JOHN Bercow MP has said he is looking forward to the “privilege” of officially opening the Battle of Evesham Festival.

The Speaker of the House of Commons will be in the Worcestershire town on Saturday (August 1) to launch a two-week programme of special events marking the battle's 750-year anniversary.

He is confident the festival will be a “right and proper” way to commemorate the 13th century foundations of representative democracy.

And - just days after being embroiled in an expenses furore – he has issued a passionate defence of the modern political system spawned from those early beginnings.

Mr Bercow said: “It is a privilege to be in a position to open this historic, commemorative event.

“The Battle of Evesham was of great significance and importance and Simon De Montfort is a hugely significant figure in the history of the evolution and development of modern democracy.

“It is right and proper that we mark the 750-year anniversary.

“I think the democracy in this country is one that is prized and treasured. It is something held dear by people across the UK and all around the world there are people who admire it.”

The Battle of Evesham in August 1265 was the climatic end of a bitter conflict between King Henry III and rebel Simon de Montfort, who was killed and mutilated during the fighting.

De Montfort, who governed England for more than a year after victory at the earlier Battle of Lewes, established two famous Parliaments that stripped the King of unlimited powers and included elected representatives from towns and counties.

This move has given him a reputation amongst some historians as the founder of parliamentary democracy and it was certainly a key milestone in the formation of the modern political system.

It is that system that Mr Bercow has defended passionately, despite reputational damage to politicians from recent media scandals.

“The system is operating well and there is more dynamism than ever before”, he said.

“No system is perfect and in terms of scrutiny and for independent regulation of expenses and pay we are doing far better than we were.

“There is still a big challenge to try and tackle disengagement in politics and to interest young people, who are the future, in political processes.

“Of course there are always things to criticise but there is much about our system which is respected.

“It is perfectly right to celebrate our Parliament. It does not mean to say it is perfect or for us to be smug.

“But it does mean taking a positive view and, as part of this, I am looking forward to coming to Evesham.”

Mid-Worcestershire’s MP Nigel Huddleston, who will also be present at the launch on Saturday (August 1) at 11am in Abbey Park, is similarly looking forward to the event.

He said: “I congratulate everyone involved in the preparations for the commemoration of the Battle of Evesham and for grasping this fantastic opportunity to showcase our town and our heritage.

“It is a great honour to have the Speaker join us at the commemorations and local residents can be proud of the strong links between our historic town and the mother of Parliaments.

“Simon de Montfort played a pivotal role in restraining royal power and establishing the earliest forms of representative democracy in England.

"A direct line can therefore be drawn between Simon de Montfort and the Speaker of the House of Commons, who is a leading champion of modern parliamentary democracy and a great advocate of backbench MPs like myself.”

The Battle of Evesham Festival runs from Saturday (August 1) to Saturday, August 15, and will feature memorial services, lectures, a medieval festival and the largest mid-13th century re-enactment that’s ever taken place.

For more details visit battleofevesham.co.uk