John Bercow, the Speaker of the Commons, occupies one of the great offices of state, one with an illustrious history. Perhaps the most famous Speaker was William Lenthall, who in 1642 defied a king in defence of parliamentary authority, an event that helped bring about a civil war. Lenthall told Charles I: “I have neither eyes to see nor tongue to speak in this place but as the House is pleased to direct me.”

All modern Speakers stand in Lenthall’s shadow, and should live by his words, mindful that they are merely servants of the Commons. Mr Bercow has instead ignored Lenthall’s wisdom and presumed to speak for Parliament, and thus for the country. The contents of Mr Bercow’s near-hysterical rant about President Donald Trump’s planned state visit to Britain are unacceptable. So too is the fact that Mr Bercow has grossly exceeded his authority, seemingly believing himself entitled to wade deep into British foreign policy by dint of his office and his bottomless self-importance.