The Speaker of the House of Commons has been caught on video mimicking the ostentatious verbal flourishes of Tory MPs Sir Peter Tapsell, Michael Gove and Jacob Rees-Mogg.

John Bercow has built up a reputation for slapping down his colleagues with cutting put-downs and cries of "order, order" when they misbehave.

But in an unguarded appearance at a German university, he entertained students with comic impressions of Tapsell, the Father of the House of Commons, whom he said he would not dream of calling an "old codger", and Gove, a senior cabinet minister, whom he reckoned some might regard as patronising.

As for Rees-Mogg, he painted a picture of an "extraordinary character" and "young fogey" in a waistcoat with a handkerchief, who looks like he has "wandered into the House of Commons from a different century".

Long rumoured to be an accomplished impersonator, Bercow dived in and out of the voices of fellow MPs during the 40-minute question-and-answer session. His first target for gentle mockery was Gove, with whom he has previously clashed but also professes to admire.

Describing the parliamentary styles of witty MPs, Bercow said he had an affection for members "whose use of language is so dextrous or ingenious that he or she is capable of uttering the most ferocious criticism with gilded tongue".

Gove is a prime example of such a politician whose style is not universally popular, Bercow told his audience, describing the education secretary's tendency to issue withering insults issued after "superficial praise".

"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," he said. "Now some people think he's patronising."

Lurching into his approximation of Gove's own voice, Bercow continues: "He has got a habit of saying: 'Well, that's a typically acute observation by the honourable gentleman; well, I congratulate the honourable gentleman, he's certainly brought to my notice a matter of considerable import' – even though the matter brought to his notice is as banal a matter as can possibly have been raised at any time that afternoon.

"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'."

Bercow goes on to explain his equal admiration for the wit of Rees-Mogg. "He's what you would call if you're familiar with this term in Britain a young fogey. He dresses in a very old-fashioned way, often with a waistcoat, he's always got his handkerchief in the right place. He's very 'trad' in every way. Immensely courteous. Jacob almost takes the rise out of himself. He's got a habit of getting up and asking questions in a manner that would have been done 50 years ago."

Adopting the tones of Rees-Mogg, 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?"

Finally, the Speaker turned his waspish humour on Tapsell, the oldest MP in the House of Commons, with an uncanny rendition of his volume and emphasis.

"Sir Peter's manner, you talk about old fogeys, or codgers, I wouldn't dream of making such a disobliging comment," he said. "Sir Peter's typical question would be: 'Is my right honourable friend the prime minister aware that in 1955 when I served as personal assistant to Sir Anthony Eden, he advised me then that ad hominem attacks upon the character of one's opponents was invariably counter-productive?'"

Hansard reveals that Tapsell indeed made strikingly similar remarks in the House of Commons more than 15 years ago, in February 1998.

The Speaker, who was a Tory backbencher before he took on the politically neutral role, has often drawn the ire of Conservative MPs who claim he is biased against the party.

Bercow still represents the constituents of Buckingham but describes himself as having "no real tribal allegiance any more". Some MPs have ongoing feuds with him, including one group of Conservatives who considered wearing badges branded "Bollocked by Bercow".

During the speech in Berlin, Bercow revealed some of his motivations in running for the role of Speaker and said most of his fellow MPs have "an element of hubris, or at least of extreme self-confidence".

"I didn't want to be a minister and I didn't think I would be very good at being a minister and I didn't think there was the foggiest chance of being asked by David Cameron to be a minister," he said. "I didn't think I was a very effective team player and I had no passion for government service.

"If truth be told, most of us in parliament have an element of hubris, or at least of extreme self-confidence and think we've got although I wouldn't have been distraught to continue as a backbencher, I had always in a chequered and inconsistent career … been absolutely passionate about parliament. I thought how much that's new do I have left to say, I honestly concluded I wasn't an original thinker."

Bercow appeared at the Hertie School of Governance in February this year, but the video of this appearance was only uploaded to YouTube several weeks ago. A spokesman for Bercow declined to comment. However, Gove, who once did an impression of Bercow in the Speaker's chair, said last night: "I'm afraid John has absolutely got me to a tee. He's a very good mimic – and a very good Speaker."

Compare John Bercow with the real Rees-Mogg, Tapsell and Gove

Jacob Rees-Mogg - 22 March 2011

"Is it not the case that the government's debt reduction plan is absolutely right, as we see in the gilt market and the country's credit rating? Is it not also true that, throughout history, coalition and Conservative governments clean up the economic mess left by socialists?

Bercow as Rees-Mogg

"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?



Sir Peter Tapsell - 10 February 1998

When I was a very young man, Anthony Eden said to me that he thought that attacks ad hominem in the House were nearly always a mistake. Would not the institution that we are proud to serve do itself far more credit if hon. Members on both sides of the House abandoned them?



Bercow as Sir Peter Tapsell

"Is my right honourable friend the prime minister aware that in 1955 when I served as personal assistant to Sir Anthony Eden, he advised me then that ad homimen attacks upon the character of one's opponents was invariably counter-productive?

"

Michael Gove - 18 June 2012 to a Labour MP

First, may I congratulate the honourable gentleman on the interview he gave in the Guardian today? In it, he pointed out that the quality of education that he received was a tribute to the grammar schools of the past. What a pity it is that a past Labour government did such damage to the education system that allowed him to become such an effective advocate for the people of Bolsover.



Bercow as Gove

"Well, that's a typically acute observation by the honourable gentleman, well I congratulate the honourable gentleman, he's certainly brought to my notice a matter of considerable import.