Marge

Margaret Beckett is now apparently the punters' favourite to become next speaker.

Her parliamentary majority is 5,657.

Could be an interim speaker then.

Comments

[James P]

Nooo! Please not la Beckett (famously dubbed Rosa Klebb by Private Eye during her time at DEFRA). I'd rather have Widdecombe - as speaker, that is...

[Kit]

I think the Speakers seat is not contested.

[Bishop Hill]

How dull! It's probably why she wants the job.

[Sandy S]

As one of her constituents there are many and various reasons why I hope that she doesn't get the job then. We need someone who is prepared to face the electorate.

[Jeff Wood]

I don't know of any law that says the Speaker's seat has to be uncontested: it is merely a convention.

Presumably the Tories and LibDems wouldn't put up a candidate, but UKiP might have a chance of unseating her.

[IanH]

I'm sure she'll be worried - 1 day is enough to qualify for the speaker's pension for life in addition to her MP pension