John Bercow calls for end to 'toxic' Commons culture after fury over PM's language

John Bercow has pleaded with MPs on all sides to tackle the 'toxic' political culture as the fallout continued from Boris Johnson's combative Commons performance.
The Commons Speaker said the House 'did itself no credit' in the angry exchanges, which followed the prime minister telling MPs they should honour the memory of murdered parliamentarian Jo Cox by delivering Brexit. Bercow asked MPs to 'lower the decibel level and to try to treat each other as opponents, not as enemies'. 

The Guardian YouTube network:

[Copernicus]

No matter what happens with Brexit. It has created a divided, bitter UK and a slightly weakened EU. The only winners are the UK/EU's foreign enemies. Remember that, when you are tempted rage out at each other. You can see the same crippling polarization in the US. I think most people recognize the issues that caused the country to go into this direction. This might be the time to start listening to each other again and to start having a calm sensible discussion about where to go next.

[doyoumind]

Parliament is sounding like social media comment stream

[samiya]

he’s like a teacher telling off a misbehaving class

[maany]

John bercow is the most finest, wise and highly intellectual and well respected person in common

[rul]

Britain can be thankful for this chair of the house! Finally someone can bring some ethics!

[NDMeow]

Can’t he just take over Boris pls. What this country needs more than anything right now is that kind of level headed reasoning.

[aidanamphlett]

Toxic? More like petulant and childish!

[davyjones-locker]

Well Brexit: Season 5 is alive and kicking!

[riconeo]

John Bercow? OORDDEEEER!
Donald Trump? BOORDEEEER!
Hotel? Trivago!

[petermernagh]

The irony. He was one of the most instrumental in creating a toxic culture

[ksec]

Opponents, and not Enemies. Gosh I wish I had heard of this 10 years earlier.

[AmbivalentMind]

They perfectly represent the general public

[czgibson]

Well done Tories! Thanks so much for plunging the nation into chaos. Three years and counting!

[callumhardy]

I’m calling for a third referendum!
1: 1975
2: 2016
3: 2019

[tonyw]

Why he is not standing to Govern the UK, we, my wife and I have no idea. He is quick thinking....educated and well spoken. 10000% better than any other person, MP or otherwise, we have seen. Vote Bercow Now (we need you John!)

[Ebbagull]

One of the most respectable politicians in the world. I will be very very sad to see him leave as speaker.

[BrainNeedsFood]

Guardian - why are you describing it as "Boris Johnson's combative Commons performance"? I watched a chunk of it live and it seemed to me that pretty much everyone was being combatitive. A lot of the people complaining about the Prime Minister's use of language were calling him a "tin pot dictator" and other unpleasant things not that long ago - but apparently, that was fine. But when Johnson started hitting back, those same people then start complaining about language used. Talk about double standards.

But then of course papers like the Guardian aren't going to see it that way. At this point it's laughable to expect the Guardian to take a fair, balanced and objective view of politics.

[doculam]

It was toxic because of the Tories trying to push through a no deal brexit, the Tories trying to illegally shut down parliament, the Tories shamefully and arrogantly refusing to apologise but instead going on the attack and Cox set the tone with his words such as surrender bill and cowards and what have you. The rest of the house just returned fired and damn straight they should.

[public.public]

So stop the lies Johnson. And let Parliament hear the truth for a change.

[johnnyfeve]

UK, this is from Australia, and explains our ties with the UK regarding Brexit. The UK and Australia have both been equally decieved it seems.