Myths about the Speakership - Part Two
Several papers have been claiming that Michael Martin is the first Speaker in more than 300 years to be ousted from office - since Sir JohnTrevor in 1695, they say.
Er, not quite so.
What about Charles Manners-Sutton who was elected Speaker in 1817? He came to be seen by the Whigs as far too partisan, too pro-Tory, and too hostile to the cause of Parliamentary Reform.
Having been re-elected Speaker several times, in 1835 MPs finally voted to replace him with James Abercromby.
I'm Michael Crick, and I'm Newsnight's political editor. My guiding rule is that in any story there's usually something the politicians would prefer the world not to know. My job is to find that out. Follow me on
Comment number 1.
At 21st May 2009, JunkkMale wrote:Thank you for this. It has been very much top of my concerns, too.
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Comment number 2.
At 21st May 2009, JunkkMale wrote:ps: have a gander at the post by a colleague below, entitled 'UK moved a slight notch closer to bust'.
I think Don Lyonso is right, maybe we do need to plough more money in or else... to ensure standards are not compromised.
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Comment number 3.
At 21st May 2009, tawse57 wrote:Charles Manners-Sutton? You people really need to get out more. Try some yoga or go for a long walk.
James Abercromby - now Michael, can you tell us what he is famous for?
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Comment number 4.
At 21st May 2009, leftieoddbod wrote:The speaker will retire with a 77k pension, a seat in the Lords and in three hundred years they will still refer to him in History lectures..not bad for a Glasgow welder
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Comment number 5.
At 21st May 2009, cmanwaring wrote:Crick
Remind me that I need to be on your team on the pub quiz.
I bet that you can name all the speakers since 1560!
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Comment number 6.
At 22nd May 2009, stanilic wrote:Goodness me, he was Speaker some five years after Spencer Perceval the then Prime Minister was shot by John Bellingham.
Wow!
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Comment number 7.
At 25th May 2009, dull_grey_blur wrote:I quote " I'm Michael Crick, and I'm Newsnight's political editor. My guiding rule is that in any story there's usually something the politicians would prefer the world not to know. "
You might do worse than reminding the world about Ms Elizabeth Filkin at this point, Michael. And Yates of the Yard. (Were the fingerprints of Draper and McBride on the dirty tricks campaigns then? Was the honour of Parliament open to question?) Wouldn't it be interesting to invite Filken and Yates onto Newsnight?
The fundamental difference between the sordid little expenses mess and the matters Filkin and Yates tried to address is that the public is wounded and vengeful now and no longer complacently letting bad practice go unchecked. So maybe this time people will pay a bit more attention - and maybe, bite and grip. Go on Michael, open some old wounds and let's see if they are clean.
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