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John Bercow has branded Brexit the UK's "biggest mistake" after the Second World War in a devastating verdict just days after quitting as Speaker.

The former MP finally lashed out and revealed the full force of his opinions after years of claims he was biased against Britain leaving the EU.

Mr Bercow had previously said he voted Remain but insisted he was an impartial Speaker, and avoided giving clear-cut public opinions on the matter.

Yet in his first comments since quitting as an MP on Monday, he told the Foreign Press Association - quoted by La Repubblica - "I'm no longer the Speaker so I don't have to remain impartial now.

"But if you ask me honestly, 'do I think that Brexit is good for our global standing?', my honest answer is 'no, I don’t'. I think that Brexit is the biggest foreign policy mistake in the post-war period. That is my honest view."

(Image: Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

He added: "I completely respect the Prime Minister [...] I completely respect the rights of the Prime Minister, leading the largest party in Parliament to try to get support for his position, which is to get Brexit done.

"If he had the numbers, he could have got the first base done. He made a start by getting agreement towards the end, but not to the legislation. And he decided to leave that and instead to seek the public mandate. I respect his right to his view, which is a view very widely shared.

"But there is an alternative view equally that he's very widely shared. And my own personal opinion is that Brexit does not help us. We are part of a world of power blocs and trade blocs, my feeling is that it is better to be part of that power block and of that trade bloc than not."

Mr Bercow stood down to be replaced by his deputy Sir Lindsay Hoyle after more than a decade in the heavy green chair.

He developed a reputation for standing up for MPs' rights against the government - granting more emergency debates and urgent questions in the Commons.

But he faced fierce criticism from Brexiteers, who questioned his impartiality on the issue of Europe when he repeatedly granted debates and powers to Remainer MPs.

Brexiteers say he tore up precedent and convention to allow pro-EU MPs to rule against the government and pass laws to prevent a no-deal Brexit.

Mr Bercow was also dogged by allegations of bullying staff, which he denied.

Several of his candidates to succeed him took aim at the outgoing Speaker in the election to replace him on Monday.

And new Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle said in his opening speech: "We've got to make sure that tarnish is polished away.

'That the respect and tolerance that we expect from everyone who works in here will be shown and we'll keep that in order."