There has been a lot of talk about open politics in the wake of the expenses saga. Gordon Brown, David Cameron and Nick Clegg have all said that the root cause of the problems in politics is secrecy and the lack of transparency and openness. Those are all accusations that can fairly be levelled at Michael Martin whose failure to anticipate the expenses farrago, or deal with it expeditiously when it broke, has led to his departure as the Speaker of the Commons.
What an unfortunate irony, therefore, that the contest for Mr Martin's replacement should be conducted as a model of the discredited way of doing things - in private, with no argument and no debate. The Commons is currently engaged in another exercise of nods and winks, discreet soundings-out and gentlemen's club politics. The candidates to be Speaker only reveal themselves on the day of the vote, June 23, and are then elected in a secret ballot. Of course, a secret ballot is fine. But a secret campaign? Manifestos should be published and the hustings covered on television. It is time that would-be Speakers made their case in public.
The Times will invite them all to make their case. John Bercow has already broken cover and set out his stall in a magazine article. Rather than nod and wink behind the Speaker's Chair, every other candidate should be encouraged to do the same. This newspaper has implored Vince Cable to stand and we repeat that invitation. But let us hear also from Sir George Young, from Frank Field, from Sir Menzies Campbell, from Ann Widdecombe, from Sir Alan Beith and, indeed, from any others who think they can make a good case to be the next Speaker.
For this election could be crucial for the good name of politics. The new Speaker has a mandate for thorough reform and it is a matter of great public interest that we hear his or her plans before an appointment is made.
A more respected House of Commons is imperative. That means more power to MPs and more effective stronger scrutiny both in the chamber and on the select committees, which should become a viable career path and, at the very least, need a better secretariat and more access to government papers. It would be a great benefit to the reputation of politics if a trusted new Speaker became a bigger figure in the nation. He or she will have to speak for Parliament in the outside world as well as adjudicate within it.
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Even after the mauling that the profession of politics has taken it is not likely that the party structures within Parliament will relinquish their hold on power lightly. It may need the force of personality of a new Speaker to coerce reform on a recalcitrant House. His or her power would be so much the greater if the appointment were made in broad daylight.
The great English constitutionalist Walter Bagehot once said of the monarchy that it was a mistake to let daylight in upon magic. The mystique, in other words, was part of the power. The same was once thought to apply to the office of Speaker. But no longer. There is a brief moment in which serious reform can take place and it cannot pass behind closed doors.
If the next Speaker is to able to restore confidence in politics, he or she should start by rebuilding trust in the Speaker's Office. Campaigning in secret is not going to do that.