The Tory speech that received a standing ovation from Labour MPs

Charles Walker, the Tory MP who chairs the Parliamentary Procedures Committee, was almost in tears today when he made a speech to the House of Commons in which he said he had been “played as a fool” by William Hague.

Walker’s speech came in the debate about the future of John Bercow’s position as Speaker, and was met with applause from Labour MPs, as well as visibly moving Bercow.

His speech was damning in its portrayal of Hague, and he finishes by saying:

“Mr Speaker, I have been played as a fool. And when I go home tonight I will look in the mirror and see an honourable fool looking back at me. And I would much rather be an honourable fool, Mr Speaker, in this and any other matter, than a clever man.”