Ten years
ago when John Bercow was made Speaker I insisted on watching his inauguration
live on television.
Thunderthighs
(then aged 13) came into the room and asked “Why are you watching this?”
“Because it’s
historic.”
“Why?”
“Well. The previous speaker was forced out, which has
seldom happened before. John Bercow was
elected by secret ballot of all the MPs, which has never happened before. And he’s the first Jewish person to be
elected Speaker.”
Thunderthighs
thought for a few moments then …
“Jewish … Is
he beige?”
I was and am
completely nonplussed by that one.
So much so I
didn’t feel able to ask what it was all about.
Every year since
the millennium I’ve helped organised a Summer Fair and Xmas Pudding Fun Run fundraising
for the school my boys went to. The
local MP The Right Hon Alan Campbell supports the school and turns out every
Boxing Day to start the Run. So over the
years of cold, frost and sometimes horizontal rain we’ve become friendly
acquaintances. The next time I saw him I
told him about Thunderthighs’ beige remark.
“Beige” said
the Rt Hon MP “Well I’ve heard Bercow called a lot of things but I’ve never
heard him called beige.”
