Brexit: Leaving EU biggest mistake since war claims John Bercow

John Bercow says he believes Brexit to be the biggest foreign policy mistake in the post-war period.

John Bercow departs the House of Commons Chamber for the final time as Speaker. Picture; AFP.

John Bercow has admitted what most political observers had already deduced: he believes Brexit to be the biggest foreign policy mistake in the post-war period.

The former Speaker of the House of Commons, who stood down from his ten year tenure last Friday shared his personal views about Britain leaving the European Union with a gathering of the Foreign Press Association in London.

“I’m no longer the Speaker”, Mr Bercow said, when asked if Brexit would affect the international standing of the UK, adding, “so I don’t have to remain impartial now.’’

He then continued, in his firs tpublic comments since standing down: “But if you ask me honestly, do I think that Brexit is good for our global standing, my honest answer is no I don’t. I think that Brexit is the biggest foreign policy mistake in the post-war period”.

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While Speaker, Mr Bercow faced accusations from the Conservatives that he bucked long standing conventions in showing a bias to the Leave side when he gave opposition MPs control of the order paper, which ultimately brought about the Benn Act that prevented a no deal Brexit from occurring.

John Bercow speaks in the House of Commons Chamber for the final time as Speaker. Picture: AFP.

Mr Bercow insisted that he respected the position of the Prime Minister and his rights as leader of the biggest party in parliament to get support for his position, which was to get Brexit done.

“If he had the numbers, he could have got the first base done,’’ Mr Bercow said, noting Boris Johnson’s minority government.

“He made a start by getting an agreement towards the end, but not to the legislation. And he decided to leave that and instead to seek the public mandate. I respect his right to his view, which is a view very widely shared. But there is an alternative view equally that is also very widely shared, and my own personal opinion is that Brexit does not help us. We are part of a world of power blocs and trade blocs, my feeling is that it is better to be part of that power bloc and of that trade bloc than not”.

John Bercow, centre right, and the Reverend Rose Hudson-Wilkin, the Speaker's Chaplain, background, in red, leave parliament in the final Speaker's Procession. Picture: AP.

Mr Johnson had told Mr Bercow that he was not just an umpire in the chair, but “a player in your own right’. Mr Bercow had previously revealed he voted Remain in the Brexit referendum.

But in a return of serve on Wednesday, Mr Bercow reminded the prime minister that as Speaker, his job was to stand up for the rights of the House of Commons and he gave no apology for championing those rights.

When asked about Mr Johnson’s five week attempted prorogation of parliament, which was overturned by the Supreme Court, Mr Bercow said - referring to the number of judges party to the court’s decision: “What matters is the Judgement of the Supreme Court. What matters is 11-0. You got it? 11-0. Maybe it’s not clear: eleven-nil”.

Mr Bercow cautioned about Brexit fatigue and the country’s desire to resolve the Brexit issue, but also warned the prolonged uncertainty had affected investment confidence and the country’s international status.

“It is better to get it right than to do it quickly, so we’ve got every right as a parliament to continue debating the issue,’’ he said.

“But has it stalled uncertainty around the world? Of course it has. And that’s bad for investment confidence and probably bad for our status geopolitically.’’

Mr Bercow has also stood down from his parliamentary seat and won’t contest the December 12 election.

A junior champion tennis player, he suggested he would be taking up a lot of time on the tennis court. Labour MP Sir Lindsay Hoyle has been elected as the new Speaker.