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MPs to choose new Commons Speaker MPs to choose new Commons Speaker
(30 minutes later)
MPs are due to vote for a new Commons Speaker amid claims that Labour whips are trying to influence the contest.MPs are due to vote for a new Commons Speaker amid claims that Labour whips are trying to influence the contest.
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 remains bookmakers' favourite, but at least one Labour MP has accused the government of trying to install her.
Stephen Pound said government whips were "touting Margaret Beckett" and said that they should "stop doing it".Stephen Pound said government whips were "touting Margaret Beckett" and said that they should "stop doing it".
Ten candidates are in the running to replace Michael Martin, who was forced out following the expenses scandal.Ten candidates are in the running to replace Michael Martin, who was forced out following the expenses scandal.
Mr Pound, Labour MP for Ealing North, said he thought Mrs Beckett would win the MPs secret ballot on Monday, because of the whips' involvement. Mr Pound, Labour MP for Ealing North, said he thought Mrs Beckett would win the secret ballot of MPs on Monday, because of the whips' involvement.
FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programmeFROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from 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."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 skullduggery, nor should there be," she told the BBC."There is no skullduggery, 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.""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''Vested interests'
His replacement will inherit the role of adjudicating MPs' debates, representing Parliament to outside bodies, as well 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 tipped Ms 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 had 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.
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 riders Q&A: Speaker explained Send your commentsSPEAKER 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 Q&A: Speaker explained Send your comments
But BBC political editor Nick Robinson said the secrecy of the process, and the fact there will be several ballots, 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.
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.
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".
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".
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."
Ms Beckett has attracted some cross-party support from MPs like the Conservative Richard Bacon.
He said he would be "perfectly content" with somebody like Ms Beckett as Speaker, as long as she got the assent across the House of Commons from different parties.