by political editor Paul Francis

Ann Widdecombe has set out her stall for becoming the next Speaker of the House of Commmons.

The Maidstone MP joined fellow candidates for a hustings meeting at Westminster on Monday in which they answered questions from colleagues and spoke about how they would do the job.

The former minister - who stressed she would act only as an interim Speaker until the next general election - said whoever took the role had to be known to the public and that she had the "vulgar attributes" to help Parliament re-connect with the public.

She said the successful candidate needed to focus on two key priorities before the next election.

"With an election upon us, the question we have to ask is what do we do now. It is two things: restore the reputation of Parliament with the public and get the balance between Parliament and the executive eight so the next government does not catch the same disease of the Government that went before it."

She said there was nothing in her own allowances claims that would compromise her in the role, adding: "It is important Parliament has got its house in order and we should all be able to say that of ourselves."

Commenting on the arrest of fellow Kent MP Damian Green, she said the decision to allow police to search the Westminster office was wrong. "If the Speaker had done the right thing on Damian Green, it simply would not have happened."

The election for the Speaker's job takes place next Monday with MPs having a private ballot.