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| John Bercow Commons Clerk row: What is going on? | John Bercow Commons Clerk row: What is going on? |
| (1 day later) | |
| The top official at the House of Commons is paid more than the prime minister - but until now they have been selected without an open recruitment process. Why is the first outside candidate - and the first women proposed to take on the role - causing such a massive row? | The top official at the House of Commons is paid more than the prime minister - but until now they have been selected without an open recruitment process. Why is the first outside candidate - and the first women proposed to take on the role - causing such a massive row? |
| Carol Mills, a senior official from the Australian Senate is being lined up for the £200,000-a-year role as Commons Clerk. | Carol Mills, a senior official from the Australian Senate is being lined up for the £200,000-a-year role as Commons Clerk. |
| But some MPs are worried that she might not be up to the job. | But some MPs are worried that she might not be up to the job. |
| Why has this blown up now? | Why has this blown up now? |
| It is all about the retirement of the current Commons Clerk, Sir Robert Rogers, who steps down at the end of August. A respected and popular figure - with a much-admired beard - the House of Commons is in his DNA. | It is all about the retirement of the current Commons Clerk, Sir Robert Rogers, who steps down at the end of August. A respected and popular figure - with a much-admired beard - the House of Commons is in his DNA. |
| He started working at the Palace of Westminster in 1972, becoming clerk in 2011. Educated at Oxford, where he studied Old Norse, mediaeval Welsh and Anglo-Saxon, he is joint author of the standard textbook, How Parliament Works. It is thought that he stepped down because of "clashes" with the Speaker John Bercow. | He started working at the Palace of Westminster in 1972, becoming clerk in 2011. Educated at Oxford, where he studied Old Norse, mediaeval Welsh and Anglo-Saxon, he is joint author of the standard textbook, How Parliament Works. It is thought that he stepped down because of "clashes" with the Speaker John Bercow. |
| What does the House of Commons Clerk do exactly? | What does the House of Commons Clerk do exactly? |
| The job, which dates back to 1363, is to advise MPs on constitutional matters and Parliamentary procedure. The Clerk is, in effect, the "village elder" with a bank of knowledge and personal memories about how to tackle problems. | The job, which dates back to 1363, is to advise MPs on constitutional matters and Parliamentary procedure. The Clerk is, in effect, the "village elder" with a bank of knowledge and personal memories about how to tackle problems. |
| A big chunk of the Clerk's day is spent sitting in the Commons chamber giving advice to the Speaker. | A big chunk of the Clerk's day is spent sitting in the Commons chamber giving advice to the Speaker. |
| The clerk is also Commons chief executive. It is a big operation, overseeing around 2,000 staff and the services provided to MPs. There's a big pay packet to match - £200,000 a year, more than the prime minister gets paid. | The clerk is also Commons chief executive. It is a big operation, overseeing around 2,000 staff and the services provided to MPs. There's a big pay packet to match - £200,000 a year, more than the prime minister gets paid. |
| How was the new Clerk, Carol Mills, chosen? | How was the new Clerk, Carol Mills, chosen? |
| This is the first time the post has been thrown open to candidates from outside Parliament. | This is the first time the post has been thrown open to candidates from outside Parliament. |
| A cross-party panel of senior MPs, chaired by Speaker John Bercow interviewed eight candidates, who responded to an advertisement. The only non-politician on the panel was the Parliamentary Ombudsman Dame Julie Mellor. | |
| Carol Mills has not officially got the job yet. Under Parliament's arcane traditions, the Clerk is a Royal appointment. So the panel makes a "recommendation" to the prime minister, who in turn passes the chosen name on to the Queen. | Carol Mills has not officially got the job yet. Under Parliament's arcane traditions, the Clerk is a Royal appointment. So the panel makes a "recommendation" to the prime minister, who in turn passes the chosen name on to the Queen. |
| Who is Carol Mills? | Who is Carol Mills? |
| She works for the Australian Senate in the Department of Parliamentary Services, which oversees the buildings, catering and staff. | She works for the Australian Senate in the Department of Parliamentary Services, which oversees the buildings, catering and staff. |
| When she started that job in 2012 she vowed to get to the bottom of bullying claims in the department, saying: "There has to be an overarching culture of respect". | When she started that job in 2012 she vowed to get to the bottom of bullying claims in the department, saying: "There has to be an overarching culture of respect". |
| In an interview with the Canberra Times she said: "To be a good boss you have to be a good communicator, good listener and not afraid to make decisions where necessary." | In an interview with the Canberra Times she said: "To be a good boss you have to be a good communicator, good listener and not afraid to make decisions where necessary." |
| Who has a problem with Carol Mills and why? | Who has a problem with Carol Mills and why? |
| There has been a steady trickle of politicians criticising the panel's choice, such as former Commons leaders Jack Straw, Margaret Beckett and the Conservative chairman of the Public Administration Committee, Bernard Jenkin. | There has been a steady trickle of politicians criticising the panel's choice, such as former Commons leaders Jack Straw, Margaret Beckett and the Conservative chairman of the Public Administration Committee, Bernard Jenkin. |
| They say that while she may be a good administrator she does not have the necessary experience to advise MPs on Parliamentary matters. | They say that while she may be a good administrator she does not have the necessary experience to advise MPs on Parliamentary matters. |
| Former Commons Speaker Baroness Boothroyd predicted she would be "totally out of her depth". | Former Commons Speaker Baroness Boothroyd predicted she would be "totally out of her depth". |
| They also point to a controversy she is facing in Australia over the use of security cameras to monitor a senator. | They also point to a controversy she is facing in Australia over the use of security cameras to monitor a senator. |
| But the row could also be a way of getting at John Bercow. His enemies say that after the powerful figure of Sir Robert Rogers, he would like someone a bit more compliant. In defence of the Speaker, he has worked hard to modernise the Commons and wants to bring in people with experience of running large institutions. | But the row could also be a way of getting at John Bercow. His enemies say that after the powerful figure of Sir Robert Rogers, he would like someone a bit more compliant. In defence of the Speaker, he has worked hard to modernise the Commons and wants to bring in people with experience of running large institutions. |
| With a multi-million pound refurbishment of the crumbling Palace of Westminster on the horizon, intimate knowledge of procedure may not be the most important qualification for the role. | With a multi-million pound refurbishment of the crumbling Palace of Westminster on the horizon, intimate knowledge of procedure may not be the most important qualification for the role. |
| What can the objectors actually do about it? | What can the objectors actually do about it? |
| There do not seem to be any formal levers to overturn the recruitment process. What critics can do though is apply a lot of political pressure. | There do not seem to be any formal levers to overturn the recruitment process. What critics can do though is apply a lot of political pressure. |
| Bernard Jenkin has said he wants Carol Mills to face a confirmation hearing in front of his committee before the appointment goes ahead. | Bernard Jenkin has said he wants Carol Mills to face a confirmation hearing in front of his committee before the appointment goes ahead. |
| She is under no legal obligation to agree, although refusing would not get her relationship with MPs off to a good start. | She is under no legal obligation to agree, although refusing would not get her relationship with MPs off to a good start. |
| John Bercow has now mooted the idea of creating two jobs - Commons clerk and chief executive. | John Bercow has now mooted the idea of creating two jobs - Commons clerk and chief executive. |
| But that will not happen overnight and the current clerk, Sir Robert Rogers has warned it is the "wrong answer". | But that will not happen overnight and the current clerk, Sir Robert Rogers has warned it is the "wrong answer". |
| There is another way the situation may be resolved though. Carol Mills might decide that it just is not worth the hassle. | There is another way the situation may be resolved though. Carol Mills might decide that it just is not worth the hassle. |
| What happens next? | What happens next? |
| The Commons returns next Monday. The prime minister has said the next clerk will need support from MPs across the House to do the job successfully. | The Commons returns next Monday. The prime minister has said the next clerk will need support from MPs across the House to do the job successfully. |
| So it looks as if he is waiting to see if there is a real head of steam or if it is just a vocal few banging on about Carol Mills. | So it looks as if he is waiting to see if there is a real head of steam or if it is just a vocal few banging on about Carol Mills. |
| The BBC understands the cross-party House of Commons Commission - which includes the Leader of the House, William Hague, amongst its members - will discuss whether to create two top jobs when it meets on 8 September. | The BBC understands the cross-party House of Commons Commission - which includes the Leader of the House, William Hague, amongst its members - will discuss whether to create two top jobs when it meets on 8 September. |
| A Conservative MP, Jesse Norman, is going to table a motion, calling for a pre-appointment hearing. The Public Administration Select Committee will decide whether to ask her to appear before them. | A Conservative MP, Jesse Norman, is going to table a motion, calling for a pre-appointment hearing. The Public Administration Select Committee will decide whether to ask her to appear before them. |
| So for the time being, David Cameron will not be asking the Queen to give her stamp of approval. | So for the time being, David Cameron will not be asking the Queen to give her stamp of approval. |
| Still not sure whether to care? | Still not sure whether to care? |
| If you value your elected representatives and want them to use their powers to best effect then you might care if they are not getting good advice. | If you value your elected representatives and want them to use their powers to best effect then you might care if they are not getting good advice. |
| After all, a crucial role of our MPs is to stand up to a powerful government. If, though, you're worried about the cost of politics, plans to create two senior jobs - with substantial salaries attached - might just get you going. | After all, a crucial role of our MPs is to stand up to a powerful government. If, though, you're worried about the cost of politics, plans to create two senior jobs - with substantial salaries attached - might just get you going. |
| Another way of looking at the row, is to see it as a battle between traditionalists who like the Commons just the way it is and those, principally John Bercow, who are determined to bring in changes. | Another way of looking at the row, is to see it as a battle between traditionalists who like the Commons just the way it is and those, principally John Bercow, who are determined to bring in changes. |