10 MPs make their bid to be the new Commons Speaker
- 00:04:56
- ITN
10 MPs make their bid to be the new Commons Speaker
Tory MP John Bercow has won the most votes in the first round of voting for a new House of Commons Speaker. The role was left vacant by Michael Martin, the first Speaker to be ousted from office in 300 years amid the expenses scandal, and who has now formally stood down as an MP. Ten candidates - Mr Bercow, Labour ex-Cabinet minister Margaret Beckett, Tory former Cabinet minister Sir George Young, Ann Widdecombe, Sir Alan Beith, Richard Shepherd, Sir Michael Lord, Sir Patrick Cormack, Sir Alan Haselhurst and Parmjit Dhanda - had been vying to take on the prestigious job. A candidate who comes last in each round or who gets less than 5 per cent of the vote is automatically eliminated, meaning Sir Michael, Sir Patrick, Mr Shepherd and Mr Dhanda are now out of the competition. Mr Bercow came top of the ballot, with 179 votes, ahead of second placed Sir George Young with 112 - but did not gain the 50 per cent needed to win. Wth so many runners and riders, there are expected to be several ballots before a winner finally emerges. Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who is not voting in the ballot, opened proceedings by informing MPs that the Queen had formally given leave for the election. Father of the House Alan Williams then invited candidates to address the House. Each gave a speech lasting around five or ten minutes as they gave their reasons for why they should be chosen to replace Mr Martin. MPs then had 30 minutes to vote in the first secret ballot for the post before the result was announced. In her speech, Mrs Beckett told the Commons: "I have never been afraid to speak truth to power, wherever power may be found." The veteran MP said she had a long record of supporting parliamentary reform since she entered the Commons in 1974, adding: "I have had experience of making reforms in this House, setting up Westminster Hall, allowing for a TV point in Central Lobby or tape recorders in the Press Gallery - all of them controversial in their day." She continued: "The Speaker can not and should not attempt to drive the House but nor should he or she be an obstacle. I pledge myself, if elected, to facilitate desire for change." Commons Leader Harriet Harman has already denied a behind-the-scenes operation was being mounted by Labour whips trying to swing the contest in favour of Mrs Beckett. Meanwhile, Tories were said to be manoeuvring behind Sir George, the Tory chairman of the Standards and Privileges Committee known as the bicycling Baronet for riding his bike to the Houses of Parliament long before it became trendy. The ballot takes place against the backdrop of criminal inquiries by the Metropolitan Police into a number of MPs' expenses claims. Mrs Beckett could also prove controversial with the public if elected as Mr Martin's replacement. She would be the third Labour Speaker in succession and, having served as a minister for most of the past 12 years, is close to the Government. Recently, the Derby South MP was heavily barracked by a Question Time audience over her stance towards the expenses row and faces continued questions over her own claims. The Sunday Telegraph claimed she spent £10,969 of taxpayers' money on gardening bills, despite earlier dismissing a similar smaller claim as a "mistake".
ITN | June 22, 2009
