I was reading the BBC’s coverage of the race to become Speaker here. It seems that Margaret Beckett is now the hot favourite (one of the very few times you will see the words “hot” and “Margaret Beckett” in the same sentence!). The BBC seems to approve of her since the only Conservative they take comment from, Richard Bacon, is content to see the foul Beckett in the chair.
EVERYBODY LOVES MARGARET?
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"Justice secretary Jack Straw told BBC One's Andrew Marr Show that the new Speaker would have to restore public trust in Parliament.
He said: "We've got put partisan interests aside and elect a Speaker who is best placed to lead the House of Commons to a restored position of authority and trust."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8111887.stm
"Margaret Beckett, the leading contender for the Commons Speakership, submitted three expenses claims for hanging baskets and garden plants totalling £1,380 despite having previously dismissed a similar claim as a "mistake". "
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/mps-expenses/5588020/Margaret-Beckett-claimed-three-more-times-for-hanging-baskets-on-MPs-expenses.html
And they think she is well suited for the job? Says it all really.
DV,
Nick Robinson gave his endorsement on Wednesday.
No mention of this I see
"Gordon Brown was embroiled in a damaging row over the election of a new Commons speaker after MPs claimed that Labour whips were secretly attempting to swing the contest in favour of his Government’s preferred candidate, Margaret Beckett. "
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/mps-expenses/5596840/Brown-in-row-over-secret-bid-to-install-Beckett-as-Speaker.html
And so the tradition of speakers alternating between representatives of the two main parties, one after the other, dies an even greater death – completely ignored by the BBC.
Can you imagine the outrage from the BBC had a Tory government arranged for three Tory speakers on the trot?
Richard Shepherd is the dark horse in the race. Tradition requires a Tory Speaker.
As Margaret put it when she stood for party leader after John Smith's death: 'I'm not one of the beautiful people.'
Look, they're advertising a Radical play in favour of the French revolution right now on the wireless after weeks of shilling for one particular Iranian meat-puppet for the loathsome, Henry Ford Guardian Council, without too much of a clue that the Iranians might just hate ALL the local leaders and enforcers of the purest form of the Religion of Peace. Okay?
You can't expect people with that kind of sophistication and nuancing NOT to notice Margaret's good side, can you?
I mean, that would be nutso!
Foul's the word!
Coincidentally, they've just been discussing this on Radio four and , to get some maturity and experience an d perspective into the debate, the BBC brought in Lord Hattersley who, if memory serves, was, um, a Labour Deputy Leader in Opposition one time.
I gues the Tories were all asleep or something.
Anyway, it turns out – and who'da thunk it? – that the problem of Prime Minister's Questions isn't that Labour's halved the PM's Commons appearances, but the insulting and low quality of the questions from the , er, Tory Leader of the Opposition.
Oddly, the Beeboid interview didn't think it necessary in any way to clarify how it was Lord Hattersley arrived at that impression, and was more concernd (as I'm sure we all were) about old Roy's preferred candidate for Speaker.
£3,000,000,000's worth of incisive journalism right there already before the shops open on a Monday morning.
Phew! Licence fee saved.
Margaret Beckett is not fit to be Speaker; When MPs claimed expenses they had to sign next to a declaration that the costs were "incurred wholly, exclusively and necessarily in the performance of my Parliamentary duties". Margaret Beckett attested to that fact when claiming £1,380 over three years for hanging baskets and an additional £9,619 over seven years for other gardening bills. She also signed to this effect when she claimed £638 for the wiring of "new lights and sockets in sun lounge" and £1,060 for tasks related to the construction and fitting of a "trellis to rear of the pond". Do examine the rest of Margaret Beckett's expense claims and see if you consider her fit to be Speaker of the House of Commons; I do not.
John Honre Tooke
This has nothing to do with cleaning up Parliament, as usual, it's all about Government control.
Martin was a 'placeman'. There to ensure that the Government (both Blair and Brown and, now, Mandelson) is NEVER held to account within the House.
No questions answered by the PM as question time, no sticky questions allowed, no need to tell the truth (Balls and the SATS 'lies for one), the ability to ram through useless laws without debate. It goes on.
Beckett will be 'elected' on exactly the same basis. She is now a placewoman. There to do the bidding of the Labour government. I'd even have money on the the UK General election being postponed on some terror or economic threat. And it will be Beckett's job to ensure that Parliament is cut out of the loop.
I so hope I'm wrong. But the rise and rise of Margaret Beckett is absolutely no surprise to me. None whatsoever.
Anonymous
"I'd even have money on the the UK General election being postponed on some terror or economic threat. "
Fear not.
The Queen, and no-one else, calls a General Election and dissolves Parliament. Ministers cease to be Ministers after that term ends. And guess who are sworn to obey only lawful minister placed over them by the Sovereign? Clue – short hair, good legs, cracked sense of humour. Guns.
Long live the monarchy.
North Northwester
Can I draw your attention to the 2004 Civil Contingencies Act that provides that a minister of state can repeal ANY act on the statute without the need for debate or a vote in the House.
If you think the Queen will step into a political minefield such as this, then I fear you are very mistaken.
Beckett is, according to sources other than the BBC, the Labour whips choice and is being pushed as such. Bercow is also being pushed as the stalking horse. This is another fit up as Beckett is anti-reform and in the pocket of Brown & co. Bercow is a no-win option for the Tories.
As to Her Majesty dissolving Parliament I thought this issue had been settled? The Queen can only dissolve a Parliament if she is INVITED to by the PM. She cannot dissolve Parliament without this invitation. Even at the end of a 5-year term the PM must issue the invitation.
Somehow I don't see Broon doing this until he has no option to.
HYS has Widdecombe as the 99% favourite, and if there's anyone they don't want in it's Beckett. Anyone think MPs read HYS…?
I'm not sure the public will tolerate someone as close to this government as Margaret Beckett being elected Speaker.
If she wins, there's a good chance someone high profile will stand against her at the general election in order to unseat her.
I'm curious as to who made Beckett the 'hot fave'. Some journo at the BBC? No one at parliament seems to like her much.
Matt,
It was Nick Robinson on Wednesday.