Speaker Beckett?

This weekend, in the strongest signal yet of fear amongst the Labour ranks, former Housing Minister Margaret Beckett predicted a hung parliament.

Writing in The Times, Beckett displays the arrogant tone she has taken to adopting ever since her 'arrival' as Foreign Secretary in the dying days of the Blair government.

Her objective, to me, seems amazingly transparent. In emphasising the current predictions of doom and gloom Beckett hopes to further her stated ambition of becoming the Common's speaker.

What was it that Thatcher said about the oxygen of publicity?

Beckett's attempts at self promotion aside, she would be ill placed as a speaker for a new Parliament. Throughout the previous 12 years Beckett has remained a loyal backbencher, whip and minister. Unlike some of her notable counter-parts she has never, to date, criticised Government policy or personalities. Topped with the news that she herself also has questions surrounding the MPs expenses saga and it becomes a CV heading straight for the rejected pile.

No, she would not be 'best placed' (as she says) to reform and work with who-ever takes the top job. Saying all this, either are much of the other candidates...

Well, leaving aside the election of the speaker, Beckett's comments are interesting.

Predicting a hung Parliament has been something of a echo since as early as 2005. I suspect it would be no bad thing for our democracy to once again see a hung Parliament. The working of Cameron, a future Labour leader and possibly even Clegg could be the shot in the arm the country needs, seeing democractic renewal before their eyes. It could, just as easily, casade in one big infurno of political hustings and leave the 'real issues of the day' outside.

Political analysis have a proved record of getting wrong but I suspect, at the minimum, a smaller Conservative majority as a winner party with negotiations crucial for the future...

Speakers and Parliaments aside, how much longer should we continue to run with the 'Night of the Plastic Spoons' header? We has predicted taking it down on Friday but, in the words of Prime Minister Mandelson, 'there continues to be elements plotting Brown's downfall'.