This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/8093770.stm

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Beckett joins race to be Speaker Beckett joins race to be Speaker
(20 minutes later)
Former Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett is to join the race to become House of Commons Speaker.Former Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett is to join the race to become House of Commons Speaker.
Mrs Beckett, one of Labour's most experienced MPs, confirmed earlier that she would join the growing list of MPs hoping to replace Michael Martin.Mrs Beckett, one of Labour's most experienced MPs, confirmed earlier that she would join the growing list of MPs hoping to replace Michael Martin.
She believes she has the experience to deal with problems facing Parliament in the wake of the expenses scandal. She said she wanted to help Parliament deal with its "considerable problems" - Mr Martin stepped down amid pressure over his handling of the MPs' expenses.
On Monday nine MPs are to take part in hustings for the Speaker job organised by the Hansard Society. On Monday nine MPs are to take part in hustings for the Speaker job.
Mrs Beckett is the third MP on Wednesday to announce she is standing for the job - her Labour colleague Parmjit Dhanda and the Conservative deputy Speaker Sir Michael Lord announced earlier they were standing. Mr Martin is due to step down on 21 June and his successor will be elected on 22.
Speaker pressure After the next election ... it will be a very different ball game. I hope I can help us deal with that Margaret Beckett
Mrs Beckett became the third MP on Wednesday to announce she is standing for the job - her Labour colleague Parmjit Dhanda and the Conservative deputy Speaker Sir Michael Lord announced earlier they were standing.
Mrs Beckett, who left her government job as housing minister in last week's reshuffle, said: "I think at the moment we have got very considerable problems in Parliament. We have got to make changes.
"After the next election, if we have a more finely balanced chamber than we have had in the recent past, it will be a very different ball game. "I hope I can help us deal with that."
She was the first woman to serve as deputy leader of the Labour Party and the first woman foreign secretary under Tony Blair.She was the first woman to serve as deputy leader of the Labour Party and the first woman foreign secretary under Tony Blair.
Expenses row
She was replaced by David Miliband in Gordon Brown's first reshuffle but returned to the government as a housing minister the following year.She was replaced by David Miliband in Gordon Brown's first reshuffle but returned to the government as a housing minister the following year.
Michael Martin's decision to stand down as Speaker in May after nearly nine years in the role, came amidst pressure over his handling of the MPs' expenses furore. Michael Martin's decision to stand down as Speaker in May after nearly nine years in the role, came at the height of public anger over claims made by MPs on their second homes expenses.
Several MPs stood up to tell him he had to make way for a Speaker who could help the Commons reform itself.Several MPs stood up to tell him he had to make way for a Speaker who could help the Commons reform itself.
Mrs Beckett has faced some questions about her own expenses - she claimed second home allowances of £72,537 from 2004 to 2008, despite having no mortgage or rent to pay on her constituency home and living in a grace and favour flat for part of the time.Mrs Beckett has faced some questions about her own expenses - she claimed second home allowances of £72,537 from 2004 to 2008, despite having no mortgage or rent to pay on her constituency home and living in a grace and favour flat for part of the time.
She has defended them, saying grace and favour homes are not rent free and said MPs incur "extra costs that people even in comparable jobs do not have".She has defended them, saying grace and favour homes are not rent free and said MPs incur "extra costs that people even in comparable jobs do not have".
Among people taking part in hustings for the role are the Conservative chairman of the Commons standards and privileges committee Sir George Young, Lib Dem Sir Alan Beith and Labour's Frank Field. Asked if the controversy would damage her prospects, she replied: "Only time will tell."
Among people taking part in hustings for the role, organised by the Hansard Society, are the Conservative chairman of the Commons standards and privileges committee Sir George Young, Lib Dem Sir Alan Beith and Labour's Frank Field.
Tory MP Sir Alan Haselhurst, veteran Tory Sir Patrick Cormack and Tory backbenchers Richard Shepherd and John Bercow, will also take part in the hustings.Tory MP Sir Alan Haselhurst, veteran Tory Sir Patrick Cormack and Tory backbenchers Richard Shepherd and John Bercow, will also take part in the hustings.
Conservative Ann Widdecombe has said she would be prepared to do it on an interim basis.Conservative Ann Widdecombe has said she would be prepared to do it on an interim basis.