it was typical of your approach ability to all members, but especially backbenchers, which of many personal trademark threat your time in office. the last speaker was the first woman speaker. you, mr. speaker, were the first catholic since the reformation. it is easy to overlook the change that the election of you and your immediate predecessor signify. i was struck by one, that you made. when asked about the procedures of this place, he recalled some wise words. "always remember that things that are traditional should not be thrown out just because they are traditional, and things that are traditionally not necessarily be kept for the sake of being traditional." this is not only a good principle for the reform of the commons but every other or -- every other institution in our country as well. i would note in another interview, this time on the politics show. in that inferred via -- in that interview, he said the secret of prime minister's questions was to relax and calmed down and not get set up. that is a piece of advice i may one take. he said give them just enough rope before pulling t

it seems clearer and clearer that there is a lack of coordination among the backbench rebels. they are less confident now that aaron johnson is an alternative waiting in the wings now that he has been promoted. if gordon brown goes, that means an earlier election and that will lose their seats. i think that borden is in a stronger position than he was last night. -- i think that gordon brown is in a stronger position now that he was last night. >> there are a few other problems for gordon brown. >> yes, the daily telegraph is back on the expenses trail again. it is said that he claimed expenses on two different properties simultaneously. downing street says that these expenses have gone into and have been cleared by the house of commons and checked by the fis office. for any avoidance of doubt, -- by the fifees office. for and the avoidance of doubt, it is being done. >> there was a record low of 23% bid we will look at -- 23%. let's look at the election result in more detail. . the liberal democrats have 1. three councils have no single party in overall control. the conservat

and that is certainly what i will be doing when i go back to the backbenchers. >> the man credited with protecting gordon brown from the cabinet to is lord mandelson, the business secretary. he was awarded with a new title of the first to secretary of state. >> what the party needs to do now is unite behind the prime minister. he is by far the biggest figure in british politics, to lead the country in the face of a very difficult times, economically and politically, and i believe you will see the entire cabinet falling behind the prime minister, and nobody followed james' lead. >> the prime ministers position was looking more secure as a journalist arrived for a press conference in. about 10 minutes in this happen. >> caroline flint just resigned yet last night she came out and gave you her full support. what does that say about the support for other ministers, are they going to resign now? >> she was and has been a very good minister. >> caroline flint is a very close friend of the former communities secretary who resigned wednesday. the pair shared the view that she had been very hars

>> i cannot really understand the statements coming from the conservative backbenchs. we must face up to the issue. he seems to suggest that we do not need to face up to that issue. we do. that is not displacement activity, that is essential activity to restore the reputation of politics. i happen to agree with him about the economy, but the action we have taken is to move the economy as quickly as possible through the downturn but the leader of the opposition fails to ask any questions about the economy any time we meet. >> i welcome the prime minister's statement on constitutional renewal and urge him to ignore the protestations from members opposite. can we end the anachronism of constitutional convention which is too often used as shorthand for doing nothing or resisting necessary change? and secondly, let's go a little further and end the scandal of m ps moonlighting to line their own pockets. we are paid a full-time salary for a full-time job and we should honor that. >> on july 1st, all of the incomes in the greatest detail to be published, by all members to hav