LATEST: John Bercow elected Speaker. Here's what he endorsed:
mySociety asked likely candidates for the post of Speaker to endorse the following principles.
The three principles are:
- Voters have the right to know in detail about the money that is spent to support MPs and run Parliament, and in similar detail how the decisions to spend that money are settled upon.
- Bills being considered must be published online in a much better way than they are now, as the Free Our Bills campaign has been suggesting for some time.
- The Internet is not a threat to a renewal in our democracy, it is one of its best hopes. Parliament should appoint a senior officer with direct working experience of the power of the Internet who reports directly to the Speaker, and who will help Parliament adapt to a new era of transparency and effectiveness.
Update: John Bercow MP replied in 21 days. He endorses the principles. Here's the reply in full:
Thank you for your email. I am sorry not to have been able to reply before now.
I am happy to endorse the 3 principles that you list. The transparency of Parliament, and its accessibility, need to be greatly improved and, if elected, I would seek to ensure that they are.
This data was produced by TheyWorkForYou from a variety of sources.
John Bercow
Speaker, and MP for Buckingham
- Entered Parliament on 1 May 1997 — General election
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- Voting record
- Committees and topics of interest
- Most recent appearances
- Numerology
- Register of Members’ Interests
- Expenses
Voting record (from PublicWhip)
As the Speaker, John Bercow cannot vote (except to break a tie).
How John Bercow voted on key issues since 2001:
- Voted a mixture of for and against a transparent Parliament. votes, speeches
- Voted a mixture of for and against introducing a smoking ban. votes, speeches
- Voted very strongly against introducing ID cards. votes, speeches
- Voted strongly against introducing foundation hospitals. votes, speeches
- Voted strongly against introducing student top-up fees. votes, speeches
- Voted moderately against Labour's anti-terrorism laws. votes, speeches
- Voted very strongly for the Iraq war. votes, speeches
- Voted moderately for an investigation into the Iraq war. votes, speeches
- Voted very strongly for replacing Trident. votes, speeches
- Voted strongly against the hunting ban. votes, speeches
- Voted moderately for equal gay rights. votes, speeches
- Voted strongly for laws to stop climate change. votes, speeches
Read about how the voting record is decided.
More on well-known issues (from the Guardian)
Committees and topics of interest
Select Committee membership
- Chairman, Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (since 4 Nov 2009)
- Chairman, Members Estimate Committee (since 8 Oct 2009)
- Chairman, Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission (since 10 Aug 2009)
Asks most questions about
- Departments: Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, International Development, Health, Treasury, Home Department
- Subjects (based on headings added by Hansard): Committee Mandates, Public Service Agreements, Burma, Sudan, Performance Targets
(based on written questions asked by John Bercow and answered by departments)
Public Bill Committees (sittings attended)
- Chairman, Equality Bill Committee (1 out of n/a)
- Holocaust (Stolen Art) Restitution Bill Committee (0 out of n/a)
- Chairman, Saving Gateway Accounts Bill Committee (2 out of n/a)
- Chairman, Health Bill Committee (0 out of n/a)
- Chairman, Education and Skills Bill Committee (10 out of n/a)
- Chairman, Counter-Terrorism Bill Committee (8 out of n/a)
- Special Educational Needs (Information) Bill Committee (0 out of n/a)
- Chairman, Employment Bill Committee (2 out of n/a)
- Health and Safety (Offences) Bill Committee (0 out of n/a)
- Chairman, Sustainable Communities Bill Committee (3 out of n/a)
- Chairman, Fraud (Trials without a Jury) Bill Committee (0 out of n/a)
- Chairman, Serious Crime Bill Committee (4 out of n/a)
- Chairman, Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Bill Committee (3 out of n/a)
- Chairman, Company Law Reform Bill Committee (10 out of n/a)
- Civil Partnership Bill Committee (5 out of n/a)
- Finance Bill Committee (7 out of n/a)
- Private Security Industry Bill Committee (7 out of n/a)
- Vehicles (Crime) Bill Committee (10 out of n/a)
- Hunting Bill Committee (7 out of n/a)
Most recent appearances
- Point of Order (23 Nov 2009)
“That is not a point of order, but, in so far as it is an important point, it has been noted; it had not escaped my attention. I can tell the right hon. Gentleman that due attention will be given to that matter.”
- Debate on the Address: Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and Defence (23 Nov 2009)
“Order. The right hon. Gentleman is a very experienced Member and knows that we cannot have sedentary interventions.”
- Bills Presented: Education and Health (19 Nov 2009)
“Order. I remind the hon. Gentleman that I do not have a September guarantee.”
More of John Bercow's recent appearances
Numerology
Please note that numbers do not measure quality. Also, representatives may do other things not currently covered by this site. (More about this)
- Has spoken in 185 debates in the last year — well above average amongst MPs.
- Has received answers to 397 written questions in the last year — Speakers/ deputy speakers do not ask written questions.
- Is a member of 3 select committees (3 as chair).
- Replied within 2 or 3 weeks to a very high number of messages sent via WriteToThem.com during 2008, according to constituents.
- People have made 69 annotations on this MP’s speeches — well above average amongst MPs.
- This MP's speeches, in Hansard, are readable by an average 18–19 year old, going by the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level score.
- 84 people are tracking whenever this MP speaks — email me whenever John Bercow speaks.
- Has used three-word alliterative phrases (e.g. "she sells seashells") 1374 times in debates — well above average amongst MPs. (Why is this here?)
Register of Members’ Interests
Register last updated: 11 Nov 2009. More about the Register
View the history of this MP's entries in the Register
Expenses
Figures in brackets are ranks. Data from parliament.uk (source). Read 2004/05 – 2007/08 receipts.
| Type | 2007/08 (ranking out of 645) | 2006/07 (ranking out of 645) | 2005/06 | 2004/05 (ranking out of 659) | 2003/04 (ranking out of 658) | 2002/03 (ranking out of 657) | 2001/02 (ranking out of 657) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Additional Costs Allowance | £23,083 (joint 1st) | £22,110 (joint 1st) | £21,634 | £20,902 (joint 1st) | £20,333 (joint 3rd) | £19,722 (joint 1st) | £15,671 (joint 268th) |
| London Supplement | £0 | £0 | £0 | £0 | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Incidental Expenses Provision | £7,006 (625th) | £24,849 (98th) | £19,900 | £14,922 (494th) | £17,483 (joint 504th) | £18,234 (joint 1st) | £6,716 (598th) |
| Staffing Allowance | £55,952 (635th) | £66,368 (611th) | £82,511 | £73,192 (218th) | £66,815 (383rd) | £65,006 (311th) | £57,256 (37th) |
| Communications Allowance | £8,144 (323rd) | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Members' Travel | £5,400 (444th)* | £5,105 (464th)** | £5,852 | £9,675 (346th) | £10,051 (322nd) | £13,326 (190th) | £9,417 (249th) |
| Members' Staff Travel | £0 | £712 (173rd) | £51 | £46 (448th) | £144 (392nd) | £0 | £137 (385th) |
| Members' Spouse Travel | £0 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Members' Family Travel | £0 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Centrally Purchased Stationery | £735 (347th) | £1,004 (joint 279th) | £983 | £1,579 (joint 159th) | £800 (358th) | £1,041 (joint 314th) | £836 (joint 394th) |
| Stationery: Associated Postage Costs | £2,115 (358th) | £2,243 (374th) | £1,116 | £3,370 (231st) | £1,876 (435th) | N/A | N/A |
| Centrally Provided Computer Equipment | £1,001 (577th) | £878 (joint 571st) | £0 | £1,866 (joint 374th) | £1,866 (joint 368th) | £1,604 (502nd) | £1,604 (422nd) |
| Other Costs | £0 | £0 | £0 | £627 (90th) | £4,689 (22nd) | £4,735 (33rd) | £11,378 (1st) |
| Total | £103,436 (631st) | £123,269 (524th) | £132,047 | £126,179 (274th) | £124,057 (223rd) | £123,668 (92nd) | £103,015 (56th) |
* Regular journeys between home/constituency/Westminster: Mileage £5,400 (78th).