Iain Dale’s readers are gloating over him having lost £100 on Alan Haselhurst. Ha-ha.

Field isn’t right wing on anything. Just because he listens to his constituents concerns about unlimited immigration (instead of ignoring them like most MPs) doesn’t make him into a right-winger or a conservative.

Anne Widdecombe however, is right wing. But then at least she honestly represents the views of tory voters. Bercow on the other hand is completely unrepresentative of the opinions of those who vote tory yet somehow remains on the tory benches. It would be much more honest and far better for him if he voiced his opinions from the Labour or Lib Dem benches where he would feel much more welcome. Why should the electorate trust someone who pretends to be something that he isn’t? And if you think he’s ‘bi-partisan’ then how come he lacks the support of almost all his fellow tories?

It’s not the Speaker’s job to lead radical reform. That’s parliament, and in particular the elected government’s job, and if the public think someone else would do better they can always vote for someone else.

The expenses scandal will have to be dealt with, and a new system and culture put in place – MPs clearly realise this. What’s of more concern is what happens after. Bercow might be radical on the odd issue but he’s incredibly right-wing on economic and other non-social/constitutional issues. I’m concerned he would aid the most right-wing tendencies of a possible future Tory government . I don’t think there is such thing as a neutral Speaker, but it is important that the Speaker is someone who listens to backbenchers and is fair-minded – something MPs from all parties would say of Beckett.

Field supports her because they are both right-wing on immigration. The only way she stands up to her party is to chide it on not being conservative enough.

Bercow, to most people outside the political bubble, is an unknown quantity. But at least he can give a good speech, articulate his views well, and is bipartisan – i.e. not a nutjob. I know who I’d rather have as the Speaker.

Or is that only social drinking clubs?

MPs know they can plot to elect a Speaker who won’t bust their balls – because they know the public will ultimately not bother to go after them for it. The Tories will be in next year and this will all continue. This has all happened before and it will all happen again..

I think Bercow has too many enemies. It’s probably between Beckett and Young. In truth, MPs want to go on claiming for their bathplugs and duck islands and they will elect whichever speaker will do the least House-cleaning. It’s the same as with the bankers, really – they just want to get back to their old tricks as soon as possible.

Looks like you’re right: http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/jun/21/speaker-commons-bercow-becket-young

Best leaflet momen there: bare foot Nads captioned: “she’ll knock your sock off!!”; best local media moment: daughter – also given code name – doing exams with sprained ankle/broken arm/nasty attack of nits. Something like that.

They should “reopen nominations” or better still disestablish the post and have any number of trained up “chairs” able to take turns in the chamber and elsewhere.

Laban: Translation : “Bercow was a non-Tory voice on the issue”

Given that the Tory voices were dominated by Nadine Dorries, who spectactularly misrepresented everything, while being funded by a fundamentalist and bigoted Christian organisation, then that’s definitely a good thing. By most sane standards.

Translation : “Bercow was a non-Tory voice on the issue”

Mr Bercow’s political odyssey is fascinating and worthy of further study … and if he ever recants his current views Sunny and Co will be reprinting all his Monday Club stuff from way back when … still, the endorsement of Lib Con will do his cause no end of good

If there is anyone unlikely to effect change it is she- so patently tied to the tough and so lacking the comprehension to understand why anyone could think that was unacceptable she was booed on Question Time.

If she’s elected it throws the contempt the party machines have for the electorate into even sharper focus.

Please not Beckett.

And welcome back, Sunny.

Parmjit Dhanda seems to me to have been overlooked a little unfairly in all of this. On the Newsnight hustings the other day, he was head and shoulders above the other candidates. He seemed like the only one who’d make a really noticeable difference to parliament.

http://petespolitics.wordpress.com

I think the fact the Mail are attacking him shows that he is a perfect candidate for the job.