Yes.  Michael Martin, former discredited Speaker of the House of Commons.

Shameful!

The man who tried to cover up the expenses scandal.  The man who presided over a corrupt House and did nothing.

No moral justice in this world that he now gets rewarded with a Peerage and a seat in the House of Lords.

The man to clean up Politics and ensure we get value for money…has hired a personal spin doctor for £100,000….on the British tax payers!  You could not even make this one up!  Sometimes I wonder if we are being taken for fools.  Is Bercow deliberately trying to make us hate him?

Why oh why does The Speaker of the House of Commons need a personal spin doctor?  Do you see this as value for money?  This is the first time a Speaker has ever employed a ‘special advisor’.

The Daily Telegraph reports that: Tim Hames, a former Times journalist, will be paid paid between £87,000 and £107,000 a year to work as the Speaker’s “special adviser”. Among his duties will be raising Bercow’s personal profile.  Hames duties will include the creation of a “broader external role for the Speaker”. He will also assist the Speaker in framing hte Commons response to recommendations on MP’s Expenses made by Sir Christopher Kelly, the sleaze watchdog.

I cant see this washing well with the public.  As Cameron challenges with anything like this.  Does it feel right for the public?  Does it pass the public snift test?  I think not!  Do you?

Mirror Mirror on the Wall, who is the smuggest of them all…..

The ego has well and truly landed.  John Bercow is settling into his role as Mr Speaker…how’s he doing?

Bercow has made much of his new style Speakership.  Bringing democracy back to the House and acting as a strong check on the Executive.

He has made bold statements.  Government Ministers will NO LONGER brief the media before making a statement to the House.  Boy that has been listened to.  As we know Ministers continue DAILYbriefing the media before Parliament.  We could read about Alastair Darling’s reforms to the banking system in the morning papers over breakfast before he stood up and made a statement to the House in the Afternoon.  What did Bercow do?  What has he done?  Nothing.  Talk is cheap.

Today he halted the flow of PMQ’s, (where for once more detailed information was traded on a difficult subject), to patronise both David Cameron and Gordon Brown, telling them to ask briefer questions and give briefer answers.  It was totally unnecessary.  If he is concerned about the way PMQ’s is going he calls them both to his office and expresses his concerns.  He does not tell our leaders off like naughty schoolchildren.  Again, it smacks of Bercow trying to look more self important and playing to his huge ego.

Added to this is his ridiculous disregrad for history and tradition.  He wants to end the Speakers Procession.  He has traded in the honourable robes and traditional attire of The Speaker to his Armani Suit and Primark Tie.  Britain is a nation of traditions…Bercow should pay heed to tradition.  But to no avail for the ‘squirt in a shirt’!

Speaker Bercow, enjoy your time in the Chair.  If you carry on this way, you will….yes will, be replaced as Speaker in the next Parliament.  Conservative MP’s are already talking openly in the bars and restaurants of the House…….take heed!

Most farewell speeches are a time to look back fondly and be positive about one’s achievements.  Not so yesterday for Speaker Martin, who re-emphasized why he was not fit for the Honourable Robes of the Speaker and left a bitter stench in the air as he left the Chamber.

The first Speaker to be ousted for more than 300 years said it was ‘deeply disappointing’ that MPs did not vote last year to reform their allowances, adding: ‘I wish party leaders would have shown then some of the leadership they have shown now.’   This was a big parting shot at Gordon Brown who did not attend a crunch vote on allowances last July.  This, cutting through the nice framing is ‘I was right, you were all wrong, you are making me the fall guy for all your failings. F*** the lot of you’!

Speaker Martin apologised for the expenses scandal.  ‘Let me say to the men and women of this country —I am sorry’.  ‘But also let me remind this House that it passed up an opportunity of dealing with this emotive issue less than a year ago.  I regretted that then.  I deeply regret it now’.

What makes this statement hypocritical is that Speaker Martin and Commons authorities spent £150,000 of taxpayers’ money fighting the release of details of MPs’ claims, only to be defeated in the High Court.  The Speaker fought to cover-up, (yes cover-up), all the expenses deception.  But failed.  And thank god he did.  The expenses published today—the official figures—are being reported as missing vital claims and have gaps in them.  This includes MP’s addresses, so we cannot see who claimed each home as their main home—hence see who was ‘flipping’.  No correspondence has been published between MP’s and the Commons fees office.  What difference does that make….well we cant see claims for expenses  but rejected by officials eg wreaths.  MP’s were given several weeks with the documents and were allowed to black out information they believed should be withheld.  Lastly, MP’s who have left the House have not been published eg Tony Blair, Boris Johnson, and the famous Lord Mandolsen.  Is that Democratic Renewal…is that transparency?  Is that open Government?

So hallelujah for the Daily telegraph.  They have done a great public service to this nation and helped clean up Politics in the long term.  They deserve our support and credit.  Something many MP’s wont give.  Shooting the messenger is poor show.  The messenger only brought to light what was happening behind the scenes.

Brown does of course have blood on his hands over this.  Whilst he shied away from the debate and the vote last year, he allowed his supporters to ensure the rejection of expenses reform.  33 of his Ministerial team voted to continue with the ‘John Lewis list’ system, which allowed MP’s to furnish their second homes at taxpayers expense.  The Conservatives backed the change and voted to do so….so Speaker Martin’s swipe was not at Cameron.  Cameron in his tribute to Speaker Martin even agreed with the Speaker that changes should have been made last year but their was not the will of the House as there is today.

Mr Speaker also stated that Parliament was ‘at it’s lowest ebb’.  What we did not hear from him was any humility….any failings….some regrets but no mistakes.  The Damien Green affair?  Great that an all party committee now reviewing with a member of the Opposition in the Chair.  Expenses….not my fault Guv….I would have sorted it last July.  Blame Brown and DC.

I am sorry to say that John Bercow went further down in my estimation.  Whilst he spoke of ‘a relentless snobbery and disdain from a section of the tabloid press who seemed to think that the elevation of the son of a merchant seamen represented some sort of constitutional outrage’.  My favourite Tabloid, The Sun, said today, ‘Brown nosing and hypocritical MP’s lined up yesterday to pay their respects to a man they all knew was a dud’….’The worst offender of all was one of the favourites to success him — oily John Bercow.  Rarely has an MP fawned so spectacularly and oozed false sincerity quite as much…’  I would not be able to quote that as eloquently as The Sun and agree with it entirely.

So we need change and MP’s still don’t get it.  We see the resignation of Kitty Ussher as a Treasury Minister.  Another accused of ‘flipping’ addresses to avoid a £17,000 capital gains tax.  She allegedly sidestepped the tax by saying that her constituency home was her main residence for ONE month of the year in 2007.  hence she did not have to pay tax when selling it—and get this—despite previously naming her London property as her main Home.  This is also the lady who moaned about bad taste Artex ceilings and seeking from Commons authorities a £20,000 refurbishment of her London Home.  But get this, her resignation letter.  ‘I do not want to cause you or the Government any embarrassment.  I did not do anything wrong’

That line again.  ‘I did not do anything wrong’.  The most used Parliamentary quote of the year. 

What MP’s are disconnected over is that this is a moral issue.  Would it pass a public sniff test of reasonable expenditure in line with their job?  I think we can answer that.  Again, why did she not resign at the start of the expenses scandal?  Are MP’s biding their time waiting to see if the Daily Telegraph will publish their misdemeanors?  Surely, waiting to see if a story is coming is deceit in itself.  By stating she did not want to embarrass the Government…she has.  The issue is back on the front page with another Ministerial resignation.  Just as Brown was looking to stabilise his Government.  As this mucky episode continues to drag on…lets see who jumps next.

So to conclude.  Did you notice how sparse the Chamber was for Speaker Martin’s Farewell statement?  The House of Commons has 647 sitting MP’s.  There were only 105 Labour MP’s in the Chamber and 70 Opposition.  That shows the mark of the man.  His legacy.  Presiding over the biggest collapse in trust in the Mother of all Parliament’s!  Enjoy your garden in Scotland Michael Martin.

Did you see the Speaker Hustings yesterday?   Boy they were dull and reinforced my view that none of the current bunch standing for this noble role, is up to the job and would be the true reformer that the House needs.  I have reviewed all candidates in a previous blog:  http://tiny.cc/d1WvM

So, after the Hustings, who do I rate.  Frank Field was my favourite but it is obvious this election is being politicised as Labour Whips have been involved supporting John Bercow, (to piss Conservatives off).  The fact that Frank has pulled because he could not get enough Labour support is honourable but it also shows we are not looking for the best person for the role.    Shame, the House would have had a great Speaker in Frank Field.

So Labour are pushing John Bercow.  Listening to him yesterday and observing him, there is something a little creepy with this man.  He smacks of arrogance and two things stood out.  He wants the Speaker to become a well known Political figure, so he would tour the media stations and seek to explain the workings of the House and his views.  Secondly, he lacks the experience to hold the role down.  He employed some cheap shots to put down those around him with the experience.  If Labour Whips do push him to the max, Bercow will win but he will struggle to have the support of the whole House as Conservatives loathe the man.

We face the very real possibiliy that Bercow will win the election for the Speakership and then, after the election, with a presumable Conservative majority, the Conservatives will place a motion of no confidence in the Speaker and seek his removal.

So given that none of the other candidates grab me for their reforming zeal, I will support an interim speaker in Anne Widdecombe. 

Margaret Beckett throws her hat into the ring!

The race for the coveted role of Speaker is hotting up with Anne Widdecombe and Margaret Beckett throwing their names into the ring.  That means that we now have a growing race:  (alphabetical order)……

Margaret Beckett
John Bercow
Sir Patrick Cormack
Sir Alan Haselhurst
Sir George Young
Parmjit Dhanda
Sir Alan Beith
Sir Michael Lord
Sir Menzies Campbell
Ann Widdecombe
Frank Field
Richard Shepherd

Phew and others are expected to throw their hat into the ring….PLEASE DO!   Hustings for the position will be held on Monday with a new Speaker elected on 22 June, the day after Speaker Michael Martin steps down.

As readers of this blog know, TBB was very vocal early on in demanding the resignation of Speaker Martin.  He wore the fabled robes of the Speaker dishonourably and Parliament will best be shot of him.

In an ideal world, which it isn’t, I believe that Boris Johnson would be a phenomenal speaker.  Whilst a bumbler, he is super intelligent, radical, his own man and has a sense of humour.  But this is not an ideal world….

But looking at the options for Speaker, whilst better than the current incumbent, TBB is not that excited with what will potentially happen.  Given the politically divides across the House of Commons, certain candidates, despite being strong, will be tossed aside. The next Speaker of the House must command respect from all sides of the House.   TBB nailed his colours to the mast and supported Frank Field for the role.  He is bright, articulate, his own man.  But given recent events and him speaking out calling for Gordon Brown to resign for his inept performance, there is no chance of him gaining cross party support.  Gordon Brown is not a forgiving man and so Frank, despite being a favoured choice amongst the Opposition, is now dead in the water for Speaker.

The same can be said of John Bercow.  Once loved by the Tory Right, now a man who has ‘seen the light’ and bent in the breeze and is more at home in New Labour than the modern Conservative Party.  Maybe at the election he will defect to New Labour?  Hence he is hated by Conservatives, (despite him getting Labour support), he will, as well, fall at the first hurdle.

Anne Widdecombe has thrown her name into the ring as a temporary Speaker.  She is happy to assume the role until the next election and then the new MP’s and the new Parliament can select its own Speaker, (and not be saddled by the choice of the previous House).  Great in theory but in practice, MP’s will want a permanent speaker chosen now and not wait for new MP’s, many of whom will have no Parliamentary knowledge and hence will be wet behind the ears when selecting a Speaker.  So despite Anne’s best intentions, she is screwed.  Maybe, if she decided to remain an MP she could be Speaker.  But staying in Parliament will get in the way of her many media appearances and her vastly more important media career. 

Most media commentators say that by convention that since Labour has has the last 2 speakers, it is time for a member of the Opposition.  So that removes the dreadful Margaret Beckett, (just sacked by Gordon Brown), and Parmjit Dhanda.  Let us not forget that Beckett got herself in trouble with the Fees Office after attempting to claim £600 for hanging baskets and pot plants!  How can she claim she wants to clean up Parliament when she was busy claiming for plants…hardly essential expenditure for the workings of an MP!

Getting a feel from Sky News and other political blogs, it is clear that Labour MP’s utterly attribute much of the blame of the downfall of Speaker Martin to Nick Clegg.  Hence Labour will most likely not, under any circumstance, support a Liberal Democrat choice.  So that strikes out Sir Menzies Cambell and Sir Alan Beith.  Wow that cuts the list of 12 down to 5.

And what an uninspiring choice is left.  I find it hard to support any as a strong choice.  So we are left with a number of Grandee’s.  People associated with the ‘old style’ politics.  Not reforming or known for their fresh thinking, necessary to clean up parliament the choice narrows. Fair or not, two current deputy Speakers should not be promoted. Sir Alan Haselhurst and Michael Lord have done a perfectly ok  job standing in for Michael Martin, but they have shown little sign of wanting to radically change the present system and do things in a different way.  Similarly, Sir Patrick Cormack, a respected Commons historian, is perhaps viewed as one who is too attached to the old Westminster methods and traditions.

Sir George Young has put forward a very sensible and impressive manifeto it has to be said.  He has of course run for the role before and was rejected as a choice then.  But now, despite his strong reformist credentials, he is characticterised as an Old Etonian baronet, (which he is!) So Sir george will struggle as a previous reject and someone that may not be seen as what is needed when the House is being accused of being old-fashioned and out of date/touch.

So, who’s left!.  Richard Shepherd.  Shepherd is a lovely bloke.  Got some sound ideas.  But TBB would question whether he would have a strong enough personality to control the chamber.

TBB has rejected all the options…..wow!  But to make a choice.

TBB loves Frank Field for Speaker.  That is clearly dead.  So….if Anne Widdecombe were to make it more permanent, TBB would support her.  If not….new candidates please…..the choice is poor.

Wow…what a day.  Full of drama.  Certainly a day that will be recorded in history and will long be remembered by those in and around the Palace of Westminster.

Yesterday Speaker Martin sealed his own fate.  His statement and Commons performance was so poor that he was left with no option but to resign today.  I will long remember the image of a Speaker, being heckled by MP’s, completely lost in his own job, having to consult with Clerks of the House over the rules, which by any means, he should have predicted such questions and have been fully prepared in advance.

This set over night the pack of savage dogs snapping at his heals.  Whispering in the corridors of power, chattering in the bars and the media feeding on the frenzy of a wounded Speaker, left bleeding to death by marauding MP’s.

Today, when the Speaker announced he was to make a statement later in the day, the chatter reached a football crowd chant.  I for one can attest that the atmosphere in the Chamber was electric as the Speaker stood up.  His statement of 35 secs was again a missed opportunity for him to set the record straight and to apologise to MP’s for his poor performance of late, particularly his bullying of MP’s such as Kate Hoey.

See it reported hear on Sky News.

A resignation statement should be a dignified affair.  A chance to reflect and to say positive words to the House.  Speaker Martin was obviously extremely sad he was going but his resignation lies more with his own hands than anyone else.

Later in the day, he finally made the statement he should have done a week plus ago.  After meeting with the main 3 Party Leaders he announced interim measures that would stop practices like ‘flipping’ and laying down a list of unclaimable expenses. Finally the end of the Gentleman’s club is in sight.  Hear him here via Sky News….(if he made this statement yesterday he would have had more dignity…), announce the end of a number of perks….

But please dont shed any tears for Michael Martin.  He will leave the House with a £77,000 pa pension and a Peerage.  Not bad for the man who was acclaimed as one of the worst Speaker’s of all time.

It makes sense for the House to reflect now until the Speaker goes on 21st June on whether it wants an interim Speaker, (eg Anne Widdecombe like figure), thus allowing for the new Parliament to elect its new Speaker…or whether it does want to elect a new full term Speaker now.

Amongst those touted are the likes of Tory Grandee, (who has been grooming himself as a Speaker for years), Sir George Young.  Whilst an Honourable man it feels like he will be passed over as a man entrenched in the virtues of the old system, (hence advice to Sir George is if you want the job you need to position yourself as a reformer—which is tough as there can be no campaign for the role of Speaker, like there is for a Leadership battle). 

TBB’s choice of Speaker would be someone that is a reformer, deeply intellectual and someone that would command the respect of the House.  That would lead me, so far, to support Frank Field, a man who has my full respect and would restore dignity back to the Robes of the Speaker.

Phew…what a 2 weeks it has been.  Speaker Martin is now on the way.  Thank god he could not prevent Freedom of Information and stop the Daily Telegraph from revealing the extraordinary fraudsters in Parliament.  This period, whilst painful for politicians to go through, reinforces what a robust democracy we have, how the British people, when engaged, are passionarte about politics…..and these 2 weeks could be a defining moment in the re-assertion of our Parliamentary Democracy.