democracia participativa y derechos humanos / participatory democracy & human rights

The new Commons Speaker, John Bercow. | Reuters

John Bercow, the Conservative MP is backed by many Labour Cabinet ministers but enjoys limited popularity within his own party

Londres, June 22 (Telegraph).─ Mr Bercow won a third-round run-off with fellow Tory backbencher Sir George Young after early favourite Margaret Beckett withdrew following the second round.

His election was greeted with cheers and sustained applause by MPs in the chamber before he was "reluctantly" dragged to the Speaker's Chair, as is traditional.

"I thank you from the bottom of my heart for the confidence that you have placed in me," he said.  "My commitment to this House is to be completely impartial as between members of one political party and another. That is what it is about."

Mr Bercow, 46, finished first in all three rounds, winning the final poll with 322 votes to Sir George's 271.

The self-styled "clean-break candidate" and MP for Buckingham becomes the first Conservative Speaker since 1992, following Labour's Michael Martin and Betty Boothroyd into the chair.

In a packed chamber, the leaders of the three main political parties welcomed his election. Gordon Brown, who declined to vote, said that it was an "important step" in the "process of change" following the MPs' expenses row ...

[ Full text ]