End of Caledonia's grip on high office is nigh

Published on Sunday 21 June 2009 21:26

IT SEEMS historically curious that only two Scots have ever climbed the greasy pole to become Speaker of the House of Commons. The second, Michael Martin, whose successor will be elected today, will long be remembered as symbolising the parliamentary expenses scandal, while the first, the Whig politician James Abercromby, disappeared long ago into the obscurity of an academic footnote.

The pair had little in common, although there are some convenient journalistic parallels. Abercromby, the son of a general, lasted only four years as Speaker and resigned in failing health with, as a biographer noted, his "capacity to control the house declining". Martin, the son of a merchant seaman, reluctantly resigned, following nine often controversial years in the Speaker's chair, his capacity to demand the confidence of the House exhausted.

Both men also had their critics. Lord Grey, in whose government Abercromby sat, considered him a "perfect humbug", while Martin had to endure insults ranging from the geographically-inept "Gorbals Mick" to accusations of political bias and, latterly, incompetence. Abercromby retired with a pension of 4,000 per annum and a peerage; Martin will certainly get his pension, while a peerage, normally a formality for a former Speaker, is bound to provoke controversy.

As did, interestingly, the election of both men as Speaker. Elected in 1835, Abercromby only stood at the insistence of the then prime minister, Lord Melbourne, and his victory – by 316 votes to 306 – was interpreted as a "touchstone of party strength". Similarly, Martin's election in 2000 caused controversy precisely because it was perceived as reflecting Labour's then substantial strength in the Commons.

Such controversy is unlikely to accompany whoever is elected to succeed Martin at Westminster today, and nor is the new Speaker likely to be a Scot, former Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell having sensibly ruled himself out last week. In fact, given the nature of the post-devolution age and the prospect of further constitutional reform, it is extremely unlikely that an MP from north of the Border will ever again preside over the Commons.

John Bercow, the Conservative MP most likely to win today's election, may find himself treading on eggshells after the next general election. If David Cameron's prospective government is serious about implementing its pledge of "English Votes for English Laws" (EVfEL), then it will fall to Bercow to designate each bill before the House as "Scottish", "English" or a bit of both.

This is sure to be a logistical nightmare. Few Commons bills are ever exclusively English or Scottish and if, as proponents of EVfEL claim, territorial application could be assessed clause by clause, they must also be prepared to defend the administrative pressure, not to mention expense, this would generate.

The prospect of dealing with clumsy attempts to answer the West Lothian Question will not, however, be foremost in the new Speaker's mind; restoring public confidence in parliament will. Ironically, the expenses scandal is unlikely to occupy much time: Martin's resignation lanced the boil; an interim expenses regime is already in place, and enduring reform rests with Sir Christopher Kelly's inquiry.

But Bercow, assuming he wins, will have a key role to play in steadying the Commons ship, applying soothing balm to frayed nerves and strained egos, and – most importantly – projecting a positive image of parliament to the world beyond Westminster. Bercow clearly realises this. "No Speaker can become embroiled in any partisan controversy, but they should be able to make authoritative statements on behalf of the House," he said recently. "The Speaker should not be parliament's shop steward but its ambassador."

The difficulty for Bercow in repairing recent damage may come from his own side. Regarded as a "sook" by many MPs, the Tory front-bench is appalled at Labour MPs backing Bercow chiefly because he is disliked by his soon-to-be erstwhile colleagues. Childish, perhaps, but then this is politics; it is surely churlish for the Conservatives not to recognise Bercow's obvious qualities as a talented parliamentarian.

Speaker Lenthall's celebrated reply to King Charles I in the House, where he had gone to arrest five members for treason, is often quoted and captures the essence of a Speaker's duty to the Commons: "May it please Your Majesty, I have neither eyes to see, nor tongue to speak in this place, but as the House is pleased to direct me, whose servant I am here, and I humbly beg Your Majesty's pardon that I cannot give any other answer than this to what Your Majesty is pleased to demand of me."

Bercow seems likely to fare better than his predecessor, who compares poorly even against the only other Scottish Speaker. Abercromby at least introduced several important reforms to the management of private legislation; Martin cannot point to anything as practical.

Sadly for Scots, and perhaps the Union, Martin's departure probably marks the beginning of the end for the Caledonian ascendancy at Westminster. With Brown and Darling likely to be vacating No 10 and No 11 Downing Street within the year, Scotland may never again be able to boast a powerful trio of a Speaker from Glasgow, a Chancellor from Edinburgh and a Prime Minister from Fife.