Guest 645- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,463
#1
A new Speaker of the House of Commons will soon be elected.Any thoughts from Forumites as to who it should be? .All I know is that it should be someone who has not been involved or tarnished by the recent expenses scandal and that includes that Caravan Club member - Beckett.Even though she is a Labour MP I feel she would be a bloody disaster.
How about Ann Widdecombe? She seems to cope rather well hosting 'Have I got News for You'. It always surprises me how the Speaker appears t0 know all the MP's names.
Marek
I think therefore I am (not a Tory supporter)
Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
#2
yes i would like to see ann widdecome become speaker,thats our no nonesence doris.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
#3
I think Ann Widdecombe would be a great speaker - also down to earth and sensible, but according to the news last night, she's not a front runner.
Roger
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
#4
Certainly Anne Widdicombe hasnt been tainted by any corruptive practices and would be good but she only wants it until the next election which is too short term, she will fail on account of this self imposed handicap. Sir George Young is my favourite for the job. He is an old school Tory and as I understand it he hasnt been through too much muck and mire re expenses, not that I recall anyway. So good luck to him.
The other frontrunners seem to be Margaret Beckett and that Bercow chap. Although I used to be a fan myself personally of dear old battler Margaret, she showed some contempt for the public recently over her expenses and I didnt like that aspect to her. Bercow I know but not too well but there seems to be many in favour of him.
Guest 645- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,463
#5
Yes PaulB I only heard about Widdecombe' decision of standing down at the next election this morning so I have to agree she is entered as a handicapped runner.Bercow has all sides backing.Apparently he has a son with learning difficulties (speech & hearing I think?) and is well known for his charity work in this area but like a lot o other MP's he has been caught up in the expenses row.He allegedly claimed (on 2 occasions) back his Tax Advisors professional fee's. Beckett lost my vote (God she must be shaking in her boots) after the disgraceful way she conducted herself on Question Time recently by using such phrases as "what the general public don't understand or what they can't grasp...." very patronising.
I would like the Beast of Bolsover - Dennis Skinner to be the Speaker along the lines of the late Colin Crompton of the Wheeltappers and Shunters Club."..Now Give Order..Honourable Members.... the next turn up is an MP who used to be very popular but has waned recently following the introduction of the 90% tax hike and his decision to declare War on the Welsh.Put your hands together and wave your order". papers in't air for our own very own ex Prime Minister Doris Blair...."
Marek
I think therefore I am (not a Tory supporter)
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
#6
Skinner for Speaker? That must be the maddest suggestion ever. Skinner being impartial, its about as likely as a lion becoming a vegetarian. I cannot think of anyone less suitable than the Beast of Bolsover.
Paul's suggestion of Sir George Young is a sound one and certainly my preference.
Ann Widdecombe is a great personality and would make a great Speaker but I dont think her idea of an interim Speaker is a runner....
Yes, Beckett is too tarnished by the expense scandal as is Bercow.
#7
Alan Partridge. Or perhaps Grace Jones - she would never take any nonsense. Sorry. I'll leave by the side door.
Guest 686- Registered: 5 May 2009
- Posts: 556
#8
I'd vote for Ann Widdicombe - a gutsy, down-to-earth sort of person. She's "just the man for the job!"
Phil West
If at first you don't succeed, use a BIGGER hammer!!
Guest 674- Registered: 25 Jun 2008
- Posts: 3,391
#9
Well let me join the crowd of supporting ANN WIDDICOMBE
Although short term she could start to sort out this mess, and the others are all old school boys/.girls club unlikely to make the changes desperatly wanted.
So give it to her in the short term to make a start, lets get people power going
notice i dont look at this from a political point of view
Brian Dixon- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
#10
barryw,here is a list just for you.
1,cliff richard.
2,alan partridge.
3,borat.
4,paul ogrady.
5,marradona.
just to give a smile.
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
#11
Perhaps you should add Donald Duck to your list to add some intellectual weight, Brian
Brian Dixon- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
#12
damm i missed that but i could chuck in micky mouse,the sevan dwarfs and captain hook.still would be a micky mouse goverment who got the job or what ever goverment is in.
#13
I spit on your Donald Duck (and using the word spit may indeed scare him off.....) - if you want to add serious intellectual weight, go for Britney Spears. She has the advantage of existing, too.
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
#14
First ballot result:
Beckett 74
Beith 55
Bercow 179
Cormack 13 (OUT)
Dhanda 26 (OUT)
Haselhurst 66
Lord 9 (OUT)
Shepherd 15 (OUT)
Widdecombe 44
Young 112
They now go to another ballot. It looks like it could be a Bercow/Young contest unless Beckett comes through the middle.....
I suspect Young might pick up a fair number of votes as the 'stop Bercow' candidate. I think the next ballot will be a particularly interesting one and may give a better clue as to what will happen, now the water has been tested, even if the ballot is itself inconclusive.
For those not aware they keep having votes until one candidate gets over 50%.
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
#15
Well thats very interesting. Surprised there by Bercow although his name was mooted as an indivdual satisfactory to all sides, quite clearly that has turned out to be the case. Widdicombe polled quite low despite her no-nonsense popularity. Has Sir George too much of the old Tory style to win?
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
#16
Reading the blogs Young is now the favourite. They dont expect Bercow to pick up many more and the main threat is the possibility that Beckett could come through the middle. No-one really knows though. This is proving to be more intersting than I thought at first.
Brian Dixon- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
#17
it sounds a bit like royal ascot as this josling and big hats to.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#18
bercow is backed by mostly labour members, only 2 conservatives have backed him.
something our town council might learn from?
moving on, i was listening to a chap on news 24 saying that the whips offices seem unaware of public feeling at the moment and will make sure that everything gets back to "normal" in the commons once this charade is over.
#19
D'oh! What planet are they on? Let's hope this does not die a death. It is a real opportunity.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#20
it did die a death, expenses bercow won.
back to normal then.