Red card for Speaker?

Last Tuesday, I felt a bit exposed and vulnerable with the heads of just three MPs above the parapet on the 'No confidence’ in the Speaker motion. Now it has more than a dozen signatures plus the verbal support of Nick Clegg. Presumably LibDems will now to flock to sign.

Tomorrow’s statement by Michael Martin is likely to be an announcement that he will resign at the end of the parliament. That will not be enough. The work to rebuild confidence in parliament must start immediately. Many of us want a New Speaker to be elected by the present parliamentarians who know the candidates well. The new Parliament is likely to have many new members who will not know their Richard Shepherd from their Gordon Prentice.

Gordon had a fascinating letter from the biographer of previous Speaker Selwyn Lloyd. The writer thanked Gordon for his ‘lucid advocacy’ of the case for an early election and said that Selwyn Lloyd timed his resignation so that an informed parliament could elect his successor.

If I get a chance, I hope to suggest to the Speaker that if he is determined to hang on until the General Election, parliament should elect its Speaker-in-waiting to chair the Commons’ Commission. The present Speaker could continue his ceremonial duties while the Speaker-in-waiting could get stuck into reforming the Commons. It’s just a thought. This would be contrary to past precedent. Great. There are many other hoary old traditions that need to be dumped with the failed concept of the Commons as a ‘Gentleman’s Club.’

It’s always possible the Speaker might announce his speedy resignation. That’s not likely. If he did he could leave with the sound of plaudits in his ears for his service. All other possibilities are ugly. 

It’s never nice showing the red card to the referee.

Pauls in a twist

Felicity Evans made the same mistake today as a University Principal did on Thursday, this time it was the other way round.

On the Welsh opt-put from the Politics Show the BBC Wales announcer who is going places thanked me. I had just done my repeated mantra that ‘Paul Murphy and Kevin Brennan are innocent, OK?’

She said ‘Thanks for coming on the show Mr Paul Murphy.’ I think the two Irish names are the reason the perpetual confusion.

We are doomed to suffer it for life.

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[Gareth Williams]

My mothers always said that politicians had too many "fingers in the pot", sadly she's right.

All we need now is the authoritarian Jacqui Smith to be embroiled in yet another scandal and resign, and it will be the start of a beautiful new beginning for British Politics.

Hopefully with the Lib Dems at the helm. At least labour could have a nice break in order to reflect on the reasons why they were actually elected to begin with.

[George Laird]

Dear Paul

In my post of May 15th @3.24 pm I highlighted the problem of the Fees Office; you replied with an example of your experience regarding a bed.

The case of Ben Chapman, MP being allowed to claim £15,000 which he wasn't entitled to is a clear example of the problem as I see it.

Not only must the Speaker go for dragging his heels but it appears that certain staff need to be removed and put elsewhere or indeed sacked.

To claim for a mortgage that doesn't exist is criminal fraud and misconduct in public Office.

Mr. Chapman's defence which doesn't hold water is the classic; 'they told me it was all right'.

The 'I was just obeying orders' has led to many people throughout history getting their necked stretched or locked up and the key thrown away.

Good luck in your and others efforts to remove the Speaker.

Yours sincerely

George Laird
The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University

[Paul Flynn]

Thanks Jeff. Some of the excuses are more revolting than the offences. Did you hear Margaret Moran's weepy plea that she shoulde allowed to spend £20,000 fixing the dry rot on her partner's house, 200 mles from Luton, in order to fulfil her parliamentrary duties. The Tory Stewart Jackon who claimed £300 'only once' for his swimming pool to be cleaned said he is now doing it himself and 'saving the public money'. Well done, Stewart, The MBE is in the post.

[Jeff Jones]

Keep up the good work Paul. Another excellent interview this morning. Can't you remind some of your colleagues to remember Denis Healey famous comment about when your are in a hole you should stop digging. I nearly choked this morning on my breakfast when I read that one MP was using the defence that being elected in 2005 had led to her being thousands of pounds in debt. Comments such as this sadly just make the situation worse and insult the intelligence of the average elector. To argue that the taxpayer should pay for a new bath because it is marked is farcical.