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Ten MPs competing to be Speaker Ten MPs competing to be Speaker
(10 minutes later)
The 10 people hoping to be the next Commons Speaker are addressing MPs ahead of a secret ballot.The 10 people hoping to be the next Commons Speaker are addressing MPs ahead of a secret ballot.
Each candidate to replace Michael Martin secured enough nominations to get their name on the ballot. The candidates to follow Michael Martin are each making a 5 to 10 minute speech before MPs begin their rounds of voting - which could last into the evening.
Ex-foreign secretary Margaret Beckett remains bookmakers' favourite, but at least one Labour MP has accused the government of trying to install her. Ex-foreign secretary Margaret Beckett, who remains bookmakers' favourite, told MPs she was a "House of Commons woman".
She was the first to make her pitch for the job, and is being followed by the Conservative MP Sir George Young. Sir George Young said MPs must "earn respect", while Ann Widdecombe said she would best connect with the public.
Mrs Beckett said she had "always been my own woman and a House of Commons woman at that" as she addressed MPs in a short speech.Mrs Beckett said she had "always been my own woman and a House of Commons woman at that" as she addressed MPs in a short speech.
Outlining her experience she said she wanted to "facilitate desired change".Outlining her experience she said she wanted to "facilitate desired change".
She said she did not disagree with any of the reforms floated by other candidates but said it was important to get the details right and pledged to take MPs with her in efforts to make reforms.She said she did not disagree with any of the reforms floated by other candidates but said it was important to get the details right and pledged to take MPs with her in efforts to make reforms.
'Skulduggery''Skulduggery'
Sir George opened with some jokes but said he wanted the House of Commons to be more "relevant" and more "accessible" and said the Speaker should "look outwards as well as inwards".Sir George opened with some jokes but said he wanted the House of Commons to be more "relevant" and more "accessible" and said the Speaker should "look outwards as well as inwards".
The voting system being used means there could be a series of votes. The winner is not expected to be announced until 1700 BST at the earliest and a result late into the evening is seen as much more likely. Sir George added: "We have left behind the age of deference , we need to arrive at the age of earned respect."
As the contest proper gets going after weeks of unofficial jockeying for position, Labour MP Stephen Pound said government whips were "touting Margaret Beckett" and said that they should "stop doing it". Ann Widdecombe got several "hear, hears" as she opened by saying she was "unique in this contest" - putting herself forward as an interim Speaker until she stands down at the next election.
"What we need between now and then is the restoration of the reputation of this House with the public," she said.
She said in "extraordinary circumstances" the Commons needed someone who could connect with the public. In a reference to the TV shows she has done she said that by "vulgar means" she believed she fitted that bill.
Westminster has waited and watched in the hope that someone would emerge as a strong consensus candidate to fill Michael Martin's seat. No-one has Nick RobinsonBBC political editor Read Nick's blog in fullWestminster has waited and watched in the hope that someone would emerge as a strong consensus candidate to fill Michael Martin's seat. No-one has Nick RobinsonBBC political editor Read Nick's blog in full
Mr Pound, Ealing North MP, said he thought Mrs Beckett would win the secret ballot of MPs on Monday, because of the whips' involvement. The voting system being used means there could be a series of votes. The winner is not expected to be announced until 1700 BST at the earliest and a result late into the evening is seen as much more likely.
As the contest gets going after weeks of unofficial jockeying for position, Labour MP Stephen Pound said government whips were "touting Margaret Beckett" and said that they should "stop doing it".
Mr Pound said he thought Mrs Beckett would win the secret ballot of MPs on Monday, because of the whips' involvement.
"There is a lot of skulduggery going on... it is a depressing example of MPs looking inwards to their own advantage when we really should be looking outwards," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme."There is a lot of skulduggery going on... it is a depressing example of MPs looking inwards to their own advantage when we really should be looking outwards," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
But Harriet Harman, the leader of the Commons, denied the government were attempting to sway the contest.But Harriet Harman, the leader of the Commons, denied the government were attempting to sway the contest.
"There is no skulduggery, nor should there be," she told the BBC."There is no skulduggery, nor should there be," she told the BBC.
'Vested interests'
"Not only is it the most free of free votes, it is a secret ballot. There is no government line and therefore there is no whipping.""Not only is it the most free of free votes, it is a secret ballot. There is no government line and therefore there is no whipping."
Mr Martin became the first Speaker to be forced from office in 300 years following widespread public revulsion at the number of MPs who were seen to take advantage of the Commons' expenses rules.Mr Martin became the first Speaker to be forced from office in 300 years following widespread public revulsion at the number of MPs who were seen to take advantage of the Commons' expenses rules.
'Vested interests'
His replacement will inherit the role of adjudicating MPs' debates, representing Parliament to outside bodies, as well as overseeing the administration of the House of Commons.His replacement will inherit the role of adjudicating MPs' debates, representing Parliament to outside bodies, as well as overseeing the administration of the House of Commons.
Ladbrokes put Mrs Beckett, a former foreign secretary, as favourite for the post on odds of 2/1, ahead of fellow front-runners Sir George Young on 3/1 and John Bercow on 3/1.Ladbrokes put Mrs Beckett, a former foreign secretary, as favourite for the post on odds of 2/1, ahead of fellow front-runners Sir George Young on 3/1 and John Bercow on 3/1.
William Hill has Sir George in front on 7/4, Mrs Beckett on 2/1 and Mr Bercow on 4/1, with the rest of the field trailing.William Hill has Sir George in front on 7/4, Mrs Beckett on 2/1 and Mr Bercow on 4/1, with the rest of the field trailing.
ORDER OF SPEECHES 1. Margaret Beckett (Lab)2. Sir George Young (Con)3. Ann Widdecombe (Con)4. Sir Alan Beith (Lib Dem)5. John Bercow (Con)6. Richard Shepherd (Con)7. Sir Michael Lord (Con)8. Sir Patrick Cormack (Con)9. Sir Alan Haselhurst (Con)10. Parmjit Dhanda (Lab) Speaker: Runners and riders Q&A: Speaker explained Send your commentsORDER OF SPEECHES 1. Margaret Beckett (Lab)2. Sir George Young (Con)3. Ann Widdecombe (Con)4. Sir Alan Beith (Lib Dem)5. John Bercow (Con)6. Richard Shepherd (Con)7. Sir Michael Lord (Con)8. Sir Patrick Cormack (Con)9. Sir Alan Haselhurst (Con)10. Parmjit Dhanda (Lab) Speaker: Runners and riders Q&A: Speaker explained Send your comments
But BBC political editor Nick Robinson said the secrecy of the process, and the fact there are likely to be several rounds of voting, will allow MPs to sniff the mood - meaning they could change their minds at the last minute.But BBC political editor Nick Robinson said the secrecy of the process, and the fact there are likely to be several rounds of voting, will allow MPs to sniff the mood - meaning they could change their minds at the last minute.
Mrs Beckett has said she would be a "healing Speaker", but has faced criticism for claiming almost £11,000 in gardening expenses and was booed during an appearance on the BBC's Question Time. Mrs Beckett has faced criticism for claiming almost £11,000 in gardening expenses and was booed during an appearance on the BBC's Question Time.
Mr Bercow told pre-ballot hustings that he was the "clean-break" candidate, while Tory veteran Ann Widdecombe said she had the "vulgar attributes" to help Parliament re-connect with the public. Mr Bercow told pre-ballot hustings that he was the "clean-break" candidate while senior Lib Dem Sir Alan Beith has attacked the "schoolyard" atmosphere at Prime Minister's Questions.
Sir George has attacked the Commons for being too slow to respond to the expenses scandal and senior Lib Dem Sir Alan Beith has attacked the "schoolyard" atmosphere at Prime Minister's Questions.
Richard Shepherd has said the new Speaker should help "reignite the central purpose" of Parliament while fellow Tory Sir Patrick Cormack has insisted that he or she must show "fearless impartiality".Richard Shepherd has said the new Speaker should help "reignite the central purpose" of Parliament while fellow Tory Sir Patrick Cormack has insisted that he or she must show "fearless impartiality".
'People's Speaker''People's Speaker'
Conservative MPs and existing deputy speakers Sir Alan Haselhurst and Sir Michael Lord both argued their experience would stand them in good stead.Conservative MPs and existing deputy speakers Sir Alan Haselhurst and Sir Michael Lord both argued their experience would stand them in good stead.
But Labour's Parmjit Dhanda, at 37 the youngest candidate in the race, has countered that the next Speaker should be a "radical" champion of reform not just a "safe pair of hands".But Labour's Parmjit Dhanda, at 37 the youngest candidate in the race, has countered that the next Speaker should be a "radical" champion of reform not just a "safe pair of hands".
Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg called for a "people's Speaker" who would open up Parliament for the 21st century, but warned that whoever landed the job faced a tough task.Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg called for a "people's Speaker" who would open up Parliament for the 21st century, but warned that whoever landed the job faced a tough task.
He said: "Even if we get the best speaker in the world, he or she is really going to have their work cut out.He said: "Even if we get the best speaker in the world, he or she is really going to have their work cut out.
"The vested interests at Westminster are already manoeuvring to water down reform.""The vested interests at Westminster are already manoeuvring to water down reform."
As the candidates prepared for the ballot, Mr Martin formally stepped down as an MP, paving the way for a by-election in his constituency of Glasgow North East.As the candidates prepared for the ballot, Mr Martin formally stepped down as an MP, paving the way for a by-election in his constituency of Glasgow North East.
The Treasury announced that he had been appointed Steward and Bailiff of the Manor of Northstead - a procedural device which allows MPs to resign between elections.The Treasury announced that he had been appointed Steward and Bailiff of the Manor of Northstead - a procedural device which allows MPs to resign between elections.