Monday Volume 494 22 June 2009 No. 96 HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) Monday 22 June 2009 £5·00 © Parliamentary Copyright House of Commons 2009 This publication may be reproduced under the terms of the Parliamentary Click-Use Licence, available online through the Office of Public Sector Information website at www.opsi.gov.uk/click-use/ Enquiries to the Office of Public Sector Information, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 4DU; Tel: 0044 (0) 208876344; e-mail: [email protected] 617 22 JUNE 2009 Election of Speaker 618 Independent financial regulation would be opposed, House of Commons I think, by few—but the devil will be in the detail. There is good reason why our forebears fought for and guarded the freedoms of this House. A different relationship Monday 22 June 2009 with the upper House, should that be agreed, would certainly require delicate and careful handling from the Speaker. And while I have never predicted the outcome The House met at half-past Two o’clock of a general election, and do not intend to start now, many political commentators predict a hung Parliament or something close to it. New, smaller parties may be Election of Speaker elected—or even others without party to sit alongside the hon. Member for Wyre Forest (Dr. Taylor). The right hon. Alan Williams, the Member for Swansea, Having watched admiringly Speaker Selwyn Lloyd West, took the Chair (Standing Order No. 1(1)). handle just such a House, I recognise how delicate and how potentially controversial the Speaker’s role becomes. The Prime Minister (Mr. Gordon Brown): Ihaveto The Speaker must be seen to be fair-minded, even-handed acquaint the House that Her Majesty, having been and able to command a degree of consent and confidence informed of the resignation of the right hon. Michael across the House. Martin, lately Speaker of this House, gives leave to the I have been asked particularly to address three issues House to proceed forthwith to the election of a new about my own candidacy: my attitude to reform, with Speaker. which I have already dealt, whether it is the Opposition’s turn, and my own background and experience. Last Mr. Alan Williams (in the Chair): The House will now time, I myself advocated the notion that it was the proceed to the election of a new Speaker in accordance Opposition’s turn for the Chair and was corrected by with the provisions of Standing Order No. 1B. A note political historians, who pointed out that the speakership for Members explaining the proceedings was published had in fact always gone with the majority party of the four weeks ago. In a moment, I will call the candidates day, except once. Speaker Boothroyd was that one exception. to address the House in the order in which I drew their I could not help noticing that on that occasion, as so names by lot earlier this morning. The order of speaking often, the hon. Member for Aldridge-Brownhills was published earlier today. When all candidates have (Mr. Shepherd) demonstrated his independence and addressed the House, we will proceed to the first ballot. voted for, rather than against, her. That brings me to my own record. I have extensive 2.31 pm experience chairing committees and conferences, including Committees in this House. I have had to try to communicate Margaret Beckett (Derby, South) (Lab): Mr. Williams, obscure and complex issues in a way that illuminates when the House was first broadcast, Mike Yarwood, them for the lay person, and I have experience of the political impersonator, when asked for his reaction, driving through needed change. I have never been afraid said, “I hope I never have to face an audience like that.” to speak truth to power, wherever power may be found, I am very conscious today of facing an electorate and as those who know me well testify, I have always who know our strengths as well as we do and our been my own woman, and a House of Commons woman weaknesses rather better. One of mine is a deep reluctance at that. to answer only yes or no to a question that I think calls So let me assure you, with all the force at my command, for a more thoughtful response. So as I have made clear, that such skills as I have acquired in my years in this I do not have any problem with electing those who chair House would, if elected, be at the service of this House Select Committees, but I would like us to give thought and all its Members, and that I am particularly conscious to whether and how we could take account of opinion of the Speaker’s responsibility to Back Benchers. But among Select Committee members themselves. the greatest task that faces us all is to convey afresh to I have no objection, in fact, to any of the ideas for the people of our country that we come here, as we all change and reform which are being floated, but I have do, to serve their interests rather than our own. I shall had experience of making reforms in this House—setting work to help achieve that, whatever judgment the House up Westminster Hall and allowing for a TV point in makes today. Central Lobby or for tape recorders in the Press Gallery. All were controversial in their day. There is rarely only 2.37 pm one view; in fact, you are lucky if there are not 600. It is the House that must decide, and a way must be found to Sir George Young (North-West Hampshire) (Con): It take the House with you. The Speaker cannot—and is a pleasure to follow the right hon. Member for Derby, should not—attempt to drive the House, but nor should South (Margaret Beckett). he or she be an obstacle. I pledge myself, if elected, to Mr. Williams, it is good to see you presiding over this facilitate desired change. new procedure for electing a Speaker—a procedure Today we face unprecedented and uniquely difficult introduced because the last one took too long. [Laughter.] circumstances—a two-way crisis of confidence. The Being Chairman of the Standards and Privileges public have lost confidence in us and the confidence of Committee for eight years, a job that Robin Cook asked many Members has been shaken or even lost. No one me to do, may not be the platform of choice from which person can resolve these problems. The challenge is one to launch a bid for the support of one’s colleagues, but that the House as a whole must address. But it is just the perhaps more than almost any other job in the House, it start for the next Speaker. calls for total impartiality and an imperative to be fair. 619 Election of Speaker22 JUNE 2009 Election of Speaker 620 [Sir George Young] to recapitalise the House of Commons. We have left behind the age of deference; we need to arrive at the age On impartiality, I have always been in the Conservative of earned respect. party, not run by the Conservative party. [Laughter.] None of us can do what is needed on our own. In his On fairness, one of my concerns about recent events, resignation speech, Michael Martin said that we are at with the anger about a failed expenses system exposed our best when we are united. I hope that I could achieve by the media, has been the emergence of a bidding war that unity, build on the resilience of the House and help to be tough that risks losing sight of the basic principles win back the confidence and trust of those we represent. of justice that this House has always defended. I want to see a House of Commons that regains its self-confidence. 2.42 pm I want a more independent House of Commons, a more effective House of Commons, a more relevant House of Miss Ann Widdecombe (Maidstone and The Weald) Commons and a more accessible House of Commons. I (Con): Mr. Williams, I think I am unique in this contest. want to see the terms of trade tilted away from the [HON.MEMBERS: “Hear, hear!”] What is unique is that I Executive and back to Parliament. Government have propose myself as an interim Speaker, rather than as a nothing to fear from that at all. If we raise our game, permanent or long-term appointee. The reason I do they will have to raise theirs, and the country will that is that I have become convinced that what we need, benefit. between now and the next election—after the next election will be too late—is the restoration of the reputation So what might be different? I hope our proceedings of this House with the public. If we go into the election might be brisker—shorter questions, shorter answers, without that achieved, the consequences for our democracy shorter speeches. The heart of the Chamber might beat could be considerable. Therefore, we have to ask ourselves a little faster. I believe that we can use the time of the what sort of Speaker could achieve that in the time Chamber, and our own time, more effectively. We could available. trade those thinly attended Opposition day debates, In these extraordinary circumstances—I would not when the Whips come into the Tea Room and tell us have put myself forward in any other circumstances, about speaking opportunities, for more topical statements, given that I am definitely retiring at the next election—we enabling us better to hold the Government to account need somebody who is provenly capable of connecting and reconnect with the public.