Who will be the next Speaker?: Sir Alan Haselhurst
Sir Alan Haselhurst MP
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Wednesday, 20, May 2009 12:00
By Jonathan Moore
Following Speaker Michael Martin's announcement yesterday he would step down on June 21 all eyes have turned to his potential successor.
Despite inheriting what looks distinctly like a poisoned chalice there have been no shortage of names put forward in the early running.
The new Speaker faces the unenviable task of dragging the Commons out of the mire in the public's eyes and will doubtless require a figure of gravitas and charisma if they are to have any hope of restoring faith in parliament.
With such a mammoth task ahead of them, politics.co.uk looks at the potential candidates and the positives or negatives their appointment would bring.
Along with Sylvia Heal the other deputy Speaker Sir Alan Haselhurst has also been mentioned as a possible replacement.
First elected to parliament in 1970 he served for four years as MP for Middleton and Prestwich before being defeated in the February 1974 general election. He returned to parliament in a 1977 by-election as MP for Saffron Walden where he has served ever since.
He was first appointed as a deputy Speaker by Betty Boothroyd following her election in 1997 and carried on in his post after the election of Michael Martin in 2000. With such a long history of service and a great deal of knowledge of the position some had seen him as the natural successor to Martin.
However, due to the manner of Martin's resignation and Sir Alan's direct involvement in the expenses row – he reputedly claimed £11,771 in gardening expenses alone between 2004-08 – his chances of being elected appear very slim now. While his experience may support a candidacy it's unlikely that any MP whose claims are considered to be excessive will be elected to a position where they'll be involved in clearing up MP's expenses.
Coral: 9/1
Ladbrokes: 16/1
Paddy Power: 10/1
William Hill: 16/1