Marks out of ten for the prospective speakers

By Alex Smith / @alexsmith1982

The following are some of the key phrases I was able to jot down in the crowded committee room in Portcullis House as the prospective candidates for the position of Speaker gave their speeches. The marks out of ten are my own views for how the candidates performed, taking into account the content, delivery, relevance and overall recepetion of what they said:

SIR ALAN BEITH (Lib Dem) 8/10
“There needs to be a momentum for reform. We must concentrate on making Parliament effective.”

“We need to improve PMQs, which many people think is like a schoolyard, only worse.”

“We can bring in the public, petitions, e-consultations and we must learn to get out of Westminster. Indeed the House could occasionally sit outside Westminster.”

“No more secret lists of who’s going to speak and who’s not.”

PARMJIT DHANDA (Lab) 4/10
“The British people want plain, blunt English. They want the pendulum of power to sbe swung away from this place and into communities. You the people should be telling us what the issues are, not the other way round.”

“We need to move the aparatus of this place out into the communities.”

“Thew speaker has to champion parliament, but before that he or she has to reform it.”

RICHARD SHEPHERD (Con) 6/10
“I’m the back to the future candidate.”

“Parliament once meant something to this country. Now, some people think they’re the government. That’s the psycology that’s arisen.”

“The Commons is not the government; it’s the representatives are of every constituency and they are the checks and balances that challenge government.”

“This is not a game, it’s deadly serious.”

A speaker is not a governor of the government.

“All the candidates, we all believe in our country, out principle institution and its purposes.”

SIR GEORGE YOUNG (Con) 7/10
The Prime Minister is moving the debate away from personality and back on to politics. But the job of speaker is as much abour personality as it is about policy.”

“A speaker needs impartiality, authority, patience and leadership. He or she must be confident, self-assertive, accessible and relevant.”

“There was no prompt solution on expenses because the House has become too dependent on others and has lacked the leadership to get a grip. We need a more assertive House where government doesn’t take the initiative alone.”

“A speaker must be more referee than player, but he needs to give direction to help shape the tone of the House.”

ANN WIDDECOMBE (Con) 8/10
“I’m pretty unique. I’m the only candidate looking for an interim responsibility. In normal circumstances, I wouldn’t have dreamt of putting my name forward. But we must now be sharply focussed on the tasks for a sepcified period of time, who can then hand over to a fresh parliament.”

“What’s crucially important first and foremost is to restore trust and the reputation of parliament with the public. For that, we need someone who is known by the public, and someone who has the vulgar attributes which can connect with the public.”

“We need a shift of power away from the executive and back to parliament. It is quite wrong that we are governed by legislation that has not always been debated by parliament, let alone voted on by parliament.”

“I’ve consistently demonsrated independence.”

JOHN BERCOW (Con) 8/10
“We must restore trust in politics and we must pur parliament first in the allocation of strength, of scrutiny, of accessability – to those who work in it and those who come to it.”

“We must also ensure the next speaker is not a purely internal figure, inaccessible to the wider world. He or she needs to be an ambassador for parliament, meeting representatives of the civil society and explaining the role of parliament and acting as a listener to the wider public.”

“Parliament has changed before and it will change again.”

“As someone who has not stodd before, nor served in government, I can be the agent of necessary change.”

SIR ALAN HASELHURST (Con) 4/10
“I offer myself on the basis that at least you know something about me.”

I will bring topicality and relevance to proceedings.”

I’ve only ever been a backbencher. I am untainted by the whip’s office or frontbench duties of any kind.”

“”I’ve got lots of ideas for improving the power of the legislature over the executive. I will be more liberal in granting opportunities to debate matters that are urgent and relevant.”

“With expenses, the unsustainable bubble has burst. We now need a better balance of salaries to expenses.”

SIR PATRICK CORMACK (Con) 9/10
“I’m not standing just because we need a rounded figure!”

“The speaker must be both a servant and protector of the House. He or she must have a fearless impartiality ahainsty the arrogant assertion of power, not only from the exectuive, but often also from the executive in waiting.”

“Do we really want our elected representatives to be subject to an appointed quango?”

“We are the representatives, not the delegates, of the people.”

“People say I’m a traditionalist, but I don’t stand for flacid traditions>”

“We need to have a situation where petitions place an absolute obligation on parliament.”

“I love the House of Commons, but it;s not the House it was. There’s a terrible imbalance that’s got to be redressed.

“This has got to be a place where people can have fun and debate: the speaker therefore needs a sense of history, a sense of humour and a sense of ridiculousness.”

SIR MICHAEL LORD (Con) 7/10
“Out of all disatsers, great opportunities can come if we have the wit and the courage. Expectations are high – this is a golden opportunity.”

“As someone who’s always been a backbencher, I know backbenchers feel their votes do not count, that they’re too often lobby fodder.”

There are more ways the backbenchers can be called into debate. There should be debates on all matters, and non-binding votes on all debates to help guide the decisions of the government.”

“Today is not a time for false modesty. The next speaker will have to be strong. Playing as a young man against the South African ruby team showed me how to take the rough and tumble and how to act fairly amongst it.”

“The House of Commons is the best place in the world for democracy, the mother of parliaments.”

“I’m eager for change, and this is an opportunity we should seize.”

MARGARET BECKETT (Lab) 7/10
“I’ve chosen to stand because the next speaker will face a two way crisis of confidence: the public loss of confidence in us, and the members’ loss of faith in the House.”

“The devil is in the detail. We have to look carefully and not rush things.”

“To my mind the speaker is the servant of the House, not someone who can direct it.”

“Our circumstances are unprecedented. Over the next 3-4 years we could see a change in relationship between the two Houses of Parliament. Parliament will have new members; there could be a hung parliament or a close parliament. In those circumstances the role of speaker is crucial and delicate.”

“For those with concerns that I am too partisan, I say I have been the leader of the House, chair of a range of committees including for the United Nationps. I’ve proven I am an effective and impartial and fair chair – last time this process occurred, I voted for George Young.”

“The public needs to feel that this is a House that puts their concerns first, and not our own.”