely relaxed about his “marmite” reputation, pointing out he’s been re-elected more frequently than anyone else in the post-war period. Many have tried to bring him down and many have failed. It‘s testament to his honour and diligence that he has stayed on this far as mediator of the storms of Brexit.

With his important place in history secure, I sense that future generations will be kind to John Bercow, that with the benefit of hindsight and objective distance, his crucial contribution in protecting democracy and creating a more egalitarian parliament will be celebrated and admired. And, of course, there’s always his memoirs, which I’m sure will be both an entertaining and enlightening expose. After all, for a man with such an elaborate turn of phrase, it seems fitting that he should have the last word. His detractors occasionally make something of his smallness of stature. But in his leaving we should acknowledge: there goes a big man.