When I spoke to Margaret Beckett last night she sounded angry – if I was her I would be too.Just over two weeks ago she was sacked from the Government, without really being given a good reason by the PM.
Then, some say by Gordon Brown’s design, she was encouraged to stand for the Speaker’s position – possibly with the promise of support from whips.
No doubt many a Labour MP will have pledged support and there was the prospect of back-up from Tories disgruntled with Bercow.
The whips’ involvement back-fired, the Tory support didn’t come and her backing fell away after the first ballot – despite more votes being available.
She wasn’t willing to speak openly last night, but I suspect she feels as though she has been led up the garden path.
good
ReplyDeleteSauce for the goose...
ReplyDeleteMakes a change from leading the electorate up the garden path. Now she knows what it feels like. Bitch!
ReplyDeleteMrs Beckett would have made a good Speaker, but her problem in this election was that she somehow managed to get branded as the "anti reform candidate." I don't think she was by any means, but that is how many MPs obviously viewed her.
ReplyDeleteMany memebers of the public viewed her as 'anti-reform' too. Did you see her arrogant performance on Question Time?
ReplyDeleteShe might not have been anti reform, but she stated herself that she'd only "facilitate" reform not push it herself - she might as well have said I'll reform as much as MPs want me to, which as we have seen in the past in sweet FA.
ReplyDelete