Wishart bids to transform Commons as next Speaker
● SNP MP under attack for eyeing role that is ‘part of the establishment’
SNP MP Pete Wishart has come under fire from proindependence activists on social media after announcing he will seek to become the next speaker of the House of Commons.
Mr Wishart, the MP for perth and North Perthshire and the SNP’S parliamentary business spokesman, posted on twitter on Tuesday that he wanted to be “the first post-war Speaker to emerge from beyond the two main parties”.
In a manifesto proposing a series of sweeping reforms to the nearly 700 year-old institution, Mr Wishart said it was “time for a Speaker to come from beyond the big two parties to demonstrate that parliament represents all shades of political opinion and all parts of the UK”.
But he came under attack from social media followers declaring themselves to be SNP and independence supporters, who questioned why Mr Wishart wanted to become “part of the establishment”.
Twitter user Caspar10666 replied: “You’re not settling in Pete, your supposed to be settling up. This will not go down well.”
Sophia Pangloss posted: “I can only take this as a message Pete, either that you’re not taking this seriously, or that you’re telling us that the party is not being serious.” The SNP MP defended his candidacy, saying that “sorting out” the “procedural difficulties” at Westminster would be a “parting gift” before Scottish independence.
In his manifesto, Mr Wishart promises to introduce electronic voting at Westminster to “end the massive waste of time in how we vote in the House”. He also pledged to end the practice of MPS being called to speak in debates based on seniority, and do away with notorious latenight sitting hours.
In a further break with centuries-old tradition, he also promised to stop calling MPS by the name of their constituency, and to abolish the dress code that requires men to wear jackets in the Commons chamber.
Mr Wishart said MPS would be allowed to clap in the chamber under his Speakership, and some debates could be held around the UK.
Current Commons Speaker John Bercow had promised to step down this year after a decade in the role, and reports earlier this year suggest he told friends he was ready to quit in the summer. However, Mr Bercow is also understood to want to remain in the Speaker’s chair until Brexit has been resolved, with the UK’S exit date now delayed until October.
The Commons Speaker is elected by MPS after each general election, or following the death or resignation of the incumbent. At least two other MPS are known to be interested in seeking the role: Labour MP Chris Bryant, and Conservative Sir Edward Leigh.
Mr Wishart breached the SNP’S traditional party discipline earlier this year to criticise policy supporting a “confirmatory” referendum on Brexit.
Pete Wishart’s decision to put himself forward as the next Speaker of the Commons has raised a few eyebrows. “Is it a wind-up?” asked STV News. On Twitter – not always the best sounding board of public opinion – some independence supporters were unhappy with the MP for Perth and North Perthshire. One suggested that either Wishart or the SNP were not taking their main aim seriously.
Wishart insisted the “Tay would dry up” before he became “Lord Wishart” and suggested his fairly sensible plans – including electronic
voting, abolishing the dress code and allowing MPS’ names to be used – could be a “parting gift to the House” as Scotland departs the Union. There’s no reason why an SNP MP should not become Speaker – the party should play its part in the UK’S main democratic forum, not simply disrupt it. It could even help the independence cause – think of current Speaker John Bercow’s controversial decisions over Brexit. But for that reason and some undiplomatic and “foul-mouthed” outbursts in the past, Wishart may struggle to win support. The SNP could perhaps try someone else.