Order, order

Well, at least it wasn't Ma Beckett or any of the other duds. What we got, however, was a display of tribalism with Labour voting for John Bercow as a way - an effective way - of irritating D Cameron and keeping another Old Etonian, in the shape of Sir George Young Bt, out of the Speaker's Chair. To hear some Tories bleat this morning that they will try to winkle Speaker Bercow out after the election is also dispiriting. The public wants to move on with honest politics free of the taint and suspicion of a thirst for seemingly unlimited perks. The best candidate, and I hope he gets another chance, was Parmjit Dhanda, who does seem to understand what needs to happen. One prays for a cleansing of this decaying Parliament next year with lots of rookies who will be too frightened to put their hands in the biscuit tin. Ordure, ordure.