Widdecombe considers Speaker move

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Conservative MP Anne Widdecombe may stand for Speaker of the House of Commons on an "interim" basis if she can get enough backing from Labour MPs.

Ms Widdecombe appeared to rule herself out of the contest but now says she is considering her options after getting a "lot of support" from Tory MPs.

As she is leaving Parliament at the next election, Ms Widdecombe could only fill the position on a temporary basis.

Sir Alan Beith is the only MP so far to say publicly that he is set to stand.

However, the Lib Dem MP is set to be joined by a number of other MPs in the race to succeed Michael Martin, with several expected to announce their candidacy in the coming weeks.

If the House of Commons wants an interim Speaker to clean the mess up and hand it over, then I will listen to it Anne Widdecombe <a class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/8057450.stm">Speaker contest: Runners and riders</a>

The new Speaker will be elected in a secret ballot of all MPs on 22 June, a day after Mr Martin retires.

Ms Widdecombe, MP for Maidstone and The Weald, said she would only formally declare herself a candidate if she could command support from all sides of the Commons, not just her own benches.

"I have quite a lot of support with my side - that's why I am still considering. But I don't quite know what the view is on the other side.

"I am not declaring until I have sufficient indication from the other side because you can't do that without that."

Ms Widdecombe has insisted she will not reconsider her decision to leave Parliament at the next election, which could possibly count against her.

Some MPs are opposed to a temporary appointment, saying Parliament needs someone committed to driving through long-term reform of its practices and to the challenge of rebuilding trust in the institution after the expenses scandal.

But Ms Widdecombe stressed: "If the House of Commons wants an interim Speaker to clean the mess up and hand it over, then I will listen to it."

Other MPs touted as potential candidates include Conservatives Sir George Young, Sir Patrick Cormack and John Bercow, former Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell and Labour's Frank Field.