Miss Speaker?

The news that Ann Widdecombe may be standing as the speaker is very interesting. She would command respect, and really knock heads together - which I think is what it needs. Unfortunately, she's already announced that she won't be standing in the next election, so it would be a temporary position, if only she won and then they found her another seat, maybe a safe Labour seat such as Glasgow North East. She'd be able to grab it, as the convention is that the seat becomes uncontested!

Unfortunately, it looks like she won't get it anyway. The contest is already becoming partisan but in a strange way. It looks like Labour are going to be voting for John Bercow, whom many Tories don't like, and the Tories will vote for Frank Field, whom the Labour party don't trust. Isn't that weird? It's like Gordon Brown's Christmas's have all come at once with dividing lines all over the place.

I think Frank Field would be a great speaker, but personally I want him to continue to have his say, as he's one of the only Labour politicians who gets so many issues. I also want him to cross the floor and take Kate Hoey with him.

Squiffy.