大象传媒

Looks like a very interesting show- that guy talking about food last night was really interesting also. Eat food, not too much, mostly plants- I am going to do that now- it is firmly fixed in my brain!

Some people emailed the daily politics today to suggest that the speaker always interjects and asks somebody to be quiet when the PM seems to be struggling. I've never thought about it before- but isn't that going to happen if we have a speaker that used to be a member of a party?

Carol
Its Jacqui Smith not Jackie ...that was a girly magazine

I agree with Mark, I am old enough to remember rationing and how we were all deprived....yet never healthier, no malnutrition and everyone had a piece of the cake except there was no cake! I wish we could return to that period of 'austerity' to save our gluttoneous youth.

I am really looking forward to the feature on Michael Martin. Regular readers of Simon Hoggart's sketch will know of his opinion on the Speaker.

He was taken ill some time back, and many thought that would be used as an excuse to take some form of early retirement. But he is now back and there seem to be increasingly vociferous and numerous questions over his competence and impartiality.

I don't watch 大象传媒 Parliament to be able to form a completely objective view, which is why I look forward to the film with interest. It may answer the question of why he got the job in the first place, when it was the turn of a Tory MP to take this job.

There has always been a whispering campaign against Michael Martin; to answer Bedd Gelert, one of the main reasons he got the job was that Tony Blair endorsed the main Conservative candidate, and a Prime Minister's endorsement is the kiss of death for a potential Speaker.

Having observed speakers going back to George Thomas, I would say that Speaker Martin is not as fast on his feet as some, and does not have the way with words that Speaker Thomas had, and certainly doesn't have Speaker Boothroyd's sense of humour, but is as effective as Speaker Weatherill.

However, I would suggest that 2009/2010 whenever the next General Election is, should be the point for a dignified retirement.

The Tories think that Michael Martin is biased against them? Now why on earth would they think that? Not because he's... erm- remotely connected to the Labour party surely?

The simple fact is that the speaker of the house shouldn't be a party member of any kind, he shouldn't even be an MP, and a thorough dislike of all politicians of any persuasion would be a great asset.

Personally I think all political parties are there to service themselves, all politicians are lying toerags, and anyone who so much as expresses a desire to become one has also let it be known that he or she is not a suitable candidate for the job.

I humbly wish to apply for the position.

I'm sick of knee-jerk reactions to criminal issues from power-hungry politicians and others. My freedom to walk down the street unmolested by random search and interrogation by the Police is not harming anyone. The people responsible for knifings and shootings are the people wielding the knives and the guns. Punishing ME by removing MY freedom is unjust.
The state will always try to exert more control over us because that is what the power-hungry liars get off on. They have their agenda. Ours should be freedom.
We all have far more to fear from the unrestrained power of the state than the limited power of a few criminals. I offer in evidence Burma, Zimbabwe, China etc etc.

Bedd Gelert is wrong - there is no such system of "taking turns" in the Speakership. It's simply a coincidence that the Speaker alternated parties the last few times, and remember that in 1992 the Conservatives nominated Peter Brooke first off and there had to be a rebel amendment to get Betty Boothroyd.

I didn't see the piece but I know Michael Martin is useless. I hope he stands down without delay, so that Sir Alan Haselhurst can be elected.

gargrax - intelligent comment! for all the political class loves to talk aboutr evidence-based policy there seems to be a blind spot when it comes to the glaring obvious! we are watching our taxes and investments being picked off bit by bit by the capitalistas who are creating a global elite.

if anyone else tells me again how bloomin' wonderful italian cuisine is, i shall merely point them in the direction of jem's hilariously disdainful appraisal of the italian parliament and remind them that food reflects the culture - yes, i have been in italian meetings that have been rescheduled by the demands of the chef - and did you see in the cacophony of the italian parliament, amidst the brawling they were stuffing what looked like palma ham in their mouths? give me egg and chips, a cucumber sandwich and a little simple decorum any day!!

Another childish liberal experiment fails disastrously. P.C. policing has only benefited the CRIMINALS.

good film about Michael Martin - just look out for that letter from Peter Carter-Ruck..

Not only can Steffi talk about finance intelligently but she does graphs. Now i know there is a heaven ;)