MPs elect Speaker amid expenses row
MPs are electing a new Commons Speaker amid claims party whips are plotting against each other to install their own preferred candidates.
Ex-Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett is being tipped as the frontrunner after Conservative MP John Bercow, previously the hot favourite, appeared to lose ground.
Labour whips have been accused of promoting Mrs Beckett while Tories are said to be manoeuvring behind Sir George Young, the Tory chairman of the Standards and Privileges Committee.
But the combination of complicated election procedures and a secret ballot this afternoon could yet throw up a surprise winner from the 10-strong field.
Whoever wins will be charged with restoring trust and confidence in Parliament in the wake of the expenses scandal - a task that will be undertaken against the backdrop of criminal inquiries into a number of MPs' claims.
Michael Martin, Speaker since 2000, officially vacated the position on Sunday after being forced out by MPs angry at his handling of the crisis.
But Mrs Beckett could also prove controversial with the public if elected as his replacement as she would be the third Labour Speaker in succession and, having served as a minister for most of the past 12 years, is close to the Government.
She has also faced questions about her own expenses following claims in the Sunday Telegraph that she spent £10,969 of taxpayers' money on gardening bills.
Mr Bercow was previously expected to win support from Labour MPs who accept it is the turn of a Tory to be Speaker and see him as the least worst option, but Labour backbencher Stephen Pound said there has been a last-minute push by the whips in support of Mrs Beckett.
"It isn't on," he complained. "If any of the whips are out there are listening, stop doing it. We know what you're doing, you're going round touting Margaret Beckett."
