Bercow resigning as Speaker

[Stussy]

Pesty said:

The last ceremony?

The last 6 years.

Did you see the very end when he read out the message from HOL?

[valiant]

techiedave said:

I suggest another woman speaker one who is regarded in equal disdain by all members of the commons
Theresa May could still be set for her finest hour

According to that most reliable of sources, Twitter, Harriet Harman is considering throwing her hat in the ring.

This would, in my opinion, be brilliant if only to see NP&E explode. You’ll be wishing for Bercow to return

[TwigtheWonderkid]

JagLover said:

If the Speaker is doing their job properly it shouldn't matter if they are Tory or Labour or backed Leave or Remain.

The Speaker is supposed to be impartial and to represent the whole House.

They are supposed to be impartial on policy, but absolutely not impartial in the on-going battle between the executive and the house. The speaker should always fight for normal MPs right to hold those in power to account.

[psi310398]

valiant said:

According to that most reliable of sources, Twitter, Harriet Harman is considering throwing her hat in the ring.

This would, in my opinion, be brilliant if only to see NP&E explode. You’ll be wishing for Bercow to return

I shudder to write it, but it depends whether she get techiedave's juices flowing as much as TM does, I think.

[Biker 1]

psi310398 said:

I shudder to write it, but it depends whether she get techiedave's juices flowing as much as TM does, I think.

Diane Abbott for the job???

[TwigtheWonderkid]

I think Harriet Harman would probably make a good speaker. She's been in the house for decades, and knows the procedures backwards. She certainly has the respect of her peers as a parliamentarian, which is a key point.

Betty Boothroyd was a bit of a left wing firebrand as an MP, and most thought she made a good speaker.

[psi310398]

TwigtheWonderkid said:

I think Harriet Harman would probably make a good speaker. She's been in the house for decades, and knows the procedures backwards. She certainly has the respect of her peers as a parliamentarian, which is a key point.

Betty Boothroyd was a bit of a left wing firebrand as an MP, and most thought she made a good speaker.

Does she? There is a rather widespread impression in Whitehall, if not Westminster, that she is a bit of a David Davis and that calling her thick as mince is a bit disobliging to the mince.

[Sticks.]

psi310398 said:

Does she? There is a rather widespread impression in Whitehall, if not Westminster, that she is a bit of a David Davis and that calling her thick as mince is a bit disobliging to the mince.

And is she robust enough, given the current state of the Commons?

[TwigtheWonderkid]

Sticks. said:

psi310398 said:

Does she? There is a rather widespread impression in Whitehall, if not Westminster, that she is a bit of a David Davis and that calling her thick as mince is a bit disobliging to the mince.

And is she robust enough, given the current state of the Commons?

I don't think that's in doubt. She's no shrinking violet.

[psi310398]

Blackpuddin said:

I'm all in for Edward Leigh, or Sir Bufton Tufton as he should surely be better known.

To be fair to him, although as he ages he is looking more and more like Rowley Birkin QC, and he does come over as a pompous fart far too often, he is a barrister and an arbitrator, has been a minister, he made a very good fist of being Public Accounts Committee chairman for the maximum permissible term, and he does know his way round the Commons. He is, however, a practising Catholic which could be an issue for some (see JRM)

[banjowilly]

Remarkable what Brexit has done to some of them.

Before & after the referendum:

[snake_oil]

valiant said:

According to that most reliable of sources, Twitter, Harriet Harman is considering throwing her hat in the ring.

This would, in my opinion, be brilliant if only to see NP&E explode. You’ll be wishing for Bercow to return

She's in. Because lady.

https://youtu.be/ME5GvKczs1g

She says she has the hind of a rhino. Perhaps techiedave could comment?

[Nickgnome]

snake_oil said:

valiant said:

According to that most reliable of sources, Twitter, Harriet Harman is considering throwing her hat in the ring.

This would, in my opinion, be brilliant if only to see NP&E explode. You’ll be wishing for Bercow to return

She's in. Because lady.

https://youtu.be/ME5GvKczs1g

She says she has the hind of a rhino. Perhaps techiedave could comment?

I believe they are required to chose the new speaker before the G.E.

She certainly has the experience to deal with the more patronising and misogynistic male MPs.

[Vanden Saab]

Nickgnome said:

snake_oil said:

valiant said:

According to that most reliable of sources, Twitter, Harriet Harman is considering throwing her hat in the ring.

This would, in my opinion, be brilliant if only to see NP&E explode. You’ll be wishing for Bercow to return

She's in. Because lady.

https://youtu.be/ME5GvKczs1g

She says she has the hind of a rhino. Perhaps techiedave could comment?

I believe they are required to chose the new speaker before the G.E.

She certainly has the experience to deal with the more patronising and misogynistic male MPs.

Only if Berkcow resigns before the GE will a new speaker be chosen. The precedent is that an existing speaker is allowed to continue in his or her post until they decide to retire regardless of how many elections there are but it seems the speakers role now is not to follow precedent so that may change in the future.

[Nickgnome]

Vanden Saab said:

Only if Berkcow resigns before the GE will a new speaker be chosen. The precedent is that an existing speaker is allowed to continue in his or her post until they decide to retire regardless of how many elections there are but it seems the speakers role now is not to follow precedent so that may change in the future.

He said he would resign on 31 October.

I understand the next G.E. will not now take place until November 14th at the earliest.

[Vanden Saab]

Nickgnome said:

Vanden Saab said:

Only if Berkcow resigns before the GE will a new speaker be chosen. The precedent is that an existing speaker is allowed to continue in his or her post until they decide to retire regardless of how many elections there are but it seems the speakers role now is not to follow precedent so that may change in the future.

He said he would resign on 31 October.

I understand the next G.E. will not now take place until November 14th at the earliest.

Regardless who is chosen the record for the shortest period a speaker has been in office is unlikely to be broken...

[NoNeed]

I never liked the bloke, always thought the job was about him, just him and nothing but him, his Brexit shenanigans and the bully stuff just confirmed my initial thoughts.

[psi310398]

Vanden Saab said:

Regardless who is chosen the record for the shortest period a speaker has been in office is unlikely to be broken...

Do you think so? I can't imagine a fresh Tory/TBP majority Commons wearing another anti-Brexit Speaker. And I think they'd want to make a point.

That's the trouble now - I think trust has broken down almost completely.

[anonymous-user]

psi310398 said:

Do you think so? I can't imagine a fresh Tory/TBP majority Commons wearing another anti-Brexit Speaker. And I think they'd want to make a point.

That's the trouble now - I think trust has broken down almost completely.

Won't they vote on his replacement prior to any new parliament?

[psi310398]

desolate said:

Won't they vote on his replacement prior to any new parliament?

Yes, but it is not statute but only convention to let the Speaker carry on without contest - no Parliament can bind its successors, remember. And as the current Speaker has shown, convention can be ignored/overthrown.

There is formally nothing to stop the new lot coming in and demanding a ballot and, if they hold the majority, selecting a new Speaker.