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Brown asks Bercow to head review Mercer and Bercow to advise Brown
(10 minutes later)
Conservative MP John Bercow has been asked by Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown to head a review into support to children with learning difficulties. Two Tory MPs are to advise Gordon Brown's government in their areas of expertise, the prime minister has said.
Patrick Mercer, forced to quit as Tory homeland security spokesman after a row over alleged racist comments, is to advise Lord West on security matters.
Fellow Conservative MP John Bercow is to head a review into support to children with learning difficulties.
Mr Brown also said that the Lib Dem MP Matthew Taylor would be advising the government on future land-use policy.
The BBC understands Mr Bercow will not join Labour or join the government. He has a long interest in the subject.The BBC understands Mr Bercow will not join Labour or join the government. He has a long interest in the subject.
Mr Brown refused to comment when asked about the issue on BBC Radio 4's Today, saying only "wait and see". Mr Brown made the announcement during a speech on "The New Politics", in which he also announced plans for a series of citizens' juries to help formulate policy on areas such as the NHS.
Senior Tory George Osborne earlier told the same programme they were keen to work with the PM on areas of agreement. 'Not racist'
Mr Mercer, who spent 25 years in the Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters regiment, was forced to quit the Conservative frontbench in March after appearing to suggest being called a "black bastard" was a normal part of Army life.
He told The Times: "If someone is slow on the assault course, you'd get people shouting: 'Come on you fat bastard, come on you ginger bastard, come on you black bastard.'"
He also said: "I came across a lot of ethnic minority soldiers who were idle and useless, but who used racism as cover for their misdemeanours."
During the furore which followed he denied being racist but accepted his comments might have "hurt" soldiers who served with him and "embarrassed" his party.
He said he had been reporting what he had seen going on in the army. He stressed he always "came down hard" on racist bullying when he came across it.
Lib Dem MP Matthew Taylor, who was party chairman for two years when Charles Kennedy was leader, is standing down from Parliament at the next election.