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Speaker hopefuls begin hustings Speaker hopefuls set out stalls
(about 1 hour later)
The MPs who would like to be the next Speaker of the House of Commons are putting their cases at the first-ever election hustings for the post. The MPs who would like to be the next Speaker of the House of Commons have put their cases at the first-ever election hustings for the post.
The candidates are trying to win fellow MPs over by making speeches and taking questions on Monday afternoon. The eight male and two female MPs in the contest tried to win fellow members over by outlining their priorities.
Labour MP Frank Field has ruled himself out, leaving eight male and two female MPs in the contest. Tory MP John Bercow, the bookmakers' favourite, said the next Speaker must be "an ambassador" for Parliament.
MPs will vote in a secret ballot on who will succeed Michael Martin, who quit over the expenses scandal.MPs will vote in a secret ballot on who will succeed Michael Martin, who quit over the expenses scandal.
The hustings, organised by the political research charity, the Hansard Society, are taking place in front of television cameras. The hustings, organised by the political research charity the Hansard Society, took place in front of television cameras.
It will be the first time the election of the Speaker is subject to such a degree of public scrutiny and the first time the vote will be held in secret. It is the first time the election of the Speaker has been subject to such a degree of public scrutiny and the first time the vote will be held in secret.
As well as the hustings, would-be Speakers are publishing manifestos and campaigning in the open.As well as the hustings, would-be Speakers are publishing manifestos and campaigning in the open.
SPEAKER CANDIDATES Margaret Beckett (Lab)Sir Alan Beith (Lib Dem)John Bercow (Con)Sir Patrick Cormack (Con)Parmjit Dhanda (Lab)Sir Alan Haselhurst (Con)Sir Michael Lord (Con)Richard Shepherd (Con)Ann Widdecombe (Con)Sir George Young (Con) Speaker: Runners and ridersSPEAKER CANDIDATES Margaret Beckett (Lab)Sir Alan Beith (Lib Dem)John Bercow (Con)Sir Patrick Cormack (Con)Parmjit Dhanda (Lab)Sir Alan Haselhurst (Con)Sir Michael Lord (Con)Richard Shepherd (Con)Ann Widdecombe (Con)Sir George Young (Con) Speaker: Runners and riders
Some of the questions in the hustings will come from members of the public as the candidates seek to persuade them that they can be trusted to reform the way the House operates. The candidates then answered questions from other MPs on their proposals for reform of Parliament including whether MPs needed such a long summer break.
Tory backbencher John Bercow is the bookmakers' favourite. Many Labour MPs are said to recognise it is time for a Conservative to take on the role after two Labour Speakers in succession and see the liberal Mr Bercow as the best option. Mr Bercow said he was the "clean-break" candidate as he had never stood for the office before or been in the government.
Tory veteran Ann Widdecombe is probably the candidate who is best known to the public after appearing in TV programmes such as Celebrity Fit Club and Have I Got News For You. "We have to restore trust in politics," he said, adding he would be an "agent of necessary and overdue change" for Parliament in the wake of the expenses scandal.
However, the former minister has said she wants to step down at the next election and the option of an interim Speaker may not appeal to those seeking stability. Many Labour MPs are said to recognise it is time for a Tory to take on the role after two Labour Speakers in succession and see the liberal Mr Bercow as the best option.
Former Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett has also joined the race. Tory veteran Ann Widdecombe said the next Speaker had to be "known" to voters and said she had the "vulgar attributes" to help Parliament re-connect with the public.
She is probably the candidate who is best known to the public after appearing in TV programmes such as Celebrity Fit Club and Have I Got News For You.
The former minister has said she wants to step down at the next election and would be "sharply focused" on the role until then.
Former Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett said she would be a "healing Speaker" and defended her impartiality after recently standing down as a minister.
Deputy speakersDeputy speakers
Mrs Beckett, one of Labour's most experienced MPs, said she was standing as she wanted to help parliament deal with its "considerable problems". Other people who took part in the hustings were the Conservative chairman of the Commons standards and privileges committee Sir George Young and Liberal Democrat Sir Alan Beith.
Other people expected to take part in the hustings are the Conservative chairman of the Commons standards and privileges committee Sir George Young and Liberal Democrat Sir Alan Beith. Conservative MPs and existing deputy speakers Sir Alan Haselhurst and Sir Michael Lord both argued that their experience would stand them in good stead for the role.
Tory deputy speakers Sir Alan Haselhurst and Sir Michael Lord are both expected to argue that their experience would stand them in good stead for the role. Other Tory candidates are veteran MP Sir Patrick Cormack and backbencher Richard Shepherd while Labour's Parmjit Dhanda is the youngest candidate in the race, at 37.
Other Tory candidates are veteran MP Sir Patrick Cormack and backbencher Richard Shepherd.
Labour's Parmjit Dhanda is the youngest candidate in the race, at 37.
Mr Field withdrew from the contest on Monday. He has said he expects a Conservative to win and that he believes many Labour MPs will back Mr Bercow.Mr Field withdrew from the contest on Monday. He has said he expects a Conservative to win and that he believes many Labour MPs will back Mr Bercow.
Mr 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.Mr 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.
Mr Martin will leave the post on 21 June and his successor will be chosen on the following day.Mr Martin will leave the post on 21 June and his successor will be chosen on the following day.