I am pleased that the whole of the House of Commons has elected a female Conservative MP, Eleanor Laing, to be the new deputy speaker. Eleanor, a mum and long standing MP for Epping Forest, got 273 votes from her colleagues, beating six other candidates to the post. The veteran MP for Northampton South, Brian Binley, came second with 240 votes. Eleanor is a passionate Scot, and we will miss her both in the trenches and in the Better together campaign.
Eleanor praised the sensible way this short 10 day contest has been conducted in her last offical words in the house till 2015.
"May I also … thank each of the other candidates for the demure and pleasant way in which this election has been conducted and may I thank the house for placing their confidence in me to let me become part of your team? Thank you."
The MP had kept her canvassing short and sweet, saying that "if the sound you like best is your own voice, you shouldn't aspire to sit in the Speaker's chair". In hustings on Tuesday, she pledged to "stand up for the interests of backbenchers of against overpowering governments of all political colours".
Commiserations to all the other candidates who would have done a good job.
