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| MPs questioning Bercow's impartiality, says Speaker candidate | MPs questioning Bercow's impartiality, says Speaker candidate |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| A candidate to replace John Bercow as House of Commons Speaker has promised to "do things rather differently" if she gets the job. | A candidate to replace John Bercow as House of Commons Speaker has promised to "do things rather differently" if she gets the job. |
| Eleanor Laing told the BBC "a large number" of fellow MPs felt "the impartiality of the chair has possibly been diminished" by Mr Bercow. | Eleanor Laing told the BBC "a large number" of fellow MPs felt "the impartiality of the chair has possibly been diminished" by Mr Bercow. |
| He has repeatedly said he is not biased, but is instead standing up for the rights of Parliament. | He has repeatedly said he is not biased, but is instead standing up for the rights of Parliament. |
| Eight MPs - four Labour and four Tory - are running to be Speaker. | Eight MPs - four Labour and four Tory - are running to be Speaker. |
| Mr Bercow is standing down after more than 10 years in the job. | Mr Bercow is standing down after more than 10 years in the job. |
| Some of his detractors accuse him of making the work of government more difficult and being biased against Brexit. | Some of his detractors accuse him of making the work of government more difficult and being biased against Brexit. |
| In the Commons on Thursday, Conservative MP Vicky Ford said to the Speaker: "Please can you continue to make sure you are fair and balanced, because sometimes it doesn't feel like this." | In the Commons on Thursday, Conservative MP Vicky Ford said to the Speaker: "Please can you continue to make sure you are fair and balanced, because sometimes it doesn't feel like this." |
| In response, Mr Bercow said: "I do what I can to stand up for the rights of this House... I am standing up for the important principle of the decency of our democracy, and I should have thought that that was pretty fair." | In response, Mr Bercow said: "I do what I can to stand up for the rights of this House... I am standing up for the important principle of the decency of our democracy, and I should have thought that that was pretty fair." |
| Ms Laing, who is Conservative MP for Epping Forest, Essex, and a current Deputy Speaker, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "The person who occupies the chair should use moderate language and not be aggressive. | Ms Laing, who is Conservative MP for Epping Forest, Essex, and a current Deputy Speaker, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "The person who occupies the chair should use moderate language and not be aggressive. |
| "It's not necessarily my opinion, but there are large numbers of MPs who feel that the impartiality of the chair has been possibly diminished." | "It's not necessarily my opinion, but there are large numbers of MPs who feel that the impartiality of the chair has been possibly diminished." |
| She urged MPs to behave "with courtesy and politely", and said she would enforce "respect" for Parliament if elected Speaker | She urged MPs to behave "with courtesy and politely", and said she would enforce "respect" for Parliament if elected Speaker |
| Under the current system, MPs must be supported by 12 other MPs, at least three of whom must be from a different party from the candidate. | Under the current system, MPs must be supported by 12 other MPs, at least three of whom must be from a different party from the candidate. |
| Mr Bercow has said he will stand down at the end of October, or sooner if a general election is called before then. | Mr Bercow has said he will stand down at the end of October, or sooner if a general election is called before then. |
| The election for the next Speaker will take place on 4 November, and the winner take up office by the end of the day. | The election for the next Speaker will take place on 4 November, and the winner take up office by the end of the day. |
| The current candidates from Labour are Chris Bryant, Harriet Harman, Meg Hillier and Lindsay Hoyle. | The current candidates from Labour are Chris Bryant, Harriet Harman, Meg Hillier and Lindsay Hoyle. |
| The Conservative candidates are Ms Laing, Sir Henry Bellingham, Sir Edward Leigh and Shailesh Vara. | The Conservative candidates are Ms Laing, Sir Henry Bellingham, Sir Edward Leigh and Shailesh Vara. |