Is Ann Widdecombe right to have thrown her hat into the ring for the Speaker of the House of Commons job? asks Shirley Tart
Though she said categorically that she wouldn’t entertain it, like most politicians Ann Widdecombe may be susceptible to a top job.
And Speaker of the House of Commons is certainly that. Except right now, some see it as more a poisoned chalice.
However, it seems that Widdy’s name is in the frame and she is now saying she’d do it until the next election, clean up the Commons and leave everything in much better order for the next incumbent. That’s some ambition in about nine months with a big recess looming.
But if anybody can do it, maybe she can.
If only because she is squeaky clean herself and can scare the living daylights out of the devious!
Her ‘order, order’ would surely rival the last (and first come to that) woman to get the job, the exceptional Baroness Betty Boothroyd. She might be little but you don’t mess with Widdy.
This is the old girl who became a Catholic on a matter of principle, who stood almost alone in Tory ranks against fox hunting and who has never been afraid of expressing a forceful opinion on anything.
She’d have to bite her tongue as Speaker though, and keep her own opinions to herself.
Could she do it? Probably. She is a tough and seasoned politician who has also carved a bit of a name on TV weight loss shows and as a national newspaper columnist but she’s nobody’s fool.
I’ve interviewed our Ann many times, we’ve welcomed her here in Shropshire to events like the Shropshire Star’s Woman of the Year finals and in recent times, a big WI bash.
While at one general election we did a Widdecombe Corner spot when I spoke to her every morning to extract a pithy comment on how her campaign was going. That was just enormous fun. Political pundits reckon she stands a chance as well. It’s probably the Tories turn to produce someone for the job and Widdy could well be seen as a very good interim candidate.
Other names are being aired of course but none which might strike the fear of God into the heart of any would-be errant Members as would that of Miss Ann Widdecombe.
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