Petition calls for change to ‘undemocratic’ practice

A campaign has been launched to end the practice of no major party standing against the Speaker at general elections.
John Bercow addresses the audience at the last general election count in 2010John Bercow addresses the audience at the last general election count in 2010
John Bercow addresses the audience at the last general election count in 2010

John Bercow, who represents the Buckingham constituency, is the current Speaker and at the last election only Nigel Farage of UKIP and several independents stood against him.

Phil Harriss, of Brill, has set up a petition on the website 38 Degrees called ‘Give Us a Voice, Not a Speaker’.

The petition says, ‘End the undemocratic practice of no major party standing for election against the Speaker, which effectively disenfranchises nearly all the voters in that constituency. When a Speaker is chosen by Parliament, his/her constituents should elect a new MP.”

Mr Harriss added that at the last general election he felt ‘disenfranchised.’

So far the petition has garnered seven signatures.