Ming front runner to replace Speaker

Sir Menzies Campbell, the former Liberal Democrat leader, is emerging as frontrunner for the post of Commons Speaker in a three-horse race after Michael Martin announced today that he was bowing to pressure to go - the first Speaker to be forced out in disgrace for 300 years.

Within minutes of his 20-second announcement, the members' lobby of the House of Commons was like the parade ring at Ascot as the riders in the Speaker Steeplechase canvassed votes. Sir Menzies, 68 this Friday, was circulating, chatting to his senior colleagues, and gaining support among senior Conservatives against the leading Tory candidate, Sir George Young, 67.

Sir George, known as the bicycling baronet, who failed to beat Michael Martin when he was elected, was of the 'wets' denounced by Thatcher. He is well liked around the House, but there are fears he may be too dripping wet to stand up to the Government over the reform of the House.

Sir 'Ming' was deemed too old by the Liberal Democrats to continue leading them, but senior Tories are convinced he's got a second wind. One shadow cabinet minister said: "I'm going to vote for Sir Menzies. It's a secret ballot and I can't stand George, and Ming is going to pick up a lot of Tory votes."

The former Labour minister Frank Field, 66, has the backing of Tony Wright, the Labour chairman of the administration select committee, and former sports minister Kate Hoey. But Field is regarded as too much of a maverick.

The election will be held on June 22, the day following Michael Martin's agreed departure.

Among other runners are the most pompous MP in the House, Sir Patrick Cormack - joking known as 'GLP' among Labour MPs ('Greatest Living Parliamentarian') - and one of the most boring, Alan Beith, the Liberal Democrat.

The wild card is Ann Widdecombe, who has been put up to run by Tory MP Nigel Evans. She can only be an interim candidate because she is standing down at the next election but Evans is convinced she can win, telling colleagues: "She's very popular with the public."

Meanwhile, Betty Boothroyd, the former Speaker, has let it be known she thinks the Labour Party made a mistake when it elected Martin in the first place. If she would renounce her peerage, there is probably a majority in the Commons who would give the former Tiller girl her old job back.

Former Tory Chancellor Ken Clarke has ruled himself out, telling his allies: "I couldn't sit there and listen to speeches without wanting to argue."

As for Martin's departure, one Yorkshire Labour MP told the Mole this afternoon: "I blame Brown. He's left Mick out to dry. I think Brown should now say that it has to be a Tory. Mick was never very quick or clever, and was bad at speaking, but he has been made a scapegoat by the Daily Mail."