Election of a Deputy Speaker CANDIDATES 15th OCTOBER Election of a Deputy Speaker CANDIDATES

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1 Election of a Deputy Speaker 15th OCTOBER 2013 Election of a Deputy Speaker 15th OCTOBER 2013

2 Election of a Deputy Speaker 15 th OCTOBER 2013 INTRODUCTION This booklet lists all the candidates for the election of the First Deputy Chairman of Ways and Means on Wednesday 16th October The election is governed by Standing Order No. 2A. The candidates are listed in alphabetical order. Each entry gives the candidate s name and sponsors. All candidates are required to sign a statement indicating willingness to stand for election. Each candidate s entry in the booklet includes any further personal statement that has been submitted by that candidate. To maintain the party balance between the Deputy Speakers, candidates must on this occasion come from the same side of the House as that from which the Speaker was drawn.

3 CONTENTS CANDIDATE PAGE AMESS, Mr David 1 BELLINGHAM, Mr Henry 2 BINLEY, Mr Brian 3 BURNS, Mr Simon 4 DORRIES, Nadine 5 LAING, Mrs Eleanor 6 STREETER, Mr Gary 7

4 Election of a Deputy Speaker 15 th OCTOBER 2013 CANDIDATE MR DAVID AMESS Sir Bob Russell Mr Peter Lilley Mr Andrew Tyrie Mr Roger Godsiff Dame Angela Watkinson Mr Tom Harris Mr Mike Weir Mrs Linda Riordan Mr Mark Williams Sir Edward Leigh Before entering Parliament I was in recruitment for many years. My lifetime s ambition to become a Member of Parliament was fulfilled in 1983 at the age of 31. My upbringing was in the East End of London. Throughout my time in Parliament I have been a Parliamentary Private Secretary but never a Minister. I was initially on the Government side, then in Opposition and now back on the Government benches. I have served on countless committee stages of bills. I have successfully piloted onto the Statute Book two Private Member s Bills. I served on the Health Select Committee for 10 years and was a member of the Broadcasting Committee. I was elected as a member of the Backbench Business Committee. I am vice-chairman of the Industry and Parliament Trust. I have been a member of the Chairman s Panel since 2001, during which time I have chaired committee stages of bills, delegated legislation, proceedings in Westminster Hall and committee stages of the whole House including the Finance Bill. I have served a lengthy apprenticeship and feel able to step up to the job of Deputy Speaker. I strongly believe in the supremacy of Parliament and that all backbenchers are equal. My firm resolve as a Deputy Speaker would be to ensure fair, yet vigorous, debate whilst upholding the dignity and traditions of Parliament. I also believe that chairing our proceedings can be done with good grace and without rancour. 1

5 MR HENRY BELLINGHAM Mr David Ruffley Sir Malcolm Rifkind Nigel Adams Miss Chloe Smith Pauline Latham Penny Mordaunt Ian Lucas Mr Russell Brown Gordon Birtwistle Zac Goldsmith I am convinced that I can bring to the Deputy Speakership the following qualities: 1) Competence, attention to detail and punctuality: before entering the House in 1983 I practiced as a barrister. Hopefully this, combined with my experience on the Front Bench both in Government and Opposition, as well as a stint in the Opposition Whip`s Office, will stand me in good stead when it comes to understanding all aspects of Procedure. 2) Courtesy towards all Colleagues: MPs want a Deputy Speaker who will be considerate and helpful at all times. Colleagues put a huge amount of effort into preparing for contributions in the Chamber, and above all, they want a Deputy Speaker who will give them the maximum amount of information possible, and always put their interests first. People who know me already will hopefully confirm I will not let the House down in this respect. It would also be my intention to serve the House on a totally impartial basis. 3) Constructive working relations with Mr Speaker: I have always enjoyed a good professional relationship with Mr Speaker, and it would be one of my key priorities to work constructively and positively with him. However, there will be times when one of the Deputies has to privately challenge or question him, and I would have no hesitation in doing this but I feel strongly that I will be able to achieve much more if the starting point is one of positive engagement and dialogue. Although I am a strong supporter of Mr Speaker`s backbench reform agenda, I am instinctively a traditionalist who feels passionately about Parliament`s history. 2

6 Election of a Deputy Speaker 15 th OCTOBER 2013 MR BRIAN BINLEY Mike Penning Mr Mike Hancock Mr Peter Bone Mr John Hayes Jim Dobbin Katy Clark Mr Jeffrey M. Donaldson Mark Menzies Rebecca Harris Mr Adrian Bailey If the Commons isn t about people then it fails in its purpose all should demand our respect and regard. Too often people pass by in the corridors of the House without giving any sign of recognition and I truly find it difficult to understand how Members of Parliament who profess to care about the people they represent can act in that way. A friendly hello and a smile not only smoothes human relationships, they are also an outward sign of an inner fellow feeling. It s funny how it all changes when those self same people want something. I hope these words will give an understanding of the approach I would take to both the work in the Chair and in the Speaker s office. In other words if elected I will act as I always have done. 3

7 MR SIMON BURNS Mr John Randall Sir Peter Bottomley Karen Lumley Julian Sturdy Jackie Doyle-Price Mr Keith Simpson Dr Thérèse Coffey Nick de Bois Mr Robert Buckland Caroline Nokes I would like to explain why I am seeking election to the Office of Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons and asking you if you would be kind enough to consider voting for me in this important election. The role of the Deputy Speakers in the House of Commons is to ensure the smooth running of the House of Commons, both in the Chamber and on the Parliamentary Estate. My 26 years experience as an MP leads me to believe that I am more than qualified to fulfil this role. Parliament is in my veins. My experience as both a Government and Opposition Whip has given me an invaluable understanding of the workings of the Commons and how to relate to and work with a wide variety of different colleagues. I strongly believe that the most important qualities a Deputy Speaker must have is to be fair fair to all sides regardless of their political allegiance and firm in ensuring the smooth running of the Chamber, but with a light touch. It is important to carry colleagues with the Chair and to diffuse a difficult situation it is far better to use humour where appropriate or persuasion. The Deputy Speakers are elected by and responsible to the House of Commons and they work closely with the Speaker of the House of Commons. It is no secret that the Speaker and I are not the closest of friends, but you do not need to be close friends to carry out the job successfully. The crucial ingredient is to do the job professionally and in the best interests of the House of Commons itself. In all my jobs in Parliament, whether in Government or Opposition, I have always behaved in a highly professional way, working with a wide range of different people. I have no reason to doubt that the Speaker is equally professional and we would be able to forge a professional working relationship, to the benefit of the smooth running of the House of Commons. I hope I may be able to count on your support in the election on Wednesday. 4

8 Election of a Deputy Speaker 15 th OCTOBER 2013 NADINE DORRIES Chris Kelly Mr Stewart Jackson Rosie Cooper Mrs Siân C. James Mrs Anne Main Stephen McPartland I did not make the decision to stand for Deputy Speaker lightly given the circumstances through which this election has come about. In fact, I want to be very clear that I will vacate the position immediately when Nigel returns having cleared his name. We all hope this will be very soon. I have been a member of the Speaker s Panel for almost three years now, chairing debates and committees fairly and efficiently. Whatever your politics or any disagreements we may have had are forgotten the moment I am in the chair. I passionately believe in the spirit of debate and maintaining the integrity of Parliament. That is why I am standing in this election and why I ask for your vote. Since 2009 I have consistently spoken out on behalf of MPs and have acted in the spirit of an advocate for backbenchers. The overriding concern in this election should be impartiality. I have demonstrated this reliably during my time in Parliament, voting according to principle rather than the party line. If you feel that another candidate is more deserving of your first vote then I totally accept that and would only ask that you would then consider me for your second preference. 5

9 MRS ELEANOR LAING Richard Ottaway Mr Bernard Jenkin Mr Kevin Barron Mr Frank Doran Andrea Leadsom Jacob Rees-Mogg Lady Hermon Sir Malcolm Bruce Mr Graham Allen Dame Tessa Jowell A number of colleagues, from all parties, have encouraged me to stand in the election for Deputy Speaker. I am touched by their kind words and grateful for their support. I would be honoured to have the opportunity to serve the House in this important capacity. I am - Experienced - having served in the House for sixteen years, I have been fortunate to have had a wide range of experience in many roles on Select and Joint Committees chairing APPGs in Shadow Ministerial posts in the Opposition Whips Office currently Chairman of the Backbench Constitutional Committee. Passionate about the House of Commons. I want it to matter. I want Members of Parliament to matter. For decades, the Executive has exerted too much power at the expense of Parliament. I would like to become one of the Speaker s team so that I can play my part in reversing that. I have a proven record of standing up to overbearing governments of all political colours! Determined that the voice of the backbenches, the elected representatives of the people, should be heard. Fair - I obviously have strong views and fight fiercely for what I believe in but my overriding loyalty to Parliament and the democratic process makes it easy for me to be impartial when impartiality is called for. Strong - in the Chamber as a colleague said to me, For such a small person you don t half have a powerful voice!. I guess that is true. I would very much like to have the chance to use that voice to uphold the rights of the backbenches and the dignity of the House of Commons. 6

10 Election of a Deputy Speaker 15 th OCTOBER 2013 MR GARY STREETER Sir Gerald Kaufman Alistair Burt Meg Munn Priti Patel Tim Farron Mark Field Paul Goggins John Glen Alison Seabeck Dr Sarah Wollaston We are fortunate that the Procedure Committee in 2002 recommended to all of us the qualities necessary in a Deputy Speaker: The ability to swiftly command the respect of the House; A thorough knowledge of procedure and the wider workings of the House; To be a good team player and possess a sense of humour and proportion; A serving member of the Chairmen s Panel; and The ability to chair the most challenging debates with fairness and authority. I would like to think that if parliamentary head-hunters had to identify a member matching this profile, they might find their way to my door! I have served in the House for over twenty years in a variety of roles: on the backbenches, as a PPS to law officers, in the Government Whips Office when we had a majority of three, as a minister under John Major, in the Shadow Cabinet for three years and on the Home Affairs Select Committee. For the past five years my chairmanship skills have been tested and honed as a member of the Chairmen s Panel including recently chairing the EU Referendum Bill and the Same Sex Marriage Act. I hope that the way I have carried out my duties during that time in government or opposition has equipped me for this important task. All political careers have ups and downs and mine has been no different. In addition to chairing with fairness and skill, I will bring experience and empathy to the role, a friendly face to all members. 7

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