image
epa01770166 Members of the media watch the newly elected Speaker of the House of Commons, British Conservative MP John Bercow, on a monitor in front of the Houses of Parliament, London, Britain, 22 June 2009. Bercow has won with a comfortable margin of 51 votes over his last round rival Sir George Young. The British parliament 22 June launched the process of electing a new Speaker in an attempt to modernize and clean up its image following a damaging scandal over parliamentary expenses. Members of parliament (MPs) were able to choose from 10 candidates running for the post in a secret ballot. The position is equivalent to that of parliamentary president in other democracies. The Labour Partys former foreign secretary Margaret Beckett was among the favourites for the post, which is also contested by Conservative member of parliament Ann Widdecombe and former Conservative minister George Young, among others. Michael Martin, the previous Speaker, resigned over the expenses scandal last month, becoming the first Speaker in 300 years to be the forced from office. EPA/DANIEL DEME