London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Wednesday, Sep 03, 2025

How John Bercow recalled DESTROYING Boris Johnson in epic tennis match

JOHN BERCOW recently revealed on Italian TV what it was like playing tennis with David Cameron and Boris Johnson.
John Bercow stood down as Commons Speaker at the end of October after 10 years in the role. Since then the former MP for Buckingham has lined up a series of lucrative public engagements. His election night punditry on Sky News earned him £60,000 and, on Christmas day, he delivered an alternative to the Queen's Christmas speech in which he called for more "personal courtesy" in politics and society.

The 56-year-old former MP also appeared on International TV, as a guest on the late-night Italian chat show ‘Che Tempo Che Fa’.

During the interview Mr Bercow recalled his time at Westminster, talked at length about Brexit and even revealed what it is like to play tennis with former Prime Minister David Cameron and Boris Johnson.

When asked by Italian presenter Fabio Fazio if you can understand someone’s personality by playing tennis with them, the former Speaker said: “Of course.

“You always learn.

“I have never played a single against David Cameron, only doubles.

“And when we played together, we got along really well.

“I can say this about him... When he made a mistake, he was like McEnroe.

“He got angry and started shouting.

“But when I made a mistake, he was tolerant and encouraging.

“He was a good partner.”

Regarding Mr Johnson, Mr Bercow added: “What can I say about him…

“Well… he lost every game in the set we played against.

“But I must admit, he took it well when he lost.”

Mr Bercow was Britain's top-ranking junior tennis player until glandular fever ended his hopes of turning professional.

He remains a qualified tennis coach.

When he stood down as Speaker in October, Mr Johnson paid homage to him by making reference to his former tennis career.

The Prime Minister said: "I know the whole House will want to join me in recording that, after ten tumultuous years, this is your last Prime Minister's questions.

“And as befits a distinguished former Wimbledon competitor, you have sat there in your high chair not just as an umpire – ruthlessly adjudicating on the finer points of Parliamentary procedure with your trademark Tony Montana scowl, not just as a commentator offering your own opinions on the rallies you are watching – sometimes acerbic and sometimes kindly - but above all, as a player in your own right, peppering every part of the chamber with your own thoughts and opinions like some tennis ball machine, delivering a series of literally unplayable, unreturnable... volleys and smashes.”
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Google Avoids Break-Up in U.S. Antitrust Case as Stocks Rise
Couple celebrates 80th wedding anniversary at assisted living facility in Lancaster
Information Warfare in the Age of AI: How Language Models Become Targets and Tools
The White House on LinkedIn Has Changed Their Profile Picture to Donald Trump
"Insulted the Prophet Muhammad": Woman Burned Alive by Angry Mob in Niger State, Nigeria
Trump Responds to Death Rumors – Announces 'Missile City'
Court of Appeal Allows Asylum Seekers to Remain at Essex Hotel Amid Local Tax Boycott Threats
Germany in Turmoil: Ukrainian Teenage Girl Pushed to Death by Illegal Iraqi Migrant
United Krack down on human rights: Graham Linehan Arrested at Heathrow Over Three X Posts, Hospitalised, Released on Bail with Posting Ban
Asian and Middle Eastern Investors Avoid US Markets
Ray Dalio Warns of US Shift to Autocracy
Eurozone Inflation Rises to 2.1% in August
Russia and China Sign New Gas Pipeline Deal
China's Robotics Industry Fuels Export Surge
Suntory Chairman Resigns After Police Probe
Gold Price Hits New All-Time Record
Von der Leyen's Plane Hit by Suspected Russian GPS Interference in an Incident Believed to Be Caused by Russia or by Pro-Peace or by Anti-Corruption European Activists
UK Fintechs Explore Buying US Banks
Greece Suspends 5% of Schools as Birth Rate Drops
Apollo to Launch $5 Billion Sports Investment Vehicle
Bolsonaro Trial Nears Close Amid US-Brazil Tension
European Banks Push for Lower Cross-Border Barriers
Poland's Offshore Wind Sector Attracts Investors
Nvidia Reveals: Two Mystery Customers Account for About 40% of Revenue
Woody Allen: "I Would Be Happy to Direct Trump Again in a Film"
Pickles are the latest craze among Generation Z in the United States.
Deadline Day Delivers Record £125m Isak Move and Donnarumma to City
Nestlé Removes CEO Laurent Freixe Following Undisclosed Relationship with Subordinate
Giuliani Seriously Injured in Accident – Trump to Award Him the Presidential Medal of Freedom
EU is getting aggressive: Four AfD Candidates Die Unexpectedly Ahead of North Rhine-Westphalia Local Elections
Lula and Putin Hold Strategic BRICS Discussions Ahead of Trump–Putin Summit
WhatsApp is rolling out a feature that looks a lot like Telegram.
Investigations Reveal Rise in ‘Sex-for-Rent’ Listings Across Canada Exploiting Vulnerable Tenants
Chinese and Indian Leaders Pursue Amity Amid Global Shifts
European Union Plans for Ukraine Deployment
ECB Warns Against Inflation Complacency
Concerns Over North Cyprus Casino Development
Shipping Companies Look Beyond Chinese Finance
Rural Exodus Fueling European Wildfires
China Hosts Major Security Meeting
Chinese Police Successfully Recover Family's Savings from Livestream Purchases
Germany Marks a Decade Since Migrant Wave with Divisions, Success Stories, and Political Shifts
Liverpool Defeat Arsenal 1–0 with Szoboszlai Free-Kick to Stay Top of Premier League
Prince Harry and King Charles to Meet in First Reunion After 20 Months
Chinese Stock Market Rally Fueled by Domestic Investors
Israeli Airstrike in Yemen Kills Houthi Prime Minister
Ukrainian Nationalist Politician Andriy Parubiy Assassinated in Lviv
Corporate America Cuts Middle Management as Bosses Take On Triple the Workload
Parents Sue OpenAI After Teen’s Death, Alleging ChatGPT Encouraged Suicide
Amazon Faces Lawsuit Over 'Buy' Label on Digital Streaming Content
×