Who will be Speaker?
The Herald reports four contenders for Speaker. They are:
- Lockwood Smith
- John Carter
- Eric Roy
- Richard Worth
They each have their own claims for the job. Lockwood is National’s longest serving MP. John Carter has been a Whip for many years, knowing Standing Orders well. Eric Roy was a very popular Assistant Speaker and Richard Worth would being a first class legal talent to the role.
This may dismay some, but I think Michael Cullen would also be a damn good Speaker. But I think his latest game playing over Treasury accounts has killed off any chance that he could be seen to make the transition from partisan player to referee.
As for the four candidates, it will presumably go to a National Caucus decision and then the preferred candidate checked with coalition partners.
But wouldn’t it be nice if it was left to the House as a whole to decide? If all parties would agree not to apply the whip and allow a free vote, then they could have a preferential ballot as allowed for in Standing Order 19. It would be fascinating to see all MPs vote from their seats.
I presume two of the unsucessful candidates will probably become Assistant Speakers and that Labour’s Ross Robertson will be Deputy Speaker.
UPDATE: Mallard is against Lockwood being Speaker. That probably helps Lockwood immensely.