Lynne Featherstone

When I was on the front bench listening to the Prime Minister's statement and wanting to get called to ask my 'helicopter' question - I thought I would carry out a little experiment to see if Speaker Bercow was going to get rid of silly rules.

Under Speaker Martin - and probably legions before him - LibDem frontbenchers who want to get called to ask a question have to go and sit in the second row - as until now we have only been allowed one speaker from the front bench - and that is obviously the opposite number to the Government minister.

Now - I am the same person - whether I am on the front bench or the row behind - so it has always struck me as a stupid rule - and stupid rules is what I am looking to Speaker Bercow to get rid of.

So - I decided to test him out by standing to get called whilst still on the front bench - and not moving to the row behind.

Nearing the end of the statement period, and the last person Speaker Bercow called before he changed over to the Deputy Speaker - was - yes me!

This may seem one small step for me - but this was huge in terms of political mankind. Well done Speaker Bercow - moderniser and man of your word!