John Bercow , the speaker of the House of Commons , has been accused by ministers and Conservative MPs of showing anti-Tory and anti-Brexit bias after he allowed a controversial vote to go ahead.
His critics claimed he ripped up centuries of tradition by calling a vote on an amendment to a government “business motion” setting out the timetable for the five-day debate on Theresa May ’s Brexit deal. Unusually, he overruled the officials who advise him, the Commons clerks. Eurosceptic MP Peter Bone claimed they had previously told him the technical motion could not be amended.
Dominic Grieve, the former attorney general, tabled an amendment saying that if May’s deal is rejected by MPs next Tuesday, she must table a motion on the government’s Plan B within three sitting days – by 21 January. Previously, she would have had three weeks. Grieve’s proposal was approved by 308 votes to 297, the government’s second defeat in 24 hours.
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Does it matter? In any case, May would have had to respond quickly to a defeat on her deal; leaving a vacuum would have left her premiership looking even weaker . In a break with the tradition of not criticising the speaker, May said she was “surprised” by his ruling and that there should be “consistent interpretation” of the Commons rulebook. She plans only a 90-minute debate if her deal is voted down. But ministers fear Bercow will cause them further headaches; procedural wrangles are inevitable, so he will play a pivotal role in the Brexit endgame. He will not be cowed by this week’s criticism.
The Grieve amendment will limit the amount of time May will have to wring more concessions out of the EU. Her original breathing space would have heaped more pressure on MPs worried about a no-deal Brexit to back her, by taking the UK closer to its 29 March departure. The amendment will probably allow MPs to vote on alternatives to May’s agreement earlier in the process.
Did Bercow break the rules? No. The speaker is the final arbiter on interpreting the rulebook . Characteristically, he portrayed his decision as safeguarding the rights of backbenchers.
Critics believe his move will have long-term implications. It could allow backbenchers to pass similar amendments in future, loosening the government’s grip on the Commons timetable, a precious asset. However, whether Wednesday’s ruling is a one-off or sets a precedent will probably be decided by Bercow’s successor.
The row is the latest in a series of clashes between the speaker and the government. He has allowed parliament to hold ministers to account by forcing them to answer many more urgent questions on topical issues than under his predecessors, which means they are summoned to the Commons at short notice. The number rose from 12 in his first year as speaker to an averag e of 50 since.
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UK news in pictures
1/50 12 January 2019
Demonstrators wearing yellow vests protest near Broadcasting House on in London, England. Demonstrators from both the left and the right wings of British politics have adopted the 'Gilets Jaunes' or Yellow Vest form of protest that first became prominent in France throughout November and December 2018. Various groups meet in London today to protest the Brexit deal due to be voted on in the UK Parliament
Getty Images
2/50 11 January 2019
An emotional Andy Murray revealed this year's Australian Open could be the last tournament of his career. Struggling to hold back tears, the 31-year-old Scot said that the continuing pain from what he described as his “severely damaged right hip” had led him to decide to end his career this year. He said that he had been planning to make this summer’s Wimbledon his farewell tournament, but feared that he might have to bring down the curtain before then
Getty Images
3/50 10 January 2019
Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May and Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe were greeted by Chase Bridge Primary School children waving UK and Japanese national flags during a visit to Twickenham Rugby Stadium in, west London. Abe is visiting Britain and set to hold talks with May following her visit to Tokyo and Kyoto last year
AFP/Getty
4/50 9 January 2019
Former leader of the Liberal Democrats, Tim Farron (right) speaks to a pro-Brexit protester outside the Houses of Parliament. MPs will resume debating Theresa May's Brexit plan a month after she postponed the original commons vote. Met police have been urged to take action against protesters who abuse MP's. This comes after Conservative MP Anna Soubry was verbally abused and called 'Nazi scum' by pro-Brexit protesters on 7 January
EPA
5/50 8 January 2019
Alex Salmond speaking outside the Court of Session in Edinburgh after it ruled that the Scottish Government acted unlawfully regarding sexual harassment complaints against the former first minister
PA
6/50 7 January 2019
Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May meets with a mother and baby during a visit to a facility within Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool. May made a speech setting out the government's long-term plan for the National Health Service
AFP/Getty
7/50 6 January 2019
The Lions part group of professional performers on Bankside, during the annual Twelfth Night celebrations on the South Bank in central London.
PA
8/50 5 January 2019
Elliott List celebrates after scoring Gillingham's first goal during the FA Cup third round match between against Cardiff City at Priestfield Stadium. The League One side went on to knock the Premier League out of the competition
Getty
9/50 4 January 2019
Frances Connolly, 52, and Patrick Connolly, 54, from Moira, County Armagh in Northern Ireland, who scooped a £115 million EuroMillions jackpot in the New Year's Day lottery draw, during a photocall at the Culloden Estate and Spa in Holywood, Belfast, as they announce their win
PA
10/50 3 January 2019
The offshore patrol vessel HMS Mersey leaves Portsmouth Harbour as it is deployed to patrol the English channel following an increase in migrants crossing in small boats
PA
11/50 2 January 2019
Rail protestors wearing masks with the faces of Prime Minister Theresa May and Transport Secretary Chris Grayling outside Kings Cross St Pancras station in London ahead of a visit by Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn to highlight 'rising rail fares and falling standards of service on Britain's railways' as part of Labour's Rail Action Day
PA
12/50 1 January 2019
Police restraining a man after he stabbed three people at Victoria Station in Manchester last night. Two commuters - a man and woman in their 50s - were taken to hospital with knife injuries and a British Transport Police (BTP) officer was stabbed in the shoulder. Police said a man was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and remains in custody
Sam Clack/PA
13/50 31 December 2018
Competitors in fancy dress run across the Pennine tops near Haworth, West Yorkshire, in the annual Auld Lang Syne Fell race which attracts hundreds of runners every year
PA
14/50 30 December 2018
UK Border Force Cutter, 'Search' berths at Ramsgate Harbour. The growing number of migrants attempting to cross the English Channel has been declared a "major incident" by UK home secretary Sajid Javid
Getty
15/50 29 December 2018
People remove a Santa hat on the 20 metres tall steel sculpture 'Angel of the North', outside Gateshead, Tyne and Wear. The pranksters responsible climbed up overnight to remove it. One of the group, dressed as Dr Seuss character the Grinch, was photographed pulling the hat down from the 65ft structure, with the help of three others dressed as Santa. The hat had been placed on top of the famous Anthony Gormley artwork on Christmas Eve, prompting delight from onlookers
PA
16/50 28 December 2018
The steam locomotive U Class 31806 makes its way past Corfe Castle during the Winter Warm Up on the Swanage Railway in Dorset
PA
17/50 27 December 2018
The scene in Launcelot Close, Andover, where the body of a man has been found after an explosion caused a building to collapse
Hannah Louise/Twitter/PA
18/50 26 December 2018
Shoppers enter the Selfridges store on Oxford Street during the Boxing Day sales in London
Reuters
19/50 25 December 2018
Barbary macaques at Blair Drummond Safari Park have a great time finding the tasty morsels hidden amongst the wrapped parcels given to them by keepers. The animals need care and attention every day and Christmas is no different when the animals are checked, fed and given enrichment to keep them stimulated
PA
20/50 24 December 2018
A Santa hat on the 20 metres tall steel sculpture 'Angel of the North', outside Gateshead, Tyne and Wear. The hat is believed to have been added overnight, with passers-by stopping to take photos in the early hours of the morning. The Sir Antony Gormley sculpture was installed in 1998, with celebrations marking its 20th birthday this year
PA
21/50 23 December 2018
Team Dash and Splash swimmers, some in fancy dress, getting into the Irish Sea at Bangor beach in Northern Ireland
PA
22/50 22 December 2018
Members of the Shakti Sings choir sing as druids, pagans and revellers gather in the centre of Stonehenge, hoping to see the sun rise, as they take part in a winter solstice ceremony at the ancient neolithic monument near Amesbury. The winter solstice is the shortest day of the year and the event is claimed to be more important in the pagan calendar than the summer solstice, because it marks the 're-birth' of the sun for the new year
Getty
23/50 21 December 2018
Environmental protestors from the Extinction Rebellion group chant during a demonstration outside BBC Broadcasting House in London. The group was calling for the media organisation to provide further in-depth coverage of climate-related issues in future reporting
Getty
24/50 20 December 2018
A police helicopter flies over Gatwick airport in search of the person operating the drone that has caused the airport to be closed today
Getty
25/50 19 December 2018
There was controversy in the Commons today as Jeremy Corbyn allegedly called the Prime Minister a stupid woman under his breath after she made a joke at PMQs
AP
26/50 18 December 2018
Jose Mourinho after he was sacked by Manchester United with immediate effect. The Portuguese leaves United sixth in the table with the 3-1 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday proving his final game in charge. A club statement read: "Manchester United announces that manager Jose Mourinho has left the club with immediate effect. The club would like to thank Jose for his work during his time at Manchester United and to wish him success in the future. A new caretaker manager will be appointed until the end of the current season, while the club conducts a thorough recruitment process for a new, full-time manager."
Reuters
27/50 17 December 2018
Firefighters and police officers attend a memorial service at the Harrods Bombing memorial in west London, on the 35th anniversary of the terrorist attack which left three police officers and three members of the public dead, on December 17, 1983
PA
28/50 16 December 2018
Theresa May has hit out at Mr Blair, accusing him of "insulting"the British people and the office of prime minister by "undermining" Brexit talks with calls in Brussels for a second referendum.
PA
29/50 15 December 2018
Chester Zoo after a fire broke out in the Monsoon Forest habitat area.
PA
30/50 14 December 2018
Fracking has been halted at the Preston Road site in Lancashire after a series of tremors peaking at 0.9 magnitude
Reuters
31/50 13 December 2018
Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar today told Theresa May that he expects assurances that there will be no hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland
AP
32/50 12 December 2018
Theresa May announces that she is to face a vote of no confidence today
Reuters
33/50 11 December 2018
Armed police restrain a man inside the grounds of the Houses of Parliament in London
Reuters
34/50 10 December 2018
A demonstrator dressed as Theresa May sells Brexit Fudge in Old Palace Yard, Westminster
PA
35/50 9 December 2018
A pro-brexit demonstrator speaks into a megaphone at the "Brexit betrayal" march in London. Counter-demonstrators also staged a march in London today
Angela Christofilou/The Independent
36/50 8 December 2018
People in Santa costumes in Trafalgar Square, London, as they take part in Santacon
PA
37/50 7 December 2018
A large mural depicting one star being chipped away from the EU flag is seen in Dover. The work has been attributed to Banksy
Reuters
38/50 6 December 2018
A man wearing a storm trooper costume holds a sketchbook belonging to costume designer John Mollo, and showing illustrations for Star Wars costumes, during a photo-call ahead of an auction at Bonhams in central London
Reuters
39/50 5 December 2018
Demonstrators for and against Brexit protest opposite the Houses of Parliament
AFP/Getty
40/50 4 December 2018
Theresa May has suffered an unprecedented defeat after the government was found to be in contempt of parliament for refusing to publish key Brexit papers.
Labour and other opposition MPs, including Ms May's DUP allies, won a narrow victory on the emergency motion, which argued that ministers failed to comply with a binding Commons resolution to publish the full legal advice on the Brexit dea
Reuters
41/50 3 December 2018
The Independent's Final Say campaign and People's Vote delivering to 10 Downing Street their respective petitions calling for a public referendum on Theresa May's Brexit deal. The Independent editor Christian Broughton delivered over one million Final Say signatures and People's Vote spokesman Chuka Umunna delivered 300,000 People's Vote signatures at midday
The Independent/Lucy Young
42/50 2 December 2018
Competitors take part in the London Santa Run in London's Victoria Park
Reuters
43/50 1 December 2018
Britain will no longer have access to the EU's Galileo satellite system (pictured) following brexit
PA
44/50 30 November 2018
US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Theresa May attend the G20 leaders summit in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Reuters
45/50 29 November 2018
Waves hit the British coast as Storm Diana approaches, in Portreath, Cornwall
StuCornell/Twitter/Reuters
46/50 28 November 2018
Duke and Duchess of Cambridge stand with Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha (left), the son of Leicester City's chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, and his mother Aimon watched by Leicester City players (right) as they pause after laying flowers during their visit to the King Power Stadium in Leicester, to pay tribute to those who lost their lives in the October 27 helicopter crash at the stadium. The chairman was among five people killed when his helicopter crashed in the side's stadium car park moments after taking off from the pitch
AFP/Getty
47/50 27 November 2018
A demonstrator wearing a mask of Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg poses outside Portcullis house to question the refusal of Zuckerberg to give evidence to the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee investigation into disinformation and fake news at the Houses of Parliament in London. Facebook boss Richard Allan is expected to be among a number of officials giving evidence to an "international grand committee" on disinformation and fake news
AFP/Getty
48/50 26 November 2018
Artist Joseph Hillier and his sculpture - Messenger, depicting "a young powerful woman", which will be unveiled next year for Theatre Royal Plymouth. The sculpture, spanning seven metres high and nine metres wide, is too large to be put together at Castle Fine Arts foundry, near Oswestry, so it's being made in sections with 30 master craftsmen to weld them together
PA
49/50 25 November 2018
Prime Minister Theresa May gives a press conference at the end of the European Council meeting in Brussels. The leaders of the 27 remaining EU member countries (EU27) have endorsed the draft Brexit withdrawal agreement and approved the draft political declaration on future EU-UK relations in a special meeting of the European Council on Britain leaving the EU under Article 50
EPA
50/50 24 November 2018
Environmental activists gather around a mock 'coffin', with "our future" written on it, on the green in Parliament Square during a demonstration organised by the movement Extinction Rebellion, calling on the British government to take action on climate and ecological issues. After a week of protest action disrupting the traffic on bridges in central London over the Thames, the social movement Extinction Rebellion, planned a 'funeral march' to highlight what they describe as a climate and ecological emergency. Extinction Rebellion demands that the UK government reduces to net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2025 and creates a citizens assembly to oversee changes in environmental policies
AFP/Getty
1/50 12 January 2019
Demonstrators wearing yellow vests protest near Broadcasting House on in London, England. Demonstrators from both the left and the right wings of British politics have adopted the 'Gilets Jaunes' or Yellow Vest form of protest that first became prominent in France throughout November and December 2018. Various groups meet in London today to protest the Brexit deal due to be voted on in the UK Parliament
Getty Images
2/50 11 January 2019
An emotional Andy Murray revealed this year's Australian Open could be the last tournament of his career. Struggling to hold back tears, the 31-year-old Scot said that the continuing pain from what he described as his “severely damaged right hip” had led him to decide to end his career this year. He said that he had been planning to make this summer’s Wimbledon his farewell tournament, but feared that he might have to bring down the curtain before then
Getty Images
3/50 10 January 2019
Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May and Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe were greeted by Chase Bridge Primary School children waving UK and Japanese national flags during a visit to Twickenham Rugby Stadium in, west London. Abe is visiting Britain and set to hold talks with May following her visit to Tokyo and Kyoto last year
AFP/Getty
4/50 9 January 2019
Former leader of the Liberal Democrats, Tim Farron (right) speaks to a pro-Brexit protester outside the Houses of Parliament. MPs will resume debating Theresa May's Brexit plan a month after she postponed the original commons vote. Met police have been urged to take action against protesters who abuse MP's. This comes after Conservative MP Anna Soubry was verbally abused and called 'Nazi scum' by pro-Brexit protesters on 7 January
EPA
5/50 8 January 2019
Alex Salmond speaking outside the Court of Session in Edinburgh after it ruled that the Scottish Government acted unlawfully regarding sexual harassment complaints against the former first minister
PA
6/50 7 January 2019
Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May meets with a mother and baby during a visit to a facility within Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool. May made a speech setting out the government's long-term plan for the National Health Service
AFP/Getty
7/50 6 January 2019
The Lions part group of professional performers on Bankside, during the annual Twelfth Night celebrations on the South Bank in central London.
PA
8/50 5 January 2019
Elliott List celebrates after scoring Gillingham's first goal during the FA Cup third round match between against Cardiff City at Priestfield Stadium. The League One side went on to knock the Premier League out of the competition
Getty
9/50 4 January 2019
Frances Connolly, 52, and Patrick Connolly, 54, from Moira, County Armagh in Northern Ireland, who scooped a £115 million EuroMillions jackpot in the New Year's Day lottery draw, during a photocall at the Culloden Estate and Spa in Holywood, Belfast, as they announce their win
PA
10/50 3 January 2019
The offshore patrol vessel HMS Mersey leaves Portsmouth Harbour as it is deployed to patrol the English channel following an increase in migrants crossing in small boats
PA
11/50 2 January 2019
Rail protestors wearing masks with the faces of Prime Minister Theresa May and Transport Secretary Chris Grayling outside Kings Cross St Pancras station in London ahead of a visit by Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn to highlight 'rising rail fares and falling standards of service on Britain's railways' as part of Labour's Rail Action Day
PA
12/50 1 January 2019
Police restraining a man after he stabbed three people at Victoria Station in Manchester last night. Two commuters - a man and woman in their 50s - were taken to hospital with knife injuries and a British Transport Police (BTP) officer was stabbed in the shoulder. Police said a man was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and remains in custody
Sam Clack/PA
13/50 31 December 2018
Competitors in fancy dress run across the Pennine tops near Haworth, West Yorkshire, in the annual Auld Lang Syne Fell race which attracts hundreds of runners every year
PA
14/50 30 December 2018
UK Border Force Cutter, 'Search' berths at Ramsgate Harbour. The growing number of migrants attempting to cross the English Channel has been declared a "major incident" by UK home secretary Sajid Javid
Getty
15/50 29 December 2018
People remove a Santa hat on the 20 metres tall steel sculpture 'Angel of the North', outside Gateshead, Tyne and Wear. The pranksters responsible climbed up overnight to remove it. One of the group, dressed as Dr Seuss character the Grinch, was photographed pulling the hat down from the 65ft structure, with the help of three others dressed as Santa. The hat had been placed on top of the famous Anthony Gormley artwork on Christmas Eve, prompting delight from onlookers
PA
16/50 28 December 2018
The steam locomotive U Class 31806 makes its way past Corfe Castle during the Winter Warm Up on the Swanage Railway in Dorset
PA
17/50 27 December 2018
The scene in Launcelot Close, Andover, where the body of a man has been found after an explosion caused a building to collapse
Hannah Louise/Twitter/PA
18/50 26 December 2018
Shoppers enter the Selfridges store on Oxford Street during the Boxing Day sales in London
Reuters
19/50 25 December 2018
Barbary macaques at Blair Drummond Safari Park have a great time finding the tasty morsels hidden amongst the wrapped parcels given to them by keepers. The animals need care and attention every day and Christmas is no different when the animals are checked, fed and given enrichment to keep them stimulated
PA
20/50 24 December 2018
A Santa hat on the 20 metres tall steel sculpture 'Angel of the North', outside Gateshead, Tyne and Wear. The hat is believed to have been added overnight, with passers-by stopping to take photos in the early hours of the morning. The Sir Antony Gormley sculpture was installed in 1998, with celebrations marking its 20th birthday this year
PA
21/50 23 December 2018
Team Dash and Splash swimmers, some in fancy dress, getting into the Irish Sea at Bangor beach in Northern Ireland
PA
22/50 22 December 2018
Members of the Shakti Sings choir sing as druids, pagans and revellers gather in the centre of Stonehenge, hoping to see the sun rise, as they take part in a winter solstice ceremony at the ancient neolithic monument near Amesbury. The winter solstice is the shortest day of the year and the event is claimed to be more important in the pagan calendar than the summer solstice, because it marks the 're-birth' of the sun for the new year
Getty
23/50 21 December 2018
Environmental protestors from the Extinction Rebellion group chant during a demonstration outside BBC Broadcasting House in London. The group was calling for the media organisation to provide further in-depth coverage of climate-related issues in future reporting
Getty
24/50 20 December 2018
A police helicopter flies over Gatwick airport in search of the person operating the drone that has caused the airport to be closed today
Getty
25/50 19 December 2018
There was controversy in the Commons today as Jeremy Corbyn allegedly called the Prime Minister a stupid woman under his breath after she made a joke at PMQs
AP
26/50 18 December 2018
Jose Mourinho after he was sacked by Manchester United with immediate effect. The Portuguese leaves United sixth in the table with the 3-1 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday proving his final game in charge. A club statement read: "Manchester United announces that manager Jose Mourinho has left the club with immediate effect. The club would like to thank Jose for his work during his time at Manchester United and to wish him success in the future. A new caretaker manager will be appointed until the end of the current season, while the club conducts a thorough recruitment process for a new, full-time manager."
Reuters
27/50 17 December 2018
Firefighters and police officers attend a memorial service at the Harrods Bombing memorial in west London, on the 35th anniversary of the terrorist attack which left three police officers and three members of the public dead, on December 17, 1983
PA
28/50 16 December 2018
Theresa May has hit out at Mr Blair, accusing him of "insulting"the British people and the office of prime minister by "undermining" Brexit talks with calls in Brussels for a second referendum.
PA
29/50 15 December 2018
Chester Zoo after a fire broke out in the Monsoon Forest habitat area.
PA
30/50 14 December 2018
Fracking has been halted at the Preston Road site in Lancashire after a series of tremors peaking at 0.9 magnitude
Reuters
31/50 13 December 2018
Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar today told Theresa May that he expects assurances that there will be no hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland
AP
32/50 12 December 2018
Theresa May announces that she is to face a vote of no confidence today
Reuters
33/50 11 December 2018
Armed police restrain a man inside the grounds of the Houses of Parliament in London
Reuters
34/50 10 December 2018
A demonstrator dressed as Theresa May sells Brexit Fudge in Old Palace Yard, Westminster
PA
35/50 9 December 2018
A pro-brexit demonstrator speaks into a megaphone at the "Brexit betrayal" march in London. Counter-demonstrators also staged a march in London today
Angela Christofilou/The Independent
36/50 8 December 2018
People in Santa costumes in Trafalgar Square, London, as they take part in Santacon
PA
37/50 7 December 2018
A large mural depicting one star being chipped away from the EU flag is seen in Dover. The work has been attributed to Banksy
Reuters
38/50 6 December 2018
A man wearing a storm trooper costume holds a sketchbook belonging to costume designer John Mollo, and showing illustrations for Star Wars costumes, during a photo-call ahead of an auction at Bonhams in central London
Reuters
39/50 5 December 2018
Demonstrators for and against Brexit protest opposite the Houses of Parliament
AFP/Getty
40/50 4 December 2018
Theresa May has suffered an unprecedented defeat after the government was found to be in contempt of parliament for refusing to publish key Brexit papers.
Labour and other opposition MPs, including Ms May's DUP allies, won a narrow victory on the emergency motion, which argued that ministers failed to comply with a binding Commons resolution to publish the full legal advice on the Brexit dea
Reuters
41/50 3 December 2018
The Independent's Final Say campaign and People's Vote delivering to 10 Downing Street their respective petitions calling for a public referendum on Theresa May's Brexit deal. The Independent editor Christian Broughton delivered over one million Final Say signatures and People's Vote spokesman Chuka Umunna delivered 300,000 People's Vote signatures at midday
The Independent/Lucy Young
42/50 2 December 2018
Competitors take part in the London Santa Run in London's Victoria Park
Reuters
43/50 1 December 2018
Britain will no longer have access to the EU's Galileo satellite system (pictured) following brexit
PA
44/50 30 November 2018
US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Theresa May attend the G20 leaders summit in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Reuters
45/50 29 November 2018
Waves hit the British coast as Storm Diana approaches, in Portreath, Cornwall
StuCornell/Twitter/Reuters
46/50 28 November 2018
Duke and Duchess of Cambridge stand with Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha (left), the son of Leicester City's chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, and his mother Aimon watched by Leicester City players (right) as they pause after laying flowers during their visit to the King Power Stadium in Leicester, to pay tribute to those who lost their lives in the October 27 helicopter crash at the stadium. The chairman was among five people killed when his helicopter crashed in the side's stadium car park moments after taking off from the pitch
AFP/Getty
47/50 27 November 2018
A demonstrator wearing a mask of Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg poses outside Portcullis house to question the refusal of Zuckerberg to give evidence to the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee investigation into disinformation and fake news at the Houses of Parliament in London. Facebook boss Richard Allan is expected to be among a number of officials giving evidence to an "international grand committee" on disinformation and fake news
AFP/Getty
48/50 26 November 2018
Artist Joseph Hillier and his sculpture - Messenger, depicting "a young powerful woman", which will be unveiled next year for Theatre Royal Plymouth. The sculpture, spanning seven metres high and nine metres wide, is too large to be put together at Castle Fine Arts foundry, near Oswestry, so it's being made in sections with 30 master craftsmen to weld them together
PA
49/50 25 November 2018
Prime Minister Theresa May gives a press conference at the end of the European Council meeting in Brussels. The leaders of the 27 remaining EU member countries (EU27) have endorsed the draft Brexit withdrawal agreement and approved the draft political declaration on future EU-UK relations in a special meeting of the European Council on Britain leaving the EU under Article 50
EPA
50/50 24 November 2018
Environmental activists gather around a mock 'coffin', with "our future" written on it, on the green in Parliament Square during a demonstration organised by the movement Extinction Rebellion, calling on the British government to take action on climate and ecological issues. After a week of protest action disrupting the traffic on bridges in central London over the Thames, the social movement Extinction Rebellion, planned a 'funeral march' to highlight what they describe as a climate and ecological emergency. Extinction Rebellion demands that the UK government reduces to net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2025 and creates a citizens assembly to oversee changes in environmental policies
AFP/Getty
It is difficult for ministers or MPs to remove a speaker, although Michael Martin stood down in 2009 after criticism of his handling of the MPs’ expenses scandal.
When Bercow succeeded him, he said he would serve for nine years, a term that ended last summer. He carried on, resisting moves by some Tories for him to quit over the bullying and sexual harassment of parliamentary staff by MPs. Bercow strongly denied allegations that he had bullied officials. Although he was a Tory MP before becoming speaker, Labour was keen to keep him in place for the Brexit process because of his fierce independence. Tories point to his admission to a group of students that he backed Remain in the 2016 referendum. He will come under further pressure to stand down this summer – if Brexit has been resolved by then.
The Independent has launched its #FinalSay campaign to demand that voters are given a voice on the final Brexit deal.
Sign our petition here
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