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House of Commons Speaker John Bercow was left red-faced today after a tape emerged of him mimicking a host of Tory MPs.

Mr Bercow, who has a habit of infuriating his former backbench Conservative colleagues for slapping them down during debates, impersonated father of the House Sir Peter Tapsell, Education Secretary Michael Gove and super-posh Tory pin up Jacob Rees-Mogg.

In the unguarded appearance in Germany, Mr Bercow entertained students with the comic impressions.

During the 40-minute question-and-answer session, Mr Bercow said he enjoyed listening to MPs “whose use of language is so ingenious that he or she is capable of uttering the most ferocious criticism with gilded tongue”.

The Speaker said Mr Gove was able to issue withering insults after “superficial praise”.

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He said: “Michael Gove has got a capacity for referring to other members in terms that are elaborate and nominally polite, but which if reflected upon will be seen to be pretty damning.

“Now some people think he’s patronising. Michael will sort of lavish the person with superficial praise and then will proceed to explain ‘why in this particular case not withstanding my very real and deep-rooted admiration, he does suffer from the quite notable disadvantage of being wrong’.”

Mr Bercow also praised Mr Rees-Mogg, describing him as a “young fogey”.

Mimicking his posh accent, Mr Bercow said: “Is my right hon friend aware that it invariably falls to this great party of ours to rescue the country from the ravages of debt and despair which it’s been the historic failing of the socialists to deliver to us?”