What Happens if Margaret Beckett Becomes Speaker?

At the moment, I’m being frequently asked, “What happens if Margaret Beckett becomes speaker?”  The answer is simple.  The speaker is an apolitical post but must be an MP.  Therefore, the convention is for them to run as independent candidates without opposition from the other main parties. 

What this means is that, should she be elected speaker, I would probably be asked to withdraw from the race to be the Member of Parliament for Derby South.  This would be a bitter blow to me personally as I love being the prospective parliamentary candidate here and for the first time in a long time, there is a real chance of Conservatives winning in the City and bringing about the change we all crave. 

However, I know that in politics, as in my previous life in the army or international aid, there are some things that are more important than the individual.  The impartiality of the Commons’ speaker and the crucial role they play in our democracy is one of them.  Therefore I would be happy to follow the wishes of my party and the conventions of our democracy.

In contrast, should she fail to be elected speaker, I will continue with all guns blazing to hold her to account for her miserable representation of the people of this City.  The fact that she’s running for the apolitical post of speaker shows she’s worried about the real change that is sweeping this City.  The European elections have showed that the Conservative party are leading here.  Once the election of a new speaker is done and dusted I can’t wait to get back into the cut and thrust, spending more time than ever making the arguments for changes that the people of Derby are desperate to see.