Former Commons speaker John Bercow is set to take to the airwaves on Christmas Day to plead for more tolerance in politics. Bercow, who stepped down in October after 10 years in the role, follows in the footsteps of Danny Dyer, Sharon Osbourne, whistleblower Edward Snowden and Brendan Cox.
A permanent fixture on Channel 4 since 1993, it is seen as a rival to the Queen’s own festive broadcast.
Bercow will use the message to claim that “democracy has come in for a pounding”.
Speaking from a classroom at his children’s state secondary school, Bercow mutters: “I passionately support parliamentary democracy. For all the criticism and abuse lobbed at MPs, I’m still a cheerleader for them.”
He calls for the nation to “take inspiration from young people” and “try to re-establish a civility of discourse”.
“It would be good for parliament, for democracy and for our own mental health. This Christmas, I urge that political difference, personal courtesy should become our guiding lights in 2020, in the Commons, in our workplaces and in our homes.”
The Alternative Christmas Message will be broadcast on Christmas Day at 2.25pm, just before the Queen’s Christmas Broadcast begins at 3pm on BBC One. Bercow was recently spotted on a bus near Clapham shouting ‘Order Order’ to bemused passengers whilst he commanded a fee of £60,000 from Sky for their election coverage. It was watched by only 45,000 people with many commenting that Bercow looked close to tears when the results were announced.
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