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Tory MPs Deride Speaker for 'Anti-Brexit' Bias With Wife's Bumper Sticker

© AP Photo / Kirsty WigglesworthSpeaker of The House of Commons John Bercow speaks at concert where The German Bundestag and British Parliament choirs performed together to commemorate WW1, in the House of Commons, in London, Wednesday, July 9, 2014
Speaker of The House of Commons John Bercow speaks at concert where The German Bundestag and British Parliament choirs performed together to commemorate WW1, in the House of Commons, in London, Wednesday, July 9, 2014 - Sputnik International
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UK House speaker John Bercow drew ire from rebel Tories accusing him of anti-Brexit bias after he backed an amendment allowing MPs to force a three-day ‘plan B' timeframe on UK prime minister Theresa May's criticised Brexit draft bill. Tory MPs mounted fresh attacks on the Speaker during PMQs on Wednesday using... a bumper sticker.

Conservative MP and Remainer Dominic Grieve tabled an amendment forcing the government to return with alternative plans if MPs vote down Mrs. May's embattled draft plan on Brexit next week.

The amendment would give Eurosceptics an "unshakable conviction" that the Speaker was "no longer neutral", Tory MP Crispin Blunt said. Conservative Adam Holloway also accused the Speaker of anti-Brexit bias after a "Bollocks to Brexit" sticker was found on Mr. Bercow's car.

The Union flag is seen flapping in the wind in front of one of the faces of the Great Clock atop the landmark Elizabeth Tower that houses Big Ben at the Houses of Parliament where lawmakers are expected to vote in favour of joining air strikes against Islamic State (IS) militants in central London on 26 September, 2014 - Sputnik International
British MPs Say 3 Days Enough to Suggest Alternative If Brexit Deal Is Rejected
"We've all noticed in recent months a sticker on your car making derogatory comments about Brexit," Mr. Holloway said, to the chagrin of MPs. "No — this is a serious point about partiality," Mr. Holloway continued. "Have you driven that car with the sticker there?"

But Mr. Bercow admitted that the sticker "belongs to my wife" and that Mr. Holloway had made a "factual error".

"That sticker on the subject of Brexit happens to be affixed to or in the windscreen of, my wife's car," Mr. Bercow said. "And I'm sure the Honourable Gentleman wouldn't' suggest for one moment that a wife is somehow the property or chattel of her husband?"

"She is entitled to her views: that sticker is not mine and that's the end of it," Speaker Bercow concluded.

Despite accusations from Conservative MPs over Brexit bias, Mr. Bercow reiterated he was a "champion the rights of members wishing to push their particular point of view on a range of issues".

READ MORE: May's 'Meaningless' Backstop Assurances 'Won’t Cut It' — DUP Brexit Spokesman

"I have always been scrupulously fair to Brexiteers and Remainers alike as I have always been to people of different opinions on a miscellany of other issues," he said. "That has been the case, it is the case, it will continue to be the case."

However, Mark Francois MP launched fresh accusations against Mr. Bercow, stating that he violated centuries of parliamentary convention by backing Mr. Grieve's amendment, which only ministers could change, he stated.

"I have never known any occasion when any speaker has over-ruled a motion of the House of Commons…" he said angrily.

READ MORE: 70% of UK Parliamentarians Believe May Did Poor Job of Negotiating Brexit — Poll

"You have said again and again you are a servant of this House," Mr. Francois shouted. "And we take you at your word. And I have heard you many times on points of order, when people have challenged you, saying ‘I cannot do X or Y because I am bound by a motion of the House'."

"You've done that multiple times in my experience. So why are you overriding a motion of the House today?"

No. 10 also joined the discussion with a spokesperson for the Prime Minister saying to reporters: "We are surprised the amendment was selected. The advice we received was that it would not be in order."

This is not the first time Tory MPs have targeted the House Speaker, after several accused him of refusing to acknowledge Mr. Corbyn's comments where he allegedly called the Prime Minister a "stupid woman", with Andrea Leadsom and Sir Patrick McLoughlin leading the attacks.

But Mr. Bercow assured that he had not heard or seen the comments and could not rule on the point of order, adding that it was incumbent on all MPs to "operate in accordance with its best conventions".

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