Last week John Bercow stoked speculation about his future by refusing to confirm if he would keep his promise to stand down as Speaker in 2018. Michael Fabricant, whom Bercow cut off in the House, has today written to the Speaker to ask if there is any truth to the rumours that it is his intention to break that promise and serve for the whole of the next Parliament:

“I invite you once more to respond to the question:  If you are invited to take the Chair after the next election, do you still plan to adhere to the commitment you made before being elected Speaker and stand down from the Chair on or before 22^nd June 2018?”

Fabbers tells Guido: “His commitment to the House was clear less than six years ago when he was elected and he made it a plank on which he was elected. It may be that, contrary to leaks emanating from Speaker’s House, he has no intention of breaking his promise”. Well, Mr Speaker?