Flipper for Speaker

I rather think that Flipper the famous Dolphin should become the next House of Commons Speaker. Flipper is highly intelligent, came by his name honestly, isn't a knight of the shires, doesn't have a trade union background - in short free from bias. I appreciate that a new aquarium would present a difficulty but any government that has managed cost overruns on the Millenium Dome and the Olympics will not be fazed by this.

There are alternative flippers if you want choice. John Bercow . . . 

Gone, forgotten

This afternoon I was an unwilling listener to St Stuart Bell who claimed that Michael Martin was a reforming Speaker and should have been allowed to get on with the job. Later Gordon Brown claimed to be the only one who was reforming Parliament. Puhleeese! As I have remarked before Martin was never up to the job. Worse still he took every suggestion and offer of help as a personal slight and invented this idea that people were against him because of his background. There have been very many better men and women than Michael Martin who have been able to move on in life and actually clock up real achievements rather than polish a chip on the shoulder.

Gone now. Gordon Brown will probably give him a seat in the Lords where he can carry on troughing, but at least he won't be in a position to block reform.

Douglas Carswell appears to realize that the whole Parliamentary set up needs reform. I hope he is able to convince others. In the meantime Gordon Brown appears to believe that it's only a matter of cleaning up the expenses system and salaries for MPs, so we are not much further ahead.

The mere shall inherit the earth

I've grown accustomed to the wannabe culture where people without any apparent talent, skill, knowledge or even graft can suddenly find themselves counted amongst the famous. Then tonight I saw a Sky News promo that featured Michael martin's bad-tempered dressing down of Kate Hoey and I thought, this man is likely to become the most famous Speaker of modern times. He will become a household name while his more distinguished predecessors will remain known only to a few.

The same observation could be made about Jackie Smith. She'll be remembered while those who could actually do the job won't.

Reform can start tomorrow

Throughout the 20th century, and certainly in my lifetime, the Speaker of the House of Commons was always a considerable parliamentarian  respected on all sides of the House. Then in 2000 MPs decided that social engineering should supercede common sense, so they by-passed the obvious merits of Gwyneth Dunwwody and Sir George Young in favour of someone who still wants to fight the class war.

From day one Michael Martin was clearly inadequate but MPs convinced themselves that the machinery of office and a certain amount of goodwill would take care of the rough edges. I don't suppose they dreamed that the job would require some real leadership qualities. Quite disturbing really and on a par with putting people into ministerial roles who only have wannabe credentials.He has been, and remains, an obstacle to reform. Reform is going to be complicated enough as it is without this antedeluvian roadblock. He must go now, not next year. He ha done nothing to deserve the reward of a peerage and if Brown tries to pull this stunt i will only bring Parliament further into disrepute.