Widdecombe joins Speaker race

Thursday, 11 June 2009 4:12 PM

By politics.co.uk staff

Ann Widdecombe is the latest MP to announce her intention to stand for Speaker, pledging to "clean the place up" last night.

The former Home Office minister, who once said she would not touch an image consultant with a ten-foot bargepole, will stand down as an MP at the next election.

She wants to be an interim Speaker charged with reforming parliament.

"I think there is a job to be done, particularly in the present circumstances. A lot of people have asked me to do it. And I've decided there is enough support there to at least try," she told BBC Radio Five Live.

Bookmakers William Hil instantly made the Tory fire-brand second favourit to win, giving her odds of 4/1 next to John Brecow's 3/1.

"Ms Widdecombe is the kind of high profile character whose appointment would almost certainly prove popular with the public - however, they don't have a vote," said spokesman Graham Sharpe.

Ms Widdecombe has been a strong campaigner for family values as MP for Maidstone and The Weald and has spent much of her years in opposition writing novels and appearing on television.

After being approached by numerous MPs offering their support she has decided to "at least try" to win the secret ballot choosing Michael Martin's replacement, which takes place on June 22nd.

"It will certainly be an enormous challenge because we do have to get the reputation of parliament restored in time for the next election. It's not something that can be postponed until afterwards," she added.

Mr Martin resigned after MPs from all sides of the Commons openly called for him to do so at the height of the expenses scandal.

Other candidates to succeed him include John Bercow, Parmjit Dhanda and Sir George Young.

They were also joined yesterday by former foreign secretary Margaret Beckett, who - together with Ms Widdecombe - will attempt to become only the second female Speaker after Mr Martin's predecessor, Betty Boothroyd.

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