Experience of Youth

One fact worth noting about the current election for speaker of the British House of Commons is the seniority of many of the Candidates.
Sir George Young is 68, Ann Widecombe 61, Richard Shephard 66, Sir James Beith 67, Sir Michael Lord 70, Sir Patrick Cormack also 70, Margaret Becket, 66, and Sir Alan Hazelhurst 72.

Do people think we need a young speaker to engage the youth in politics? John Becow is 46 and Parmjit Dhanda is 38.
Or is a lot of parliamentary experience important? Sir Alan Hazelhurst has been in parliament longer than Mr. Dhanda has been alive!

Maybe after the controversy over Michael Martin stability will be important, with a speaker who can serve for a long period of time, such as Sir Arthur Onslow who held the chair for 33 years.

Mr. Dhanda could do this and retire at 70, but would Sir Alan Hazelhurst still be a good speaker at 105?

MPs alone can judge.