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11/06/2009
Widdecombe's 'Hat In The Ring' For Speaker Job
Several high profile political name have announced their intentions to run for Commons speaker.
Among them Tory MP Anne Widdecombe, who has pledged to "clean up the place".
The 61-year-old will have to fend-off former Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett and Sir Patrick Cormack in her bid to replace out-going speaker Micheal Martin, who will stand down later this month.
Others who have expressed an interest in the post include Labour's Parmjit Dhanda, who, if successful, would become the Commons' first Asian speaker.
Mr Dhanda's party colleague Frank Field has also announced his candidacy, as has the Liberal Democrat Sir Alan Beith.
In addition to Ms Widdecombe, other Conservatives throwing their hats in to the ring include Sir Michael Lord, Sir George Young, Sir Alan Haselhurst, John Bercow and Richard Shepherd.
Ms Widdecombe, who represents Maidstone and The Weald, has already made public her intentions to retire from politics at the next general election.
Meaning any term she could possibly serve would be short, although the MP is confident it would be no less than a year.
She said: "Had there been the slightest possibility of an Autumn election it would have been a nonsense to stand because it would have only been for a few months.
"But I think if I were to have the best part of a year and if that was what colleagues wanted me to do then I would be able to be effective."
Describing the jobs as an "enormous challenge", Ms Widdecombe said: "We do have to get the reputation of parliament restored in time for the next election. It's not something which can be postponed until afterwards.''
(PR/JM)
Among them Tory MP Anne Widdecombe, who has pledged to "clean up the place".
The 61-year-old will have to fend-off former Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett and Sir Patrick Cormack in her bid to replace out-going speaker Micheal Martin, who will stand down later this month.
Others who have expressed an interest in the post include Labour's Parmjit Dhanda, who, if successful, would become the Commons' first Asian speaker.
Mr Dhanda's party colleague Frank Field has also announced his candidacy, as has the Liberal Democrat Sir Alan Beith.
In addition to Ms Widdecombe, other Conservatives throwing their hats in to the ring include Sir Michael Lord, Sir George Young, Sir Alan Haselhurst, John Bercow and Richard Shepherd.
Ms Widdecombe, who represents Maidstone and The Weald, has already made public her intentions to retire from politics at the next general election.
Meaning any term she could possibly serve would be short, although the MP is confident it would be no less than a year.
She said: "Had there been the slightest possibility of an Autumn election it would have been a nonsense to stand because it would have only been for a few months.
"But I think if I were to have the best part of a year and if that was what colleagues wanted me to do then I would be able to be effective."
Describing the jobs as an "enormous challenge", Ms Widdecombe said: "We do have to get the reputation of parliament restored in time for the next election. It's not something which can be postponed until afterwards.''
(PR/JM)
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:It will be cloudy again throughout the day. Mainly dry in the morning, but patchy drizzle in places, becoming more widespread and persistent in the afternoon. Freshening southwesterly winds. Maximum temperature 12 °C.Tonight:Cloudy with a spell of heavy rain pushing south through late evening and the early hours, followed by some clear spells. Minimum temperature 6 °C.
