Living in the speaker’s constituency

[9quidicecream]

Don’t know if anyone else on here does but there is an electorate of approximately 75,000 who are effectively disenfranchised as we live in the speaker’s constituency.
I know it’s always been this way but I can’t help thinking whether the role should be separate to that of an MP.
Our choices in 2019 were Hoyle, who has to stand as an independent, the Green Party, and a man who’d changed his name to Mr Brexit.
I know traditionally the major parties have never challenged the Speaker but I know a lot of people are saying they feel a bit out of it all.
Just wondering what people’s thoughts are on this ?

Yes. I lived in Bercow’s. Felt totally disenfranchised - I’ve always been politically active and it really wound me up. Unfortunately he continued to get a big majority.

What alternative do you propose?

The Speaker as a ceremonial role and the constituency represented by its own MP like everywhere else

The Speaker has a vote in rare circumstances. I don't like the idea of someone having one in the Commons who has not been elected.

I think once the speaker is chosen they should relinquish their role as MP and a by election be held in their constituency. That way the constituents are allowed the same choice of representation as everyone else. The speaker shouldn’t vote as despite their independent status they clearly still hold a party allegiance

When the Speaker votes, they aren’t free to do what they like - they’re bound to vote in line with convention, which I think, from memory, is that they always vote to preserve the “status quo”.

I live in the deputy speakers consistency and have had basically no mp representing us for 10 years. She is standing down but as it’s a very safe Tory seat, I can’t imagine the change will be noticeable after the election.

i do agree that it would be preferable to find a way to allow a voting my to represent every constituency