Richard Shepherd joins the Speaker contest – but can he stop Bercow?

Another candidate is about to enter the Speaker’s contest.

Tory backbencher Richard Shepherd is throwing his hat in the ring. He is proposing that he should be interim Speaker.

He thinks the new parliament, with potentially half the MPs new to the place, should get to choose whoever it wants.

Labour MPs in big numbers have rallied around John Bercow, but his support amongst the Conservatives is thought to be pretty thin. 

The search is on for a “Stop Bercow” candidate. Margaret Beckett started testing the waters yesterday.

Menzies Campbell’s supporters think he might be able to rally support.

But John Bercow’s Labour cheerleaders are more determined than ever about their man as they’ve heard that David Cameron has said he wants “anyone but Bercow.”