So now we are looking for a new Speaker. I just don’t want it to be the traditional kind of same old same old that went before. If there was ever an opportunity for change and reform – this is the start of it.
Anyway – thought I would ask you all to give your views on who the new Speaker should be! I can’t promise to agree with you or go with the majority on this one – but knowing who might inspire public confidence is crucial to choosing the right person.
And I do think the public need to have confidence in whoever is chosen – not just the MPs!
So tell me your views…
Lynne Featherstone 
Frank Field. Would be fair to all parties. Would steer through change. Would make parliament more representative of the people. Would make parliament more respected.
I think Glenda Jackson would be a good speaker.She had no second home claims so carries a moral authority. She has an independence of spirit coupled with an authoritative manner.
Sir Alan Beith. He has gravitas (thanks to the ‘sir) as well as not appearing to be part of the establishment (because he’s a Lib Dem). He avoided the expenses scandal, wants the job and the fact he’s a Lib Dem also shakes up the system a bit. It stops the domination of the role by the two larger parties as well as sends a message that the Lib Dems are a valid party who are respected by the establishment.
I’d go with John Bercow, I reckon he’d be a good speaker…
You should do it!Failing that, maybe Diane Abbott? She seems to have the right mixture of having been in Parliament long enough to command respect and of being sufficiently independently-minded and well known among the public to shake up the system and restore public faith. She’d also be a good role model.
How about Jo Swinson? She has a good reputation on new politics and will be a very welcome break with the past. It means skipping a generation (maybe two) and it means chosing a Scottish speaker, which defuse the snobbery argument used by Michael Martin supporters. And because she is a LibDem, it would also make certain that the Speaker comes from the benches of the opposition. No offence Lynne, because I hope the LibDems will do well in the elections, but the chances of a LibDem government are just quite slim.
I think the next speaker should be someone who is in touch with the real world. But, as its down to MPs to choose, it’ll end up being someone who has spent most of their life in Parliament and now sees all those weird little traditions they do as normal.I agree with Anonymous’ suggestion of Jo Swinson, particularly as the current speaker has resigned over expenses; Jo has been campaigning on that issue for ages and is one of the few (if not only) MPs to publish their expenses openly long before any of the recent scandals.
Dianne Abbott – she’s nobody’s pushover, defies her party when necessary and commands respect.
David Heath MP is the man with the moral authority to renew the House.
Sir Alan Beith deserves the job. He has been in Parliament long enough to recognise it’s strengths and weaknesses, will not be caught up in punch and judy politics between labour and the Tories, and has a desire for reform and as a Lib Dem understands that a representitive Parliament is a fair Parliament.I agree that Jo Swinson would be a good choice – a younger, more energetic candidate might do more to remove some of the idiotic pomp and ceremony and make the commons more accessable to those without a history degree.
Frank Field for me. Honest, somehow “respected” – and by putting him in the Chair it precludes either him defecting to the Tories or putting forward any more of his horrible proposed welfare reforms.I’d rather it wasn’t one of ours; we need all the MPs we can get right now.
Alan always had gravitas, but does he have the imagination needed to steer reform to the right destination? No offence, Alan, but, of the ones that I have observed enough to give an opinion, I go for Frank Field.
How about Martin Bell?As well as being independent both literally and metaphorically, his views about probity in public office are longstanding and seem to be what’s needed now …