There is not, nor has there ever been, any convention that the Speakership alternate between the two main parties. That just happened to happen for a time by a series of flukes, supremely the failure of the Tories to get their act together in 1992, which set the tone for their antics throughout that Parliament, and at least arguably ever since.
Labour would certainly win any Speakership election in this Parliament, on a three-line whip in all but name. Harriet Harman clearly wants to replace Michael Martin with a New Labour Speaker (any ideas as to who, exactly?) instead of an orthodox Catholic with a working-class, provincial background who has remained economically on the Left.
The Tories are prepared to go along with this, with a view to replacing the New Labour Speaker with a New Labour Tory Speaker (any ideas as to who, exactly?) if they win the General Election.
For now, forget Michael Martin.
For now, forget Damian Green.
This scheme is bigger than either of them.
And it must be stopped.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
They could choose Ming Campbell if they are are trying to find a non-Tory/Labour person. He is respected and has links with both parties.
ReplyDeleteStrange how the job became non-partisan. I see that two Speakers went onto become Prime Minister - Grenville and Addington - Addington left the Speaker's chair and went to No.10.
Yes, it carries on in something more like its historic form in the US House of Representatives.
ReplyDeleteWould the SNP contest Campbell's affluence-and-fishing seat if he were Speaker?
Surely this is all irrelevant though? After all, you confidently predicted only a few days ago that "the speaker is as safe as houses"
ReplyDeletereconsidering your opinion slightly?
Since Harman's non-endorsement, yes.
ReplyDeleteI think he'll last it out, though. I certainly hope so, for the reasosn given in this post.
As I am not an SNP member, I do not know.
ReplyDeleteThe area is really a carve up of Lib-Dems and Tories with the Lib-Dems being the dominant party at all levels.
Whilst Springburn is more SNP country, North-East Fife is not despite sharing many common traits with Grampian and Tayside.
But if the Tories didn't stand against the Speaker...?
ReplyDeleteNo idea.
ReplyDeleteNo Speaker has run completely unopposed since 1931. Dare the SNP mount a major party challenge to either Martin or Campbell?
ReplyDeleteOr, depending on how you look at it, dare the SNP not mount a major party challenge to either Martin or Campbell?
ReplyDelete