Some members of the Lobby have detested the Speaker from the beginning, dubbing him “Gorbals Mick”. This allowed him to shield himself by blaming his bad press on posh public schoolboy scribblers. Sensitive as he is, he even got the taxpayer to cough for Carter-Ruck to protect his reputation. He is really dreadful and it is now recognised by all sides they he has to go, the question is how to get rid of the worst Speaker in living memory? The Speaker enmeshed in an air miles fiddle when he is supposed to oversee the crackdown on MP’s fiddles may provide an opening.

The feeling is that if the PM and/or leaders of the opposition let it be known that it was time to take the ermine he would have little choice other than to go. There is no constitutional mechanism for deposing him.

Jon Craig is tipping Sir George Young and Deputy Speaker Sir Alan Haselhurst. Rumour has it that John Bercow fancies himself in fancy dress as well. He seems a bit too young for the job…