LDV readers say: Frank Field for Commons Speaker

Cast your minds back three weeks, and Lib Dem Voice posed the question to our readers, Who do you think should be the next Speaker? Over 1,200 of you voted, and (unsurprisingly) your preferences split many ways – but it was renegade Labour MP Frank Field who topped our poll, with just shy of one-in-five votes.

The four mooted Lib Dem candidates for Speaker – Ming Campbell, Alan Beith, Vince Cable and Norman Baker – together received 41% of the total vote. To date, only Sir Alan and Sir Menzies have confirmed their intentions to stand, today publishing their ‘manifestos’ in The Times.

Of course, since our poll went live other contenders have come forward, including current bookies’ favourite John Bercow, Margaret Beckett, Richard Shepherd, Ann Widdecombe and Sir Michael Lord. Would their inclusion in our poll have changed your minds about who to vote for?

Here are the results in full… LDV asked “Who do you think should be the next Speaker of the House of Commons?”

Here’s what you told us:

• Frank Field: 246 (19%)
• Sir Menzies Campbell: 191 (15%)
• Sir Alan Beith: 189 (15%)
• Diane Abbott: 115 (9%)
• Vince Cable: 94 (7%)
• Ken Clarke: 58 (5%)
• Sir George Young: 53 (4%)
• Sir Alan Haselhurst: 41 (3%)
• Richard Taylor: 24 (2%)
• David Davis: 48 (4%)
• Norman Baker: 52 (4%)
• Sir Patrick Cormack: 21 (2%)
• Tony Wright: 32 (3%)
• Other (please state in comments): 106 (8%)
Total Votes: 1,270. Poll ran: 19th May – 10th June 2009