In UK, MPs jostle for Speaker's chair

In UK, MPs jostle for Speaker's chair
The race over UK's next parliamentary speaker is well under way with the Conservatives claiming it's their turn to replace former speaker Michael Martin.

At least ten MPs are bid to stand for the elections to choose the next speaker of the House of Commons, to take over Martin's place who resigned over the expense claims scandals.

Although traditionally the role of the speaker is independent, each party prefers the incumbent to be from its own colors.

From the ruling Labour party, the former foreign minister Margaret Beckett and Parmjit Dhanda are in the running.

From the opposition's benches, John Bercow, Ann Widdicombe, Sir Patrick Cormack, Sir Alan Haselhurst, Sir Michael Lord, Richard Shepherd are the Conservative MPs said to be vying for the Speaker's vacant chair.

Form the Liberal Democrats, Sir Alan Beith has definitely thrown in his hat and he may be joined in the race by the former Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell.

Miss Widdicombe who is said to be Conservatives' charismatic candidate said: "We have got to restore the reputation of the House of Commons with the public and that means somebody who can connect with the public, which I believe I can do very well."

UK's House of Commons is under fire after losing public trust following disclosures of extravagant expenses claimed by many MPs, which forced a number of them to resign and caused a government reshuffle on the Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

The last speaker was forced to resign, as it was revealed that his office did not keep a close enough eye on the MPs' expenses claims, as it should have done.

The vote to choose the Commons' next speaker is scheduled for June 22 and it will be done by secret ballots.