MPs' votes for the next Speaker are being counted after the 10 hopefuls made their pitches to a packed Commons.
Tory MP John Bercow has received the most support in the first round of voting for the new Commons Speaker.
The candidates to follow Michael Martin each made a 5 to 10 minute speech before MPs began the first of what could be many rounds of voting.
But as no-one got 50% of ballots the process continues with a second round of votes due to end near to 1900 BST.
Ex-foreign secretary Margaret Beckett, who remains bookmakers' favourite, told MPs she was a "House of Commons woman".
Mr Bercow received 179 votes, Tory Sir George Young was second with 112 votes, Labour's Margaret Beckett was third with 74 votes.
Sir George Young said MPs must "earn respect", while Ann Widdecombe said she would best connect with the public.
At least four candidates received fewer than 5% and will be knocked out of the race to replace Michael Martin.
All candidates stressed the need for reform after public outrage over MPs' expenses revelations - the issue that led to Mr Martin stepping down as Speaker after nine years.
'Age of respect'
Earlier one Labour MP accused the whips of trying to install Mrs Beckett as Speaker but she told MPs: "I have always been my own woman and a House of Commons woman at that."
Outlining her experience she said she wanted to "facilitate desired change" and pledged to take MPs with her in efforts to make reforms.
Sir George said he wanted the House of Commons to be more "relevant" and more "accessible" adding: "We have left behind the age of deference, we need to arrive at the age of earned respect."
The speeches by the candidates for the Speaker really matter Nick RobinsonBBC political editor Read Nick's blog in full
Tory MP Ann Widdecombe pointed out her application for the post was "unique" as she would step down when she retires at the next general election - due by next June.
She said the Speaker had to be someone who could connect with the public and, in a reference to the TV shows she has done, she said that by "vulgar means" she believed she fitted that bill.
For his part Liberal Democrat Sir Alan Beith said the Speaker had to be "someone who maintains the momentum for reform and doesn't act as a barrier to it".
'Held in disregard'
Meanwhile Tory backbencher John Bercow said the Commons must move the debate on from "sleaze and second homes" to "the future of this House".
In his speech the Conservative MP Richard Shepherd said that on expenses MPs had "failed" and were collectively "held in disregard". He said MPs had to remember "we are not the government" but were sent to "hold in check those that govern us".
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 ridersQ&A: Speaker explainedSend your comments
Sir Michael Lord, one of the existing deputy Speakers, said the reputation of the Commons was in "grave danger" and pledged to stop ministers making announcements in the media or at schools and hospitals before they come to MPs.
Sir Patrick Cormack said he hoped his reputation as a long-serving MP would stand him in good stead. "I want to feel that we can again become a beacon for those who are hungry for democracy," he said.
He also pledged to cut down the "gladiatorial" clash at Prime Minister's Questions.
Sir Alan Haselhurst, another deputy Speaker, said he could help the Commons "up its game" and if elected he would "work for change". He added: "I know the job, I believe I can do it well."
'Skulduggery'
An hour into the speeches the last candidate to speak, Labour MP Parmjit Dhanda asked if the Commons really "gets it" - a reference to people's anger over expenses.
He told MPs people believed they were "remote and distance" and it was important not to retreat to "a safe pair of hands - an establishment candidate".
The first results are not expected until just after 1700 BST.
The winning candidate must get 50% of the vote so if, as expected, the first ballot does not produce a clear winner then the MP with the fewest votes, and any with less than 5% of the vote, are knocked out. Voting continues until someone gets 50%.
There is no government line and therefore there is no whipping Harriet Harman
As the contest got 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".
"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 the BBC.
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.
"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 modern times following widespread public anger at the number of MPs who were seen to take advantage of the Commons' expenses rules.
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.
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.
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.
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.
