Thursday, September 03, 2009

Battle Of Two Berks In Bucks

A battle of two berks is shaping up in Bucks with UKIP's Farage challenging Tory turn-coat speaker Bercow for the general election seat. Election battle lines are being drawn up. This contest is sure to put the cat amongst the pigeons.

The Telegraph today reveals commons speaker and token Tory Bercow is to be challenged at the election by UKIP leader Farage, still basking in his Euro MEP victory.

Farage's decision to stand raises all sorts of interesting issues. There won't be an official Conservative candidate so will Tories be allow to campaign and vote for Farage?

On top of that, commons convention has it that the other main parties do not put up candidates in a sitting speaker’s constituency. So put that in the New Labour and the LibDem pipe and smoke it.

The Orange Party has no time for patronising slimeball squeaker Bercow. But then little time for UKIP either.

But speaking about Bercow, the Orange Party will agree with Farage on one thing: “This man represents all that is wrong with British politics today. He was embroiled in the expenses saga and he presides over a Parliament that virtually does nothing."

The commons got a spiv for a speaker after discredited Martin was forced to quit in shame over the MPs’ expenses’ scandal. In like a flash stepped 'Tory' Bercow with the backing of a majority of New Labour MPs and to the irritation of Tories.

If Bercow does get his cumupance it would mean the joy of another commons election for a new speaker. Only this time the Tories would be in the speakers' driving seat.

In the MPs' expenses scandal, the Telegraph disclosed how Bercow flipped his designated second home claiming full whack on allowances. He later agreed to hand over £6,500 to the taxman after lawfully avoiding paying capital gains tax on buying and selling properties.

Farage is no stranger to allowances, heading a party propped up by £2m of public money from the European Parliament. But that's the Party not the back-pocket.

UKIP has a lot of support among Tories - and the Telegraph. Nevertheless Farage, faces an uphill task trying to win over one of the safest Tory seats in the country with a whopping 13,325 majority.

Bercow, Farage or the Monster Raving Loony Party? A tough call but the smart money's on Farage.

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