John Bercow attacks ‘toxic’ Commons – it was the ‘worst day in the house for 22 years’

Mr Bercow claimed conduct in the House was at its worst in his 22 years of service as Speaker of the Commons following Boris Johnson‘s use of language in the chamber on Wednesday evening. The Prime Minister received huge criticism after claiming late Jo Cox’s legacy would be upheld by delivering on the Brexit referendum results. Mr Bercow said: “There was an atmosphere in the Chamber worst than any I’ve known in my 22 years in the House. On both sides, passions were inflamed, angry words were uttered.

“The culture was toxic. This country faces the most challenging political issue that we have grappled with in decades.

“There are genuinely heartfelt, sincerely subscribed to differences of opinion about that matter.

“Members must be free to express themselves about it and to display it as they do, the courage of their convictions.“It ought, however, to be possible to disagree agreeably. And I can see members on both sides of the House there are fine exponents of that principle and tradition.

“Yesterday that was not the majority strain.”

The extraordinary claim from Prime Minister on Jo Cox’s legacy evoked gasps from both sides of the House of Commons.

It came after Labour MP Paula Sherriff made an impassioned plea to the Prime Minister not to use the term “Surrender Act” to describe legislation designed to prevent ministers forcing through a no deal Brexit on October 31.

She claimed Mr Johnson should be “ashamed” to use such language after the murder of her colleague and in light of regular death threats and abuse received by MPs.

Mr Johnson claimed he had “never heard such humbug in all his life”, claiming the best way to honour Ms Cox would be to get Brexit done.

Ms Cox’s husband, Brendan Cox, wrote on Twitter: “Feel a bit sick at Jo’s name being used in this way.

“The best way to honour Jo is for all of us (no matter our views) to stand up for what we believe in, passionately and with determination.

“But never to demonise the other side and always hold onto what we have in common.”

Ms Cox was shot and stabbed by far-right extremist Thomas Mair in her Yorkshire constituency in 2016 during the EU referendum campaign.