
John Bercow today labelled the UK's departure from the European Union the 'biggest foreign policy mistake in the post-war period' as he ditched his impartiality after stepping down as Commons Speaker.

Parliamentary rules meant Mr Bercow was supposed to be impartial when he was in charge of proceedings in the Commons but he has long faced accusations of bias over Brexit.

Mr Bercow addressed a Foreign Press Association event in London this morning and finally set out his personal views on Brexit in public as he also mocked Boris Johnson.

Asked if he believed Brexit would affect the international standing of the UK, Mr Bercow apparently replied: '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”.

John Bercow pictured addressing a Foreign Press Association event today, pictured, where he labelled the UK's departure from the European Union the 'biggest foreign policy mistake in the post-war period'

Asked if he believed Brexit would affect the international standing of the UK, Mr Bercow apparently replied: 'I'm no longer the Speaker so I don't have to remain impartial now.

In a statement on the steps of Downing Street, the PM appealed for support from voters to 'honour the referendum'

Boris Johnson tries to get election campaign back on track after series of setback Boris Johnson turned his guns on 'dithering' Jeremy Corbyn today as he tried to get his campaign back on track after a series of setbacks. In a statement on the steps of Downing Street after going to see the Queen to inform her Parliament has been dissolved, the PM appealed for support from voters to 'honour the referendum' and get Brexit done. Mr Johnson said the public must decide whether they wanted a Tory government that would cut ties with the EU and invest in public services, or Jeremy Corbyn's hard-Left 'horror show'. 'Come with us, get Brexit done and take this country forward,' he said. However, the Conservative push - which includes a glitzy launch rally tonight - was thrown into turmoil just an hour earlier by the dramatic resignation of Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns over claims that he knew a Conservative candidate had sabotaged a rape trial. There is also a furious row over Jacob Rees-Mogg suggesting that Grenfell Tower victims lacked 'common sense' - comments for which he has apologised. Meanwhile, a minister has apologised for the Tories 'doctoring' a video of Keir Starmer struggling to explain Labour's muddled Brexit stance. Before his plea to the country outside No10, Mr Johnson had a 25-minute audience with the monarch at Buckingham Palace, during which he informed her that Parliament had been dissolved. Advertisement

'I think that Brexit is the biggest foreign policy mistake in the post-war period. That is my honest view.'

He spoke out as Boris Johnson formally kicked off the election campaign in a speech outside Number 10 today and turned his guns on 'dithering' Jeremy Corbyn as he tried to to get back on track following a series of setbacks.

The Tory campaign was thrown into turmoil by the dramatic resignation of Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns this morning over claims he knew a Conservative candidate had sabotaged a rape trial.

Commons Leader Jacob Rees-Mogg is facing calls to resign after suggesting Grenfell Tower victims lacked 'common sense' - comments he has apologised for.

Meanwhile, Tory HQ was accused of 'doctoring' a video of Sir Keir Starmer struggling to explain Labour's Brexit policy.

Elsewhere, Jean-Claude Juncker, the outgoing president of the European Commission, delivered a hammer blow to Jeremy Corbyn as he said the Labour leader's plan to get a new Brexit deal in three months was not a 'realistic approach'.

Mr Bercow stepped down as Commons Speaker last Thursday after a decade in the chair.

And today he appeared to be relishing his new found freedom.

His Brexit comments, first reported by the Italian newspaper La Repubblica, are likely to spark fury among Eurosceptic MPs who believe Mr Bercow favoured Remainers during his time in the chair.

He sparked a political firestorm in 2017 after telling a group of students that he had voted Remain in 2016.

However, Mr Bercow today rejected suggestions that he had helped block Brexit as he insisted it was for MPs to implement the 2016 referendum result and not him.

Mr Bercow also claimed he 'was always fair in the chair', according to remarks published by the FPA.

Responding to Mr Bercow's remarks, one Brexiteer Tory told MailOnline: 'In other breaking news the Pope is in charge of the church in Rome.

'It was perfectly obvious that he had those views the whole time he was in the chair.

'Many of the decisions he made were clearly in favour of people who wanted to slow down Brexit.'

Mr Bercow was a repeated thorn in the side of both Theresa May's government and Mr Johnson's administration over Brexit as he allowed rebel MPs repeated opportunities to seize control of proceedings.

Mr Johnson took a swipe at Mr Bercow when he stood down as he said that he had acted 'not just as an umpire' but also 'as a player in your own right'.

Mr Bercow today said of Mr Johnson: 'I respect the Prime Minister and he has the right to do what he did also in the House of Commons.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson goes back into 10 Downing Street, having addressed the nation from the street following an audience with the Queen at Buckingham Palace, which marked the formal start of the General Election

Jean-Claude Juncker, pictured in Brussels today, said Jeremy Corbyn's Brexit plan was not a 'realistic approach'

Jean-Claude Juncker says Labour Brexit plan is 'unrealistic' Jean-Claude Juncker today delivered a hammer blow to Jeremy Corbyn's Brexit plan as he said Labour's proposal to negotiate a new divorce deal in just three months is unrealistic. The outgoing president of the European Commission said it will be up to his successor Ursula von der Leyen to decide if a new accord can be struck with a Labour government in the New Year if Mr Corbyn wins a majority on December 12. But Mr Juncker effectively left Mr Corbyn's divorce blueprint in tatters as he said Labour's proposed way forward is not a 'realistic approach'. Mr Corbyn has vowed to 'get Brexit sorted' within six months of winning power with the first three months focused on striking a new and softer withdrawal agreement with Brussels. The second three months would then focus on preparing for a second referendum when the Labour negotiated Brexit deal would be pitched against Remain. Advertisement

'But my job was to stand up for the rights of the House of Commons. No apology for championing the rights of Parliament.'

However, the former Commons Speaker apparently could not resist a dig at the PM as he mocked the premier for losing in the Supreme Court.

The highest court in the UK ruled at the end of September that Mr Johnson's proposed five week prorogation of Parliament was unlawful.

Mr Bercow told the FPA: 'What matters is the judgement of the Supreme Court. What matters is 11-0. You got it? 11-0. Maybe it’s not clear: eleven-nil.'

Mr Bercow's decision to step down as Speaker was accompanied by a decision to quit as an MP.

He was first elected as the Conservative MP for Buckingham at the 1997 general election. Today he refused to say which party he will vote for on December 12.

Mr Bercow was replaced as Commons Speaker by veteran Labour MP Lindsay Hoyle who had served as his deputy since 2010.

Mr Hoyle secured the top job after a lengthy day of voting in the Commons on Monday as he beat fellow Labour MP Chris Bryant in the final round to secure the position.

Boris Johnson strikes his best Winston Churchill pose despite campaign setbacks as he fires the election starting gun outside No 10 and blasts dithering Jeremy Corbyn for planning to hold a second Brexit referendum

Boris Johnson turned his guns on 'dithering' Jeremy Corbyn today as he tried to get his campaign back on track after a series of setbacks.

In a statement on the steps of Downing Street after going to see the Queen to inform her Parliament has been dissolved, the PM appealed for support from voters to 'honour the referendum' and get Brexit done.

What setbacks have the Tories faced today? Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns has quit over claims that he knew a Conservative candidate had sabotaged a rape trial.

After Jacob Rees-Mogg apologised for comments about Grenfell Tower victims lacked 'common sense', fellow Tory Andrew Bridgen has said sorry for defending him by suggesting 'cleverer' people would have ignored official advice to stay put and escaped the blaze.

A minister has apologised for the Tories 'doctoring' a video of Keir Starmer struggling to explain Labour's muddled Brexit stance. Advertisement

Mr Johnson said the public must decide whether they wanted a Tory government that would cut ties with the EU and invest in public services, or Jeremy Corbyn's hard-Left 'horror show'.

'Come with us, get Brexit done and take this country forward,' he said.

However, the Conservative push - which includes a glitzy launch rally tonight - was thrown into turmoil just an hour earlier by the dramatic resignation of Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns over claims that he knew a Conservative candidate had sabotaged a rape trial.

There is also a furious row over Jacob Rees-Mogg suggesting that Grenfell Tower victims lacked 'common sense' - comments for which he has apologised.

Meanwhile, a minister has apologised for the Tories 'doctoring' a video of Keir Starmer struggling to explain Labour's muddled Brexit stance.

Before his plea to the country outside No10, Mr Johnson had a 25-minute audience with the monarch at Buckingham Palace, during which he informed her that Parliament had been dissolved.

In a statement on the steps of Downing Street, the PM appealed for support from voters to 'honour the referendum'

Mr Johnson had a last look at his notes in the hall of 10 Downing Street before emerging through the famous black door to deliver his election rallying cry

Mr Johnson had an audience with the Queen at Buckingham Palace (pictured) before making the statement at No10

Boris Johnson was all smiles as he left Downing Street and made the short trip to Buckingham Palace this morning

Mr Johnson (pictured in the entrance hall at 10 Downing Street today) told staff the 'bugle is sounding' and he is 'heading for the front'

Mr Johnson said: 'I want you to know of course it that I don't want an early election and no one much wants to have an election in December, but we've got to the stage where we have no choice because our parliament is paralysed, it's been stuck in a rut for three and a half years.

'And I'm afraid our MPs are just refusing, time and again to deliver Brexit and honour the mandate of the people.

'I can tell you, I've got to the stage where I've been wanting to chew my own tie in frustration because, in a sense, we're so nearly there.

Conservatives embroiled in 'doctored' video row: Piers Morgan blasts James Cleverly for 'fake news' over edited clip Piers Morgan accused the Tories of creating a 're-edited version, a mash-up which you did yourselves, which completely changed the context' The Tory election campaign is today embroiled in a row over a 'doctored' social media attack video as the election campaign gets formally underway. A re-edited version of a Good Morning Britain interview with Sir Keir Starmer yesterday ran on Twitter and Facebook showing him struck dumb and unable to answer a question from Piers Morgan. But the full exchange showed him answering the question immediately. The embarrassing error was highlighted as Boris Johnson went to see the Queen today as he formally kicks off an election battle that will define the country's future. The Prime Minister had a 25-minute audience with the monarch at Buckingham Palace, during which he informed her that Parliament has been dissolved. The video row prompted Mr Morgan to tear furiously into Tory party chairman James Cleverly when he appeared on the programme this morning. The presenter accused the Tories of creating a 're-edited version, a mash-up which you did yourselves, which completely changed the context'. 'That is fake news. You have deliberately re-edited, as a party, the end of that exchange, to make it look like Sir Keir Starmer didn't answer,' Mr Morgan said. Advertisement

'We've got a deal, oven ready, by which we can leave the EU in just a few weeks.'

Mr Johnson said: 'Come with us, a government that believes in high wages; is raising the living wage to £10.50, the biggest ever increase.'

He added: 'Come with us, put in a points-based immigration system, or go with Labour, and a totally uncontrolled, an unlimited immigration system that would put huge pressure on the NHS and other services.

'Come with us, a government that believes Britain should stand tall in the world. Or go with Jeremy Corbyn and the Labour Party who sided with Putin when Russia ordered poisonings on the streets of Salisbury.

'Come with us. Get Brexit done, and take this country forward. Or, and this is the alternative next year, spend the whole of 2020 in a horror show of yet more dither and delay.'

Less than an hour before making his address outside Number 10, Mr Cairns resigned from the Cabinet 'in light of continued speculation' about allegations relating to the 'actions of a Party employee and candidate for the Welsh Assembly elections in the Vale of Glamorgan'.

He said: 'I will cooperate in full with the investigation under the Ministerial Code which will now take place and I am confident I will be cleared of any breach or wrong doing.'

Mr Cairns claims he had been unaware of former staff member Ross England's role in the collapsed trial until after the story broke last week.

BBC Wales said it had obtained a leaked email sent to Mr Cairns which showed he had been made aware of the allegations as early as August last year.

Speaking on a visit to Telford today, Mr Corbyn demanded Mr Cairns also stands down as a candidate in the Vale of Glamorgan.

'If he's stepping down as a minister because of his involvement then I would have thought the very least the Conservative Party can do is not put him up as a candidate in the next election,' Mr Corbyn said.

Mr Johnson did not address Mr Cairns' resignation, which has rocked the first day of his party's election campaign, in his speech.

Instead, the Prime Minister vowed to 'get Parliament working again' if he wins a working majority in the polls.

'On day one of the new Parliament in December, we will start getting our deal through so we can get Brexit done in January and unleash this country's potential. We'll put uncertainty behind us.'

He said a 'flood of investment' was waiting to come in once Britain leaves the European Union with his Withdrawal Agreement.

'If we can get this deal over the line with a sensible majority government, we certainly can release that pent-up flood of investment.

'Hundreds of billions are waiting to pour into the UK and we can inject a surge of confidence into our system.'

In a video posted on the way Buckingham Palace earlier, Mr Johnson expanded on his motivations for wanting an election.

'There is only one reason. I'm afraid that Parliament is paralysed,' he said.

'We have a fantastic Brexit deal but they wouldn't vote it through and what we're saying to the country is: now is our chance to get a sensible majority Conservative government.

Day one, we will put that deal back to Parliament, get it through in a few weeks from December and come out in January.'

Kay Burley empty chairs Tory chairman James Cleverly and savages him for failing to appear on Sky News - sparking a furious row with No 10 over 'booking clash' Kay Burley highlighted Mr Cleverly's absence from her breakfast show this morning, which is broadcast from Millbank in Westminster, where all the broadcasters have studios Sky News' Kay Burley has savagely 'empty chaired' Tory chairman James Cleverly after he failed to appear on her breakfast show. The 'fuming' presenter, 58, said Mr Cleverly was standing 15ft away as she listed the questions she had planned to ask him. She said on the programme: 'I know that Number 10 Downing Street watch our show. 'I know that the spin doctors at Number 10 Downing Street had absolutely reassured me via text that when politicians were doing rounds in the morning they would be doing this programme. Advertisement

Mr Johnson set the tone this morning by delivering an excoriating assessment of Jeremy Corbyn, comparing him to Stalin and accusing him of 'hating' wealth creators .

The political wrangling intensified today with fears raised that Britain could be frozen out of the 'Five Eyes' spy alliance if Mr Corbyn becomes PM.

Concerns are mounting in Whitehall that the flow of intelligence sharing between the UK, US, Australia, Canada and New Zealand could dry up due to a lack of trust in the Labour leader.

The political wrangling intensified today with fears raised that Britain could be frozen out of the 'Five Eyes' spy alliance if Mr Corbyn becomes PM.

Concerns are mounting in Whitehall that the flow of intelligence sharing between the UK, US, Australia, Canada and New Zealand could dry up due to a lack of trust in the Labour leader.

Mr Corbyn has been accused of undermining the Trident nuclear deterrent - which Labour in theory is meant to back - by admitting he would never use it.

There are also claims that Mr Corbyn's closest aides could be blocked from seeing top secret material in Downing Street due to links with Russia and the hard Left.

The warnings, highlighted in the The Times, emerged as Boris Johnson launched an all-out attack on Mr Corbyn's left-wing ideology.

Writing in The Daily Telegraph, Mr Johnson said that businesses and wealth creators of all sizes should be fostered.

'When someone gets up at 5am to get their shop ready; when someone risks their savings on an idea or a new product; when someone has the guts to enter a new market – at home or abroad – we don't sneer at them.

'We cheer for them: because their success is our success; and the tragedy of the modern Labour Party under Jeremy Corbyn is that they detest the profit motive so viscerally – and would raise taxes so wantonly – that they would destroy the very basis of this country's prosperity.

'They pretend that their hatred is directed only at certain billionaires – and they point their fingers at individuals with a relish and a vindictiveness not seen since Stalin persecuted the kulaks.'

Why did Boris Johnson go to see the Queen? In years gone by the Prime Minister would trigger a general election by going to see the Queen and asking her to dissolve Parliament. However, the constitutional arrangements were radically overhauled by the Fixed-Term Parliaments Act. That stripped the PM of their unilateral power to call a national poll. Instead, MPs must vote to hold an election outside the standard five-year cycle. Legislation providing for an election on December 12 was passed by Parliament last week, meaning Parliament was automatically dissolved at midnight. As a result Boris Johnson's trip to the Palace was not necessary this morning. However, the audience is seen as a courtesy to the monarch and a way to mark the official start of the election battle. Advertisement

Mr Corbyn dismissed the barbs as 'the nonsense the super-rich will come out with to avoid paying a bit more tax'.

Rebutting the security risk claims, a Labour spokeswoman said: 'Jeremy has consistently made the correct calls in the interests of Britain's security and international peace and will do whatever is necessary and effective to keep our people safe.

'He has proved right time and time again, from Libya to his opposition to the disastrous and illegal war in Iraq, which had caused such catastrophe in the region and made us less safe at home.'

Mr Johnson is expected to put Britain's withdrawal from the EU, the NHS, and law and order at the centre of the Tories' campaign.

As well as kicking off the Conservative campaign in the West Midlands .

Mr Johnson will say: 'There is only one way to get Brexit done, and I am afraid the answer is to ask the people to change this blockading parliament.'

He will add: 'It's time to change the dismal pattern of the last three years and to get out of our rut.

'Let's go with this Conservative government, get Brexit done, and unleash the potential of our great country - delivering on the public's priorities of our NHS, crime and the cost of living.

'Meanwhile the alternative is clear - Jeremy Corbyn and his two favourite advisers, dither and delay, turning 2020 into the year of two miserable referendums, one on the EU, and another on Scotland.

'And remember that a vote for any other minor party is effectively a vote for Corbyn, and his catastrophic political and economic programme.'

Jeremy Corbyn hails 'great wisdom among the poor'... as he gives election speech near 17th century manor house where he grew up Jeremy Corbyn insisted he was not 'born to rule' and hailed the 'great wisdom among the poorest' today - as he gave an election speech near the 17th Century manor house where he grew up. The Labour leader made a big play of his determination to 'share power' saying he wanted to represent people who felt 'politics isn't working'. In a striking passage during his appearance in Telford, Mr Corbyn said he found it 'humbling' to meet people with 'wisdom' who 'didn't get the education'. 'There is often great wisdom among the poorest people,' he added. Advertisement

In a video released last night, Mr Johnson again criticised the Labour Party's economic policies.

He said: 'Jeremy Corbyn and the Labour Party have an economic agenda that would mean ruin for our businesses and for our country.

'And worse still than that, Jeremy Corbyn is seriously proposing yet another referendum on the EU, yet another Brexit referendum. He wants to have his own negotiation followed by a referendum.

'Nobody knows what the questions would be to the people, nobody knows what the result would be, nobody knows what the Labour Party policy would be on that referendum.

'What we do know is it would be another year of misery, and chaos and uncertainty for businesses and for families.'

It comes as former foreign secretary Jack Straw said Corbyn getting into power could 'lessen intelligence co-operation with us'.

While a former permanent secretary with close links to the intelligence service told The Times: 'It would have a chilling effect. That would put us at greater risk.'

Mr Johnson will formally launch the Tory campaign at a rally in the West Midlands later – a key target area.

Last night, he told Downing Street staff: 'I'm now off to the front, the bugle is calling'.

The Conservatives endured a painful start to campaigning yesterday as the news was dominated by Jacob Rees-Mogg's comments about the Grenfell Tower inferno.

The Cabinet minister said he was 'profoundly' sorry for suggesting victims should have used 'common sense' and ignored instructions from the fire service not to leave the building.

However, Tories now expect the Commons Leader to be sidelined in the election campaign.

Conservative Brexiteer Andrew Bridgen was also forced to issue a grovelling apology this morning after attempting to defend Mr Rees-Mogg in an interview.

Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson was on the election campaign trail in Golders Green, north London today

Piers Morgan also furiously tore into Tory party chairman James Cleverly when he appeared on the programme this morning over a Conservative attack advert featuring a re-edited version of a Good Morning Britain interview with Sir Keir Starmer

'That is fake news. You have deliberately re-edited, as a party, the end of that exchange, to make it look like Sir Keir Starmer didn't answer,' Mr Morgan said

Mr Johnson criticised the Labour Party for 'an economic agenda that would mean ruin for our businesses' (Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn is pictured in Telford today)

Mr Bridgen had suggested the minister would have survived the Grenfell tragedy because he was more 'clever' than those who lived in the tower block.

Meanwhile, a rape victim has called on Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns to quit over claims that he knew a Conservative candidate had sabotaged her trial.

And defence minister Johnny Mercer apologised for tweeting a 'doctored' video showing Labour's Keir Starmer struggling to explain his party's Brexit policy.

Nigel Farage claims fearful Tory MPs are ringing him 'every single day' over election pacts Nigel Farage claimed today he has been having covert talks with 'lots' of Tory Brexiteer hardliners over giving them a clear run at the election in exchange for opposing Boris Johnson's Brexit deal. The Brexit Party leader said worried so-called Spartans were calling him and party chairman Richard Tice 'every single day', pleading with him not to run a candidate against them. It comes after Daily Mail analysis suggested the Tories could lose up to 90 battleground seats if Mr Farage's party fields 600 candidates in the December 12 vote. Mr Farage, who is in the middle of a tour of Labour Leave seats ahead of the election, told BBC Breakfast he had been chatting with people from the European Research Group (ERG) about a deal. 'I've got lots of them (Tory MPs) ringing me up every single day, and indeed the chairman Richard Tice, saying ''look, what do we have to do in order for you not to stand against us?'',' he said. 'The answer is quite simple: if they just say they would never vote for this appalling new EU treaty again, they want us to have a clean break from the European Union, a relationship based on trade and not on politics, then of course we are happy to talk to Conservative or indeed Labour MPs.' Advertisement

Mr Mercer posted last night: 'It would appear this has inexplicably been doctored at the end.

'I apologise and will remove it. The original interview was bad enough - I have no idea why this needed altering. I will call this out - whichever side does it, including my own. Sorry folks.'

Today, Mr Johnson will outline his pitch to voters to 'Get Brexit Done' and then focus on the NHS, crime and the cost of living.

He will contrast his plan with what he calls Jeremy Corbyn's 'toxic' proposal for two referendums on EU membership and Scottish Independence.

Mr Johnson will tell supporters he didn't want a winter election but he was left with 'no choice'.

'There is only one way to get Brexit done, and I am afraid the answer is to ask the people to change this blockading Parliament,' he will say.

'I don't want an election. No prime minister wants an early election, especially not in December. But as things stand we simply have no choice – because it is only by getting Brexit done in the next few weeks that we can focus on all the priorities.'

Outlining voters' choice, he will add: 'It's time to change the dismal pattern of the last three years and to get out of our rut.

'It's time to end this debilitating delay. Let's go with this Conservative government, get Brexit done, and unleash the potential of our great country – delivering on the public's priorities of our NHS, crime and the cost of living.

'The alternative is clear – Jeremy Corbyn and his two favourite advisers, Dither and Delay, turning 2020 into the year of two miserable referendums.

'A vote for any other minor party is effectively a vote for Corbyn, and his catastrophic political and economic programme.'

Last night a poll showed the Tories lead by 13 points. YouGov put them down one on 38 per cent, Labour down two on 25 per cent, the Lib Dems unchanged on 16 per cent and the Brexit Party up four points on 11.

Another showed Labour's lead in London has halved since the 2017 election. The poll, published by the Evening Standard, put Labour ten points ahead of the Tories – a result which would see them losing seats in its heartland.

