Speaker Bercow says Parliament's image has not improved
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The man who sits in the big chair in the House of Commons knows full well that Parliament has an image problem outside the boundaries of the Westminster village.
I caught up with John Bercow in Sheffield as he embarked on a regional tour, where he is outlining his vision for improving the public's perception of Parliament.
It was a timely visit. This week, the former Scunthorpe MP Elliot Morley became the biggest culprit so far in the Westminster expenses scandal.
Morley pleaded guilty at Southwark Crown Court to fiddling his mortgage expenses to the tune of around £32,000. The former Labour minister will now almost certainly facing a prison sentence.
I asked the Speaker to sum up the damage caused by the expenses scandal, which broke in 2009, the year he was elected to the post. Mr Bercow said he believed the reputation of Parliament had suffered over a period of decades and has settled at an historically low level.
John Bercow's political journey from right-wing Tory to social liberal has been well documented. As have the thoughts of his Labour-supporting wife Sally. But Mr Bercow believes he's done more than any other speaker in history to bring the work of parliament to the provinces.
The Speaker is particularly passionate about reconnecting more young people with the Parliamentary process. He told students at Sheffield Hallam University about his plans to create a 'Speaker's Scholarship - where people from working class backgrounds will be paid to work in Parliament.
He rejected my suggestion as a "cynical Yorkshireman" that many people still believed MPs were on the take. Mr Bercow pointed to evidence showing that many voters mistrusted politicians collectively, but believed their own MP was hard working and conscientious.
So has John Bercow done enough to put his own house in order? It's one of our talking points on this week's Politics Show in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire.
I'm Tim Iredale, the BBC's Political Editor in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire and presenter of the regional Politics Show. This is strictly a "no-spin" zone where the political viewpoint is more Humber Bridge than Westminster Bridge. Your comments and observations are more than welcome. 
Comment number 1.
At 22:18 8th Apr 2011, NBButtermilk wrote:You are the speaker Mr Bercow and are very well paid so do something about it. I am yet to be convinced that MP's are not on the take. Remember your predecesor who moved heaven & earth to try and prevent MP's expenses being disclosed to the mugs who pay them
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Comment number 2.
At 10:57 9th Apr 2011, freindleonewhocares wrote:I think the Speaker is absolutely right.It is obvious that the MP's still do not want to understand the anger of many electors.Still they want to and are watering down rules for expenses and the like.For example.no one pays for my wife and children to travel or visit me should I be away in the course of my employment.The MP's are still far too aloof regarding the voters and therefore trust is very hard to find or offer.No one.in particularly me has not demanded that any serving MP had to take the position,it was a personal choice and as such they the PM's in question should pay their way like anybody else.
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Comment number 3.
At 17:13 9th Apr 2011, Robin Gitte wrote:We no longer have a House of Commons as all parties are dominated by the political elite. They pursue personal interests not the will of the people and use thuggish police and judiciary elites to crush dissent. They are totally corrupt.
Will Mr Bercow speak out against tax dodging MPs? Fat chance.
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