Speaking to BBC1's Politics Show, the former Tory Chairman Norman Tebbit has challenged David Cameron by saying that constituents in Buckingham should be able to campaign for John Bercow's opponents:
"Mr Bercow is not a Conservative candidate. He is an independent candidate. And it's, in my view, not the business of the Conservative Party to support independent candidates. He did cast himself in my mould, indeed. But he has been reworked in recent years. But I don't think he would really be able to describe himself as a Conservative any more, even if he were not the Speaker."
Last week Jonathan Isaby reported how the Tory leadership is giving Mr Bercow its full backing. Jonathan has long argued that Tories backing Nigel Farage, Mr Bercow's UKIP opponent, are doing the work of the party's political enemies. Former Europhile Tory MEP John Stevens is also standing against Mr Bercow.
Lord Tebbit is now regarded as "completely out of control" according to one member of the shadow cabinet. Within the last week he has used his blog to attack the Conservative Party as "Europhile" and also the party's closeness to Lord Ashcroft. On the eve of the European Elections he risked being expelled because of his 'Don't vote for the main parties' message.
Tim Montgomerie
10.30pm WATCH: Lord Tebbit tells the BBC that Conservative members should be under no obligation to support John Bercow
