John Bercow has been getting tons of letters from the public, pouring scorn on parliament's "nodding donkeys" and "sneering fools" at Prime Minister's Questions, but one writer opted to put his thoughts into a poem.
Writing to the Speaker about the "public perception of the big house", the artistically-inclined voter introduced his work by noting: "On the news it was reported that you want MPs to conduct themselves in a more professional manner."
Here is the writer's attempt at political poetry for Bercow, for you to enjoy.
PMQ's
They make their way to assemble; like kids do going to school
At Wednesday lunch, they take their seats to shout and play the fool
A question asked from one side; just support or pat on back
Then, opposition fire one in' is jeered and under flack
Up and down like yo-yos, as benches rise and fall
Papers waved, gesticulate hands, then they shout and bawl
Speaker calls for order, to bring the house in line
Always one, will bellow out, to the Speaker's cutting line
Public watch TV; listen on radio to hear the show
It isn't any wonder political rhetoric, at voting they don't go
The house that makes decisions, influential on people's life
Common sense gone out the door causing us more strife
Progression for the future, what the people want to hear and see
Not parliamentary play time, be a sensible MP
The poem is among the range of letters and emails received by Bercow, which are featured below
PMQs Complaints From Members Of The Public
Bercow is famous, or infamous, for his attempt to calm MPs down during noisy PMQs exchanges, and has warned that the "blood sport" behaviour of MPs at PMQs could cause "carnage" to the reputation of parliament. He often cites the number of letters he gets of complaint from the public as evidence, and this poem will no doubt cap it all.
The poem, as written to the Speaker, about PMQs