REFORM OF THE PROCEDURE FOR THE ELECTION OF A NEW SPEAKER

Motion Text

That this House notes that, according to Standing Orders, procedures for the election of the new Speaker could preclude all but two of the honourable Members who may have declared their candidature from offering themselves to honourable Members for election; calls on the Procedure Committee to bring forward amendments to Standing Orders to provide for democratic elections in which each honourable Member may cast a vote for his or her chosen candidate; and further calls on the candidates to issue personal manifestos so that honourable Members may make informed choices based on the candidates' stated commitment to the rights of backbenchers and the modernisation of the House.