4 Consultation with the parties
14. In accordance with statute, the Speaker consulted
the party leaders on the four candidates whom the Committee had
agreed should be put forward. These candidates were:
- Baroness Browning, nominated
by the Conservative party, who was the MP for Tiverton and Honiton
until the 2010 General Election;
- David Howarth, nominated
by the Liberal Democrats, who was the MP for Cambridge until the
2010 General Election;
- Lord Kennedy of Southwark,
nominated by the Labour party, who was the party's Director of
Finance and Compliance; and
- Rt. Hon. George Reid PC, nominated
by the Scottish National Party, who was the MP for Clackmannan
from 1974-1979 and Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament
(non-party) from 2003-2007.
15. With one exception, the responses received
to the consultations were content with the proposed nominations.
The Scottish National Party expressed concern about the proposal
to put forward one of the candidates, Lord Kennedy of Southwark.
The Committee, having fulfilled the requirements placed upon it
by the statute, takes the view that it would not be appropriate
to withhold the nominations from the consideration of the House.
The Committee commends the appointments to the House.
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