MERSEY MP Frank Field was installed as joint-favourite to become the next Speaker last night, after Michael Martin became the biggest casualty of the expenses scandal.
Mr Martin announced his resignation in a dramatic 33-second statement yesterday – the first Speaker to be forced out in more than 300 years – insisting his departure was necessary so that “unity can be maintained”.
The speech offered no further explanation, but followed MPs from all sides telling him, to his face, he must quit to restore Parliament’s battered reputation. A non-confidence motion was tabled yesterday.
Attention quickly switched to who will succeed him in an election on June 22 – using, for the first time, a secret ballot.
Ladbrokes quoted odds of 4-1 against Mr Field, the Birkenhead MP and former welfare reform minister, reflecting his reputation as a reformer and an independent thinker.
Mr Field enjoys support on the Tory benches, but is distrusted by some Labour MPs because of his outspoken criticism of Gordon Brown and flagship Labour policies. He has yet to say he wants the job.
Current deputy Speaker Sir Alan Haselhurst is also 4-1, followed by Tories Sir George Young and John Bercow. Lib-Dem Sir Alan Beith is also in the race.
Candidates must be nominated by at least 12 MPs and will all address the Commons before rounds of voting, until one has the support of more than 50% of MPs.
The Speaker had faced mounting criticism for overseeing the system which apparently encouraged MPs to fiddle their expenses – while fighting to prevent the release of the receipts which proved the scandal.
His reaction to the leak of the receipts was to call in the police, rather than apologise to the country.
