A new Speaker

Michael Martin has announced his retirement for June 21st.

He has thus given the Commons one month to think about a replacement and then have a vote.

It is sad to see him go, the first speaker to go for incompetence in effect. He is a decent man, caring and compassionate, and many have spoken about his kindness when they were new or in difficulties.

His problem was that he was too partisan and inflexible, and ultimately because he was not up to the job. He was installed as a political fix by a government with a very large majority, and almost from the start it was clear that it would not work.

He is a product of his life experience, and a conservative unable to change, and was unable to lead the reform which parliament requires.

So we must have a new Speaker, and doubtless MPs are already turning their minds to this. We need someone who loves the institution but is up to leading reform, someone with keen mind and independence and someone who will face down the executive on behalf of all MPs.

Intriguingly, there is already the mention of Anne Widdicombe acting as a temporary Speaker until the general election to oversee the reforms. She does not seem to have axes to grind, is intelligent and knows the institution very well. There may be mileage in other MPs such as Frank Field, who is respected across party lines, of Mingis Campbell or Vince Cable as they are probably unlikely to be in government. The worst would be another political fix with a Speaker forced on the Commons by the Cabinet and MPs whipped to vote for him or her. The next Speaker must be respected by all parties for his or her independence and judgement.