Birkenhead MP Frank Field canvassing support for House of Commons Speaker job

Jun 1 2009 by Ian Hernon, Liverpool Echo

Frank Field

BIRKENHEAD MP Frank Field is canvassing support for a bid to become Commons Speaker.

He wants to clean up Parliament following the MPs' expenses scandal but he will only officially stand if he is guaranteed cross-party backing.

The former welfare minister and arch critic of the government, said: "There is no point going in for it if a new Speaker can't muster whole-hearted support.

"We have to be serious about genuine reform if Parliament is to regain the trust of the electorate. To do that the next Speaker must be able to act with authority."

Mr Field will test out personal support over the next three weeks up until the eve of the Westminster election to replace Speaker Michael Martin, blamed for failing to introduce reforms which might have averted the present furore.

Other potential candidates are Tories: Ann Widdicombe, backbench rebel John Bercow, current deputy Speaker Sir Alan Hazelhurst and former minister Sir George Young.

Given that the outgoing Speaker is Labour, Mr Field will have to persuade fellow MPs that his independent qualifications on the Labour back benches make him a realistic interim option rather than a switch of parties.

He has emerged as second favourite behind Ms Widdicombe among voters and on-line votes but the election is among MPs only.