New Speaker election process kicking off now, if you want to follow along parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/5c…
It's a pretty weird event. I mean, it;s the only one without an actual Speaker sitting as Speaker. You might not get to see another one for a while.
Process is odd too. They all make a speech, then MPs go off to vote - ballot papers, not going into the aisles. If anyone gets over 50%, they win. MPs basically just keep on voting until someone can get past that threshold.
Could be done in one go. Could go on until the evening.
I'll be keeping my ear on it for anything interesting, up until the CRUCIAL DEADLINE, which is that I have to meet the missus at Pizza Express at 7 before we see the new Terminator.
For what it's worth, I want Harriet Harman to win, but I expect Lindsey Hoyle to win.
Could live with Bryant, although I'm wary of the implicit criticism of Bercow when he says he'd be "an umpire not a player".
Bryant: "I want to stop the clapping". SNP applaud him. Bryant: "Yes, very funny."
Bryant quotes Lenthall and thereby wins my quivering Puritan heart.
Every speaker so far has implicitly criticised Bercow.
There are several impressive people standing to be Speaker. But this moment requires something more.
It is perfectly likely, probable even, that we'll get another hung parliament. It'll operate under the shadow of the referendum mandate, which any govt will be tempted to use to justify sidestepping or bullying parliament.
It's dispiriting to hear candidates, one after another, implicitly attack Bercow for being verbose or allowing PMQs to run on too long. That is the least important thing.
What's required is someone to stand up and signal that they will hold firm against bullying government and protect the sovereignty of parliament. Getting little of that at the moment.
Meg Hillier on much stronger ground, again with a possible implicit criticism of Bercow, when she demands culture shift on bullying in parliament.
Harman: "The are difficult, even dangerous, times for our parliamentary democracy."
"Too often this Chamber descends into shouting and abuse. Relations between this House and the govt are broken. many of us work under a hail of threats of violence. Your choice of next Speaker is really important."
"I would be fearless in standing up for the rights of this House."
Harman says she wants a fourth deputy Speaker drawn from the minority parties. Murmurs suddenly break out on that side of the House. Not good ones.
Ken Clarke telling MPs the rules. Look, he's there organising shit already. Can't we just keep him as Speaker?
And they're off to vote.
First ballot
Total: 562
Bryant: 98
Harman: 72
Hillier: 10
Hoyle: 211
Laing: 113
Leigh: 12
Winterton: 46
Total: 562
Bryant: 98
Harman: 72
Hillier: 10
Hoyle: 211
Laing: 113
Leigh: 12
Winterton: 46
Hoyle very clear lead. But not 50%, so on we go. Hillier out as she got fewest votes. Leigh out as he got less than 5% (heh).
Candidates can now withdraw if they want. "I sit here for ten minutes waiting for all of the candidates to carefully consider their position," Clarke says.
Both existing deputy Speakers, Hoyle and Laing, showing how important experience is proving to be.
I'm guessing Leigh's votes will break mostly for Laing, while Hillier's votes will break more evenly across Hoyle, Bryant and Harman. But none of that is going to get anyone over the line.
Clarke says no candidates have withdrawn. They're now going to print off ballot papers for the next round. "This is an early stage of these proceedings," Clarke informs MPs.
No way is this shit done in time for Terminator.
Second round
Total: 575
Bryant: 120
Harman: 59
Hoyle: 244
Laing: 122
Winterton: 30
Total: 575
Bryant: 120
Harman: 59
Hoyle: 244
Laing: 122
Winterton: 30
Still no 50% reached. Winterton knocked out.
Think it's pretty clear now that Harman and Winterton are not going to make it.
Sorry, my bad - Obvs Winterton not going to make it - she's just been knocked up.
Shut up, I've got a cold, I barely know what I'm writing.
erm... out. Not up. Yes, I think that might be my cue to quit Twitter for today and go get a pizza.
Harman has withdrawn.
It's Bryant vs Hoyle vs Laing.
Guess Harman's vote will break mostly for Bryant and a bit for Hoyle. My guess is Hoyle will reach the 50% mark in the next round.
Anyway, you'll have to tell me all about it because I'm going to dose up on Lemsip, wine and pizza.
