Perthshire SNP MP Pete Wishart has announced that he is standing to be the next Speaker of the House of Commons.
The Perth and Perth North MP took to social media last night to announce his candidacy – which was met with mixed reactions from across the political divide.
Mr Wishart said: “Tomorrow I will release my manifesto to become the next Speaker of the House of Commons.
My agenda to be Speaker of the House of Commons. A programme of necessary and far reaching reform. Let's make this House fit for the 21st century as Scottish MPs prepare to leave for an independent Scotland. https://t.co/zScgN2CjSE
— Pete Wishart (@PeteWishart) May 1, 2019
“The first post war Speaker to emerge from beyond the two main parties.
“It will be based on a solid agenda of reform seeking to secure equality of all MPs.
“It will be substantial and far reaching.”
In his manifesto agenda released on Wednesday Mr Wishart said that he wanted to “reform parliament” and “demonstrate that Parliament represents all shades of political opinion and all parts of the UK.”
Some of Mr Wishart’s key manifesto points include ending the way that votes are counted to stop wasting time and ending the process of members being selected to speak based on seniority.
SNP supporters have had mixed reactions online to the announcement, with some in favour and some against the candidacy.
However Mr Wishart does appear to have won the support of the First Minister with the BBC reporting that Nicola Sturgeon has defended the move.
According to the BBC Ms Sturgeon said: “For as long as the SNP is in the House of Commons, we should be trying to make it work as well as we can, and undo some of the barriers that are in the way – we’ve seen all too powerfully in the Brexit debate how Scotland’s voice is not being heard.”
