Comments on: Who should be the next Speaker? http://www.lynnefeatherstone.org/2009/05/who-should-be-next-speaker.htm Liberal Democrat MP for Hornsey and Wood Green Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:02:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: Clive Carter http://www.lynnefeatherstone.org/2009/05/who-should-be-next-speaker.htm/comment-page-1#comment-1957 Clive Carter Fri, 22 May 2009 22:56:46 +0000 http://localhost/wp28/?p=2221#comment-1957 How about Martin Bell?<br /><br />As well as being independent both literally and metaphorically, his views about probity in public office are longstanding and seem to be what's needed now ... How about Martin Bell?

As well as being independent both literally and metaphorically, his views about probity in public office are longstanding and seem to be what’s needed now …

]]> By: dreamingspire http://www.lynnefeatherstone.org/2009/05/who-should-be-next-speaker.htm/comment-page-1#comment-1956 dreamingspire Fri, 22 May 2009 21:03:36 +0000 http://localhost/wp28/?p=2221#comment-1956 Alan always had gravitas, but does he have the imagination needed to steer reform to the right destination? No offence, Alan, but, of the ones that I have observed enough to give an opinion, I go for Frank Field. Alan always had gravitas, but does he have the imagination needed to steer reform to the right destination? No offence, Alan, but, of the ones that I have observed enough to give an opinion, I go for Frank Field.

]]> By: burkesworks http://www.lynnefeatherstone.org/2009/05/who-should-be-next-speaker.htm/comment-page-1#comment-1955 burkesworks Fri, 22 May 2009 14:20:37 +0000 http://localhost/wp28/?p=2221#comment-1955 Frank Field for me. Honest, somehow "respected" - and by putting him in the Chair it precludes either him defecting to the Tories or putting forward any more of his horrible proposed welfare reforms.<br /><br />I'd rather it wasn't one of ours; we need all the MPs we can get right now. Frank Field for me. Honest, somehow “respected” – and by putting him in the Chair it precludes either him defecting to the Tories or putting forward any more of his horrible proposed welfare reforms.

I’d rather it wasn’t one of ours; we need all the MPs we can get right now.

]]> By: Mike Shaw http://www.lynnefeatherstone.org/2009/05/who-should-be-next-speaker.htm/comment-page-1#comment-1954 Mike Shaw Fri, 22 May 2009 14:07:51 +0000 http://localhost/wp28/?p=2221#comment-1954 Sir Alan Beith deserves the job. He has been in Parliament long enough to recognise it's strengths and weaknesses, will not be caught up in punch and judy politics between labour and the Tories, and has a desire for reform and as a Lib Dem understands that a representitive Parliament is a fair Parliament.<br /><br />I agree that Jo Swinson would be a good choice - a younger, more energetic candidate might do more to remove some of the idiotic pomp and ceremony and make the commons more accessable to those without a history degree. Sir Alan Beith deserves the job. He has been in Parliament long enough to recognise it’s strengths and weaknesses, will not be caught up in punch and judy politics between labour and the Tories, and has a desire for reform and as a Lib Dem understands that a representitive Parliament is a fair Parliament.

I agree that Jo Swinson would be a good choice – a younger, more energetic candidate might do more to remove some of the idiotic pomp and ceremony and make the commons more accessable to those without a history degree.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.lynnefeatherstone.org/2009/05/who-should-be-next-speaker.htm/comment-page-1#comment-1953 Anonymous Fri, 22 May 2009 12:53:24 +0000 http://localhost/wp28/?p=2221#comment-1953 David Heath MP is the man with the moral authority to renew the House. David Heath MP is the man with the moral authority to renew the House.

]]> By: historian http://www.lynnefeatherstone.org/2009/05/who-should-be-next-speaker.htm/comment-page-1#comment-1952 historian Fri, 22 May 2009 12:51:56 +0000 http://localhost/wp28/?p=2221#comment-1952 Dianne Abbott - she's nobody's pushover, defies her party when necessary and commands respect. Dianne Abbott – she’s nobody’s pushover, defies her party when necessary and commands respect.

]]> By: Luke Blaney http://www.lynnefeatherstone.org/2009/05/who-should-be-next-speaker.htm/comment-page-1#comment-1951 Luke Blaney Fri, 22 May 2009 12:43:30 +0000 http://localhost/wp28/?p=2221#comment-1951 I think the next speaker should be someone who is in touch with the real world. But, as its down to MPs to choose, it'll end up being someone who has spent most of their life in Parliament and now sees all those weird little traditions they do as normal.<br />I agree with Anonymous' suggestion of Jo Swinson, particularly as the current speaker has resigned over expenses; Jo has been campaigning on that issue for ages and is one of the few (if not only) MPs to publish their expenses openly long before any of the recent scandals. I think the next speaker should be someone who is in touch with the real world. But, as its down to MPs to choose, it’ll end up being someone who has spent most of their life in Parliament and now sees all those weird little traditions they do as normal.
I agree with Anonymous’ suggestion of Jo Swinson, particularly as the current speaker has resigned over expenses; Jo has been campaigning on that issue for ages and is one of the few (if not only) MPs to publish their expenses openly long before any of the recent scandals.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.lynnefeatherstone.org/2009/05/who-should-be-next-speaker.htm/comment-page-1#comment-1950 Anonymous Fri, 22 May 2009 12:03:07 +0000 http://localhost/wp28/?p=2221#comment-1950 How about Jo Swinson? She has a good reputation on new politics and will be a very welcome break with the past. It means skipping a generation (maybe two) and it means chosing a Scottish speaker, which defuse the snobbery argument used by Michael Martin supporters. And because she is a LibDem, it would also make certain that the Speaker comes from the benches of the opposition. No offence Lynne, because I hope the LibDems will do well in the elections, but the chances of a LibDem government are just quite slim. How about Jo Swinson? She has a good reputation on new politics and will be a very welcome break with the past. It means skipping a generation (maybe two) and it means chosing a Scottish speaker, which defuse the snobbery argument used by Michael Martin supporters. And because she is a LibDem, it would also make certain that the Speaker comes from the benches of the opposition. No offence Lynne, because I hope the LibDems will do well in the elections, but the chances of a LibDem government are just quite slim.

]]> By: Mark B http://www.lynnefeatherstone.org/2009/05/who-should-be-next-speaker.htm/comment-page-1#comment-1949 Mark B Fri, 22 May 2009 11:26:46 +0000 http://localhost/wp28/?p=2221#comment-1949 You should do it!<br /><br />Failing that, maybe Diane Abbott? She seems to have the right mixture of having been in Parliament long enough to command respect and of being sufficiently independently-minded and well known among the public to shake up the system and restore public faith. She'd also be a good role model. You should do it!

Failing that, maybe Diane Abbott? She seems to have the right mixture of having been in Parliament long enough to command respect and of being sufficiently independently-minded and well known among the public to shake up the system and restore public faith. She’d also be a good role model.

]]> By: Leon http://www.lynnefeatherstone.org/2009/05/who-should-be-next-speaker.htm/comment-page-1#comment-1948 Leon Fri, 22 May 2009 11:23:08 +0000 http://localhost/wp28/?p=2221#comment-1948 I'd go with John Bercow, I reckon he'd be a good speaker... I’d go with John Bercow, I reckon he’d be a good speaker…

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