Labour’s Harriet Harman has confirmed she will stand to replace John Bercow as speaker.
“I will put myself forward for election as speaker,” the former minister told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.
Mr Bercow announced on Monday that he will stand down at the end of October after 10 years in the role, which involves presiding over proceedings in the Commons.
He has been seen as a champion of backbench MPs and their efforts to hold the government to account, particularly on Brexit.
But critics have accused Mr Bercow of straying out of the bounds of his authority and raised questions about his impartiality following a number of rulings which were considered to favour Remain supporters.
Ms Harman defended his approach and hinted that she would adopt a similar approach if she got the job.
She said: “I think the speaker has to be scrupulously neutral as between different views within the house.
“The speaker doesn’t vote, doesn’t take sides in debates.
“But, the speaker is not neutral as between parliament and the executive.
“The speaker has to be on parliament’s side and stand up for parliament.”
On Mr Bercow’s stance, Ms Harman said: “He has been right to say to ministers: ‘You have got to come to the House. You have got to account for yourself.'”
A number of candidates have already put themselves forward for the job.
Deputy speaker Lindsay Hoyle, Labour MP Chris Bryant and Conservative MP Sir Edward Leigh have all said they will stand to succeed Mr Bercow.
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