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Change is afoot!

6 July 2009

Have you ever seen a policeman moonwalk? Nor had I, until the day after Michael Jackson died. It was a Friday, so most MPs had already left for their constituencies and one of the security officers on the front door was getting a bit bored. So he started strutting his stuff in from of Parliament. He was in his fifties, in full uniform, so it was wonderfully surreal. But he wasn't half bad, so I arrived in my office with a smile on my face.

It was oddly symbolic of the change that's starting to creep through Westminster's corridors too. Just a few days earlier John Bercow, the son of a taxi driver from Hackney, had become a young-ish Speaker of the House of Commons. He's already making his presence felt.

Firstly, he's refused to wear tights. Previous Speakers have waltzed around in 18th century evening dress, with knickerbockers, tights and a white bow tie. But Speaker Bercow has decided to wear a modern business suit instead, with a small nod to tradition in the shape of a gown like a university professor's on top.

Next, he's decided the Deputy Speakers should be elected too. The Deputies aren't well-known outside Parliament, but they're tremendously important because they stand in for the Speaker whenever he isn't available in person. Until now they've been appointed by the party-political machines, so having an election would make them far more accountable.

And finally, he's tried to get MPs to behave better in Parliament, particularly during Prime Minister's Questions. I've always said PMQs aren't a great example of serious Parliamentary discussion and debate – they're more moonwalk than meditation – so he's on the right track. The habits of barracking and yelling are deeply ingrained, but Parliament is overdue for change. For everyone's sake, I hope he succeeds.