Margaret Beckett to become Speaker.

[CivicMan]

Looks as if this is cut & dried - Tories have very lightweight names up for election. I've never warmed to the woman merely because of her supercilious demeanour, but maybe she'll improve.....

http://www.thefirstpost.co.uk/48703,news,politics-...

[FourWheelDrift]

The evil witch as speaker?

It is the End of Days.

[anonymous-user]

oh dear.

[eharding]

Any idea how secure her seat is, and the required swing at a General Election to see her out?

[andy400]

Am I thinking of something else, but isn't the post supposed to alternate between the main parties? This will be the third Labour speaker in a row. Another example of 'f**k the rules and tradition as it doesn't suit us' by GB and the Labour party....

[WhoseGeneration]

She'll bo no Betty or George.

[eharding]

Hmmm...a quick Google reveals "She has a 5,657 majority in Derby South which is under threat from the Tories but convention dictates that the Speaker stands unopposed."

Well, convention be damned - Labour have dispensed with all other conventions when it comes to appointment of the Speaker, so one more won't hurt.

To Hell with the lot of them, and this one is more deserving than most.

[Taffer]

AFAIK the role of Speaker is traditionally given to a member of the Opposition, but it's not a rule so Labour seem to be taking the piss in having (possibly) two of their MPs as speaker.

She'll be a perfect replacement to Michael Martin for cleaning up the House and making it more transparent - remember, according to her on QT, 'The general public just don't understand MP's expenses'

[anonymous-user]

Widdecombe has thrown her hat in. They should go for Frank Field, he's the only one respected by all sides of the house.

[WhoseGeneration]

unrepentant said:

They should go for Frank Field, he's the only one respected by all sides of the house.

Good call, although better he had been allowed to enact his "unthinkable" suggestions.
Anyways, do we now care who "controls" the rabble?

[Jasandjules]

unrepentant said:

Widdecombe has thrown her hat in.

At least we have one who WILL stand up for the principle of the role.

[hornetrider]

Jesus, did anyone see her on QT the other week, I wanted to bash her mealy-mouthed whining, lying, deceitful little face in.

[Zod]

Bucket as speaker? The Tories should dump her as soon as the next Parliament begins.

[F i F]

A speaker who has been booed on Question Time over her expenses, that'll clean the House up... not.

It should be an Independant imho.

But hey, just another nail that will add to the coffin lid being banged down on Labour.

Will there ever be another Labour Govt in my working life?

[anonymous-user]

Runners and riders;


Ann Widdecombe (Con) 6/1

Margaret Beckett (Lab) 7/2

Sir Patrick Cormack (Con) 25/1

John Bercow (Con) 5/2 Favourite

Frank Field (Lab) 8/1

Parmjit Dhanda (Lab) 20/1

Sir Michael Lord (Con) 20/1

Sir George Young (Con) 6/1

Sir Alan Haselhurst (Con) 25/1

Richard Shepherd (Con) 18/1

Sir Alan Beith (Lib) 8/1

(Ladbrokes)

[anonymous-user]

All of the above are declared runners. You can have a tickle on Gordon Brown at 250/1 if you want.....

Or Dennis Skinner at 100/1. That'd be fun.

[Fezant Pluckah]

Bercow may be Conservative, but he's a mealy-mouthed little turd.

[Davel]

What about that Griffin fella?

That should stir things up a bit!

[Einion Yrth]

Fezant Pluckah said:

Bercow may be Conservative, but he's a mealy-mouthed little turd.

Most Conservatives hate the little tit - Labourites would lend him a vote out of spite.

[anonymous-user]

Davel said:

What about that Griffin fella?

That should stir things up a bit!