New Speaker of the House election

[Undesired Walrus]

The candidates:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8111887.stm
Margaret Beckett (Lab)
Sir Alan Beith (Lib Dem)
John Bercow (Con)
Sir Patrick Cormack (Con)
Parmjit Dhanda (Lab)
Sir Alan Haselhurst (Con)
Sir Michael Lord (Con)
Richard Shepherd (Con)
Ann Widdecombe (Con)
Sir George Young (Con)


Here's hoping it's Widdecombe, just for a laugh.

There is apparently some campaigning behind the scenes to get Beckett in the chair. Depressing.

[Darat]

I think Beckett would make a good speaker. She's a much underrated politician and given how she held the Labour party together after John Smith's death, I think she has shown she can herd cats as well as anyone!

[Dragon]

From the BBC
Bercow tops first Speaker ballot (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8111887.stm)
Mr Bercow received 179 votes, Tory Sir George Young was second with 112 votes, Labour's Margaret Beckett was third with 74 votes of the 594 cast.

So at least 4 get eliminated and on we go until someone gets more than 50% ...

[tomwaits]

If the new Speaker is half as funny as Harry Jenkins, I will consider it to be a success.

[uk_dave]

Bercow is a good chap. Might be wasted as speaker though.... i mean waste of a talented politician not.... wrecked.

Ahem

I'll get me coat.

[dudalb]

I think Beckett would make a good speaker. She's a much underrated politician and given how she held the Labour party together after John Smith's death, I think she has shown she can herd cats as well as anyone!


With that name, I would avoid going into Canterbury Cathedrial, though.

[Jaggy Bunnet]

I think Beckett would make a good speaker. She's a much underrated politician and given how she held the Labour party together after John Smith's death, I think she has shown she can herd cats as well as anyone!

Bit of a mistake to allow herself to be cast as the anti-reform candidate backed by the Labour whips.

[Jaggy Bunnet]

Bercow top of second round, but his vote has gone up less than Young's


Beckett 70
Bercow 221
Beith 46
Haselhurst 57
Widdecombe 30 - eliminated
Young 174

[Jaggy Bunnet]

Becket, Beith and Hazelhurst withdraw.

Bercow and Young head to head.

[Undesired Walrus]

Pff.. no Widdecombe? PMQ's is destined to be dull without her shrill voice (And Parliament will be better off without her far-right views).

[Undesired Walrus]

It's Bercow. I love the tradition of the speakers being dragged to the chair while they feign reluctance.

[Upchurch]

Widdecombe 30 - eliminated
Wow. British elections are brutal.