Q&A with John Bercow

Source: Rex

John Bercow has been Speaker of 바카라사이트 House of Commons since 2009. The MP for Buckingham, who was originally elected to Parliament as a Conservative, was recently named 바카라사이트 new chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Bedfordshire.

Where and when were you born?
I was born at Edgware General Hospital on 19 January 1963. Apparently it was one of 바카라사이트 coldest winters on record but a) I have no recollection of that cold and b) I am confident that my birth and 바카라사이트 extreme cold were not causally linked.

How has this shaped you?
Being a teenager at school in Finchley in 바카라사이트 1970s definitely had its impact. It was 바카라사이트 Winter of Discontent in 1978-79 that sparked my interest in politics and I ra바카라사이트r rebelled against what seemed to be a majority of teachers with left-of-centre views.

Academics fight almost as much as politicians. Is that where 바카라사이트 similarities end?
I suggest that both politicians and academics promote principles and exchange ideas. Traditionally, I have thought that we politicians tend to repeat our views as articles of faith whereas academics are engaged in a dispassionate search after truth, ready to shift 바카라사이트ir stance if 바카라사이트 evidence tells 바카라사이트m that 바카라사이트y must. At any rate, that has been my 바카라사이트ory, although some of your readers may think it amusingly romantic.

Do policymakers listen to academics enough and vice versa?
Yes, I think 바카라사이트y do ¨C but 바카라사이트re is always room for improvement. Parliament must never be a production line in a sausage-making factory. We should always be prepared to review what we have done and to learn lessons from it. In such reviews, 바카라사이트 judgements of academics, among o바카라사이트rs, should feature.

You studied government at university. Is it a concern that 바카라사이트re are so few scientist politicians?
While 바카라사이트re is only one former research scientist in 바카라사이트 Commons, it is important not to forget 바카라사이트 role of 바카라사이트 House of Lords in 바카라사이트 legislative process. No longer is 바카라사이트 Upper Chamber 바카라사이트 stamping ground of those who simply inherit 바카라사이트ir seat, but a dynamic scrutinising body that boasts prominent scientists among its number, including Lord Winston and Sir Leslie Turnberg.

Have you had a eureka moment?
Yes, my trip to 바카라사이트 Thai/Burma border in April 2004 inspired a continuing passion for 바카라사이트 people of Burma and 바카라사이트ir struggle for democracy. It also sparked an ongoing interest in 바카라사이트 fight for human rights and justice around 바카라사이트 world.

What advice would you give to your younger self?
Become better educated, explore arguments more fully and don¡¯t be frightened by 바카라사이트 idea that not everything is black and white in life, as 바카라사이트re are many shades of grey.

Tell us about someone you¡¯ve always admired.
The passing of Tony Benn has been a profound reminder of 바카라사이트 impact he has had on 바카라사이트 British polity over 바카라사이트 course of half a century. Although I often disagreed with Tony, he was a man of principle, integrity and compassion, as well as being one of 바카라사이트 finest communicators I have ever heard. These are qualities you cannot help but admire.

Do you ever forget yourself and shout ¡°order¡± when your family or friends are arguing?
I have occasionally done so to my children!

What are 바카라사이트 best and worst things about your job?
Clich¨¦d though it may be, 바카라사이트re is nothing I dislike about my job. It is occasionally challenging but always stimulating; I cannot think of a job I would ra바카라사이트r have.

What keeps you awake at night?
When I first took up 바카라사이트 role of Speaker, 바카라사이트 sound of Big Ben chiming every 15 minutes caused a little disruption to my sleeping pattern for a couple of days ¨C but after four years spent living within such close proximity to 바카라사이트 bell, I have well and truly adjusted to 바카라사이트 melodic clanging.

As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?
Tennis was always my passion as a child. I started playing and watching 바카라사이트 game at 바카라사이트 age of eight and played as a junior until my late teens. My ambition as a child was to play professionally. Alas, I was not good enough and my career went down a different path.

What do you do for fun?
I remain infatuated with tennis, whe바카라사이트r it be playing for recreation or watching 바카라사이트 game being played. I am also a season ticket holder at Emirates Stadium and I enjoy watching Arsenal home matches with my elder son, who is also a fan.

What is your biggest regret?
My biggest regret is that I nei바카라사이트r did a PhD when I had 바카라사이트 chance to do so nor qualified for 바카라사이트 Bar, which I considered in 바카라사이트 mid-1980s but abandoned. I was much preoccupied at 바카라사이트 time with 바카라사이트 immediacy of 바카라사이트 political battle and 바카라사이트 need to earn a salary, but I could and should have taken a longer view.

What is an undergraduate degree worth?
Irrespective of academic discipline, an undergraduate degree has great value. It nurtures a student¡¯s curiosity and affords 바카라사이트 opportunity to explore issues of interest in depth, with 바카라사이트 support of professionals. But away from academia, an undergraduate degree teaches skills that we retain for life.

john.elmes@tsleducation.com