EXCL Labour stalwart Rosie Winterton launches bid to be Commons Speaker
2 min read
Rosie Winterton has launched a surprise bid to succeed John Bercow as Commons Speaker.
The Labour stalwart, who has been a deputy Speaker since 2017, made the announcement in an email to MPs on Friday morning.
She enters a crowded field to replace Mr Bercow, who has announced that he will stand down on 31 October.
In her email, the Doncaster Central MP said: "Parliament has been through a turbulent period and the role of Speaker has been under enormous scrutiny.
"Speaker Bercow’s period in office has been historic in many ways, and not without controversy. I believe I can be a stabilising, unifying Speaker who would be able to balance the rights of the Executive to carry out its mandate where it is given by the people, with the rights of parliamentarians to hold the government to account, scrutinise legislation and to debate issues of the day.
"Getting that balance right is vital to our democracy."
The former Labour chief whip, who also served as a minister under Gordon Brown, also pledged to "ensure that those who work in Parliament and our constituency offices have a safe place of work and are free from bullying, harassment and threatening behaviour".
In a thinly-veiled swipe at Mr Bercow, she added: "Parliament needs a Speaker who can truly allow MPs to help resolve those tensions in a low-profile, consensus-building way in order to demonstrate to the country the vital and committed work Members of Parliament on all sides of the House do. We must learn to disagree better.
"It would be a huge privilege to be that Speaker and I ask for your support to do so."
Ms Winterton becomes the tenth MP to announce they are running to be Speaker.
Others include Harriet Harman, Lindsay Hoyle, Eleanor Laing and Chris Bryant. Mr Bercow's successor will be elected by MPs in November.
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