European newspapers are fawning over John Bercow, telling him he is 'an idol', as the speaker pays tribute to the influence of his wife Sally - despite her admitting in 2015 to an affair with his cousin.
In a gushing interview, published in La Repubblica and Die Welt yesterday, the 56-year-old is described as a 'once great tennis player' and praised for the way he talks.
With the speaker revealing that his 'wife and children' are the two things he is most proud of in his career.
But in 2015, his wife Sally, admitted to an affair with his cousin, Alan Bercow, a lawyer, reportedly at the start of the General Election campaign.
Sally Bercow admitted to an affair with Alan Bercow (right) in 2015, and said she will 'always love' her husband, the Speaker of the House of Commons, John Bercow (left together in 2012)
Mr Bercow, who has been the Speaker of the House of Commons since June 2009, was told he was considered 'an idol' by many in Europe in an interview published today
It comes as, late on Thursday afternoon, the speaker reversed his decision preventing Theresa May's Brexit deal returning to the House, saying a new Government motion is 'substantially different'.
In the wide-ranging interview, Mr Bercow was asked why 'many in continental Europe consider you an idol'.
And he is even questioned on, as a once 'great tennis player', why he decided to become a politician and speaker rather than a 'celebrated sportsman'.
He also revealed how he had sought to learn from his mistakes and that his political leanings - softer by far than in past years - had been influenced by his wife.
He told the newspapers: 'I was influenced by my wife, because I think you are influenced a bit by your partner.
'But sometimes it’s said in almost a misogynistic way as well, you know, “his wife is the power behind the throne”, which is nonsense. I’m capable of my own thoughts but sure that was a bit of a factor.'
Sally and John Bercow at Wimbledon. He credited her with influencing his politics
Sally met John Bercow (pictured left together in 2012), then a rising Conservative star, at a Conservative student conference in 1989 and they married in 2002. She is pictured right after admitting to an affair with Mr Bercow's cousin Alan
He also told the publication he has 'tried to become a bit more light-hearted over the years.'
He admits: 'When I started, I would say I was too serious and too aggressive.
'I am human and I make mistakes… I try to learn from it and not make the same mistakes again.'
Earlier this month the Speaker caused outrage among Brexiteers by reaching back to a precedent from 1604 to prevent Theresa May bringing her deal back to the House for a third vote.
But he said in the interview: 'There was a time when Europhiles, Pro-Europeans, used to criticise me years ago for selecting urgent questions from Brexit supporters when they were in a minority.
'And now there are Brexit supporters who criticise me for choosing questions or amendments from Remainers.
'So in other words at different times I’ve upset both sides and I think the evidence is that I am simply fair.'
He declared: 'If I'm biased, I'm biased in favour of Parliament. Parliament being heard. Parliament having a right to speak. Parliament having time. Parliament being respected by the Government of the day and indeed by the opposition.'
Speaker of the Commons John Bercow reacts after winning the Buckingham constituency election in 2015
His strict adherence to precedent this month sparked raised eyebrows among those who remembered him saying (after his clerks to allow a Government motion to be amended in defiance of longstanding convention) 'If we only went by precedent, manifestly nothing would ever change.'
Some MPs might also be shocked by his admission that 'I just try to keep most people happy, most of the time'.
The 5000-word La Repubblica piece (90 per cent of them Bercow's) also unearths personal insights, including a fear of death, a love of public speaking, and a loathing of dancing.
'Put me in a party and say you’ve got to dance… I can’t bear it,' the Speaker said.
'I will only dance occasionally with my wife, if I’ve had several drinks.'
Elected as the 157th Speaker of the House of Commons in June 2009, Mr Bercow has become known for his caustic parliamentary put-downs.
Earlier this week, he sparked uproar in the Commons by aiming an 'insult' at a Conservative MP.
The Speaker remarked that former minister Greg Hands 'wasn't a very good whip' as he admonished the MP for Chelsea and Fulham for 'disorderly' behaviour.
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News Photo European newspapers fawn over Speaker John Bercow telling him he is 'an idol'
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