Home About Chat Users Issues Party Candidates Polling Firms Media News Polls Calendar Key Races United States President Senate House Governors International

New User Account
"A comprehensive, collaborative elections resource." 
Email: Password:

  Speaker hopefuls take to the campaign trail
NEWS DETAILS
Parent(s) Race 
ContributorRalphie 
Last EditedRalphie  Jun 14, 2009 09:05pm
Logged 0
CategoryAnalysis
MediaNewspaper - Independent
News DateMonday, June 15, 2009 03:00:00 AM UTC0:0
DescriptionThe crowded race to become the next House of Commons Speaker will hot up today, as the candidates share a platform and in a blitz of competing media appearances attempt to show they have what it takes.

Almost a dozen contenders have so far confirmed their attendance at a hustings event in Westminster, ahead of the vote a week from now. They will also be rushing to appearances on BBC radio, Newsnight and Channel 4, to win over any undecided voters.

Ann Widdecombe, the Tory MP in contention for the role, ordered party whips to "stay out" of the race yesterday after rumours emerged that Labour Party whips had been encouraging their MPs to support the frontrunner for the job, the Tory backbencher, John Bercow. "I think the whips should stay out of this. This is a House of Commons matter," she said.

One high-profile MP rumoured as a possible replacement for Michael Martin announced yesterday that he would not be standing for the role.

Sir Menzies Campbell, the former Liberal Democrat leader, insisted that his priorities were his constituents and his chancellorship of St Andrews University. "My taste for active politics is undiminished," he said. "I value my membership of the Foreign Affairs Committee and the Intelligence and Security Committee. I have no wish to alter that priority or to give up these interests. Accordingly I will not be a candidate in the forthcoming election for Speaker."
Share
ArticleRead Full Article

NEWS
Date Category Headline Article Contributor

DISCUSSION