Coffee House poll: who would you nominate as Speaker to replace Michael Martin?

THX1138

Verity!

Ray

Frank Field is too potent a campaigner to have the fire in his belly quenched by being handed the non-political role of Speaker of the House of Commons.

David Ossitt

I voted for Vince Cable but I woul be delighted if it whent to Frank Field.

Verity

The choice is poor. Ann Widdecombe would be a fine Speaker and might postpone stepping down if it were on the cards.

There shouldn't be any Labourites included. They've already pushed themselves in front of the queue when it wasn't their turn, so no more, please.

John MacLeod

Richard Shepherd. Why isn't he listed here?

Humpty-Dumpty

Hmmm, why is Kate Hoey missing from your list of candidates?

Michael Booth

How about Noddy?
He could nod through any legislation the government of the day put before him. Oh...right...Speaker Martin did that...

Slim Jim

George Galloway!

Oscar

How could anyone in their right mind vote for Diane Abbott? She is a massive part of the problem and could never be part of the solution.

teledu

Terry Wogan - he's had great experience of hosting a farcical, corrupt institution that is in thrall to an unelected, unrepresentative bunch of Europeans.

Baldwin

I opted for Ming. He is sensible, carries authority and being a lawyer is probably helpful. Also he should keep his seat at the next election.

I agree with Ray that Frank Field is more useful elsewhere.

eeyore

Widdy, your country needs you.

Jeremy

Do the Tories have a man of wit, charm, tact, intelligence, erudition, integrity and honour? A man who has a love of his country and an understanding of its history? Because if so, then that man gets my vote. If he also has a knighthood and resembles, in profile, the 1st Duke of Wellington then so much the better...

Tiberius

Albus Dumbledore.

The Commons would then no longer be a Chamber of Secrets, and the wicked Gord Voldemort condemned to an existence at the fringe of civilization.

Not Quite Hayek

Like Ray said, Field is needed on the benches. I chose Cormack instead. He at least seems to be measured in his responses...

Bernard from Horsham

Frank Field

Andrew K

I voted "other". Given the undoubted success of Betty Boothroyd, another female is called for, and convention does suggest from the governing party. It has to be Hazel Blears.

stereodog

I voted for other because I'm sticking with my suggestion of John Thurso. A slightly odd choice maybe but he has experience in both Houses (being a former hereditary)and he's one of the last examples of an MP who was brought up in a family that considered public service a duty. He would be a fine alternative to the policy wonk crowd.

raptor

I'd like to vote for Bercow

Yorkshire blue

I see Martin Kettle has suggested Damian Green.

Liz Elliot-Pyle

I voted for other, and my nomination is John Redwood.

Percy Filf

My other would be Joe Pasquale.

Well...you started it with the Diane Abbot bite.

Anyroad, look what it would do for re-connecting with the electorate.

Mark Heenan

I voted "other", and would have picked Sir Alan Hazelhurst had he been on the list. Whenever he appears as deputy speaker he does a very fine job.

Matt Pain

John MacLeod 7:41, my thoughts entirely.
I think he stood in 2000.
I don't think Frank Field would be suited to the job, although I respect him. I think Bob Marshall Andrews from the Labour side seemed principled, which is why I was surprised to see him involved in the expenses scandal. And also I think he is retiring.

John Moss

Alistair Burt

Steve.W

Philip Hollobone, he's the cheapest of the lot! (Check him on Google)

Terence

I would need to know which of the proposed candidates would, if elected, reinstate the wearing of the complete robes of office - including the full-bottomed wig - before making my fantasy nomination.

Quite apart from the sartorial propriety of such a move, it would be a strong indication of an intention on the part of the office-holder to subordinate his interests to those of the office and, by extension, Parliament - a disposition which appears to be sadly lacking in the current incumbent.

Chrysippus

That bloke with the wig who sits in front of the Speaker. At least, from this afternoons viewing, he seems to have a working knowledge of Parliamentary procedure.

George Laird

Dear All

I would suggest Charles Kennedy as the man to replace Michael Martin.

I think the choice would command support across the entire House and clear up the problem of the Speaker being either Labour or Tory.

A safe pair of hands is needed at the helm.

Yours sincerely

George Laird
The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University

hadrian

I voted for Diane...mainly because I am an afficionado of This Week and Diane is manifestly unpartisan, uninterested in personal promotion and so far as I can guage one of 'the saints' when it comes to expenses scams.

mac

Sir John Stanley.

TGF UKIP

I'm amazed to see you haven't given Richard Shepherd, one of the Tory Party's most assiduous parliamentarians (and probably its finest orator,) a nomination but opted instead for that nauseatingly pompous prat Cormack. Could there possibly be a figure more likely to repel the public than that twit.

I'd be willing to bet too that the LibDems and plenty (secretly) on the Labour side who would happily go along with Shepherd.

Come on Pete I demand a space for Shepherd.

Verity

Jeremy - The first Duke of Wellington! He is one of the people I would choose from history to be a guest at an imaginary dinner party.

Oscar, how could anyone contemplate Diane Abbott in the post? How indeed, except if that person were so eager to prove their multiculti credentials they could ignore the fact that she's a socialist (in other words, believes, or affects to believe, she has a right to confiscate your money and direct it to her own projects) and a hypocrite.

Nick Thompson

Richard Shepherd.

Believes in the institution of parliament. Believes in transparency and has a long history of fighting for freedom of speech and information. Lost the whip in attempt to defend what he saw as an assault on parliament and national interest. He has proved his independence through his criticism of both his own party and the government.

He would be a great choice.

Andrew K

Charles Kennedy? I'll drink to that!

Craig Strachan

Richard Shepherd.

burwellian

I agree with Verity and Eeyore; Widdecombe would make a great Speaker.

Pete Hoskin

TGF: Two reasons for the lack of Richard Shepherd...

When you create one of these polls, you can only have ten voting options.

And no-one had mentioned him in the comments section to my earlier thread, which I was using as a kind of nominations system.

As Humpty-Dumpty's spotted, I've also left off Kate Hoey. That was a stupid error on my part. It makes it a little less scientific, but I imagine that a significant" chunk of the votes for "Other" are for Hoey.

Roger

Scrooge.

Archie

Diane Abbott? Diane Abbott?? You must be joking! As I said before; John Redwood.

Major Plonquer

Frank Ifield?

He hasn't done much since he had a hit with I Remember You in the 60s. But he's got a great yodel and I guess will make an excellent speaker.

Vulture

Norman Baker

Ian Walker

I voted for Diane, because if we're going to have 15-20 years of Tory rule, a genuine socialist in the chair might give the house a bit of a social conscience.

Adam Smith

Dennis Skinner

...with George Galloway playing the pantomime horse, I hear he likes dressing up.

Thrasymachus

Ah, sorry I'm late to the party. The choice, clearly, is an unambiguous one.

We need someone with experience, and a personality forceful enough to tear the roof off this Mother of Parliament.

Has to be George Clinton.

bob

kate hoey

Se1man

surallan sugar

You're fired!

DM

I agree about Charles Kennedy who has politics in his blood. He's well-liked, well-respected in and out of Parliament and wasted on the back benches. Experienced, yet not of the 'old school.'
He's got to want it though, because if he's half hearted, he'll be lazy and it'll show.

Bruno Prior

Why is everyone voting for Frank Field? Do you really want to lose him from the benches? His voice is needed far more there than muted in the Speaker's chair. This isn't just a popularity contest.

Emma

To say I don't want John Bercow is an understatement. The thought of that oily toad in the chair make me feel ill. Besides I thought they were cutting down on expenses so they can't afford to build the podium he so desires.

Dirty Euro

John Bercow or Dennis Skinner would be the best.
Why have you missed out Bercow?
He seems to be to the type who would make a good speaker. He seems to have moral values.
I think you should start the vote again with Skinner and Bercow included.

zzzz

Dame Sylvia Hermon

feddie.

Kenneth Clarke would be a treat.

Vulture

Chazza Kennedy not only has politics in the blood..he also has (hic!) other liquids too. Amiable nitwit to be sure, but a Scottish imbiber? NO thanx.

John Bercow is clearly posting under the name Dirty Euro. 'Moral values'... Perleeeeese - or are you having a larf?