NEXT SPEAKER FRONTRUNNERS

With the odious John Bercow standing down at Halloween, here are the frontrunners to replace him.

Sir Lindsay Hoyle (Labour, Chorley since 1997).  An incumbent deputy speaker since 2010, he abstains on all Brexit votes and does not have a public stance.  Odds:  4/5 (Ladbrokes, William Hill) 8/11 (Betfred)

Harriet Harman (Labour, Camberwell & Peckham since 1982).  The longest serving female MP and a vocal Remainer who has voted in favour of revoking Article 50 (despite voting to trigger it in 2017).  Odds:  11/4 (Betfred, Ladbrokes, William Hill)

Dame Eleanor Laing (Conservative, Epping Forest since 1997).  Another deputy speaker (since 2013) and therefore does not have a public stance on Brexit.  Odds:  8/1 (Betfred, Ladbrokes), 10/1 (William Hill)

Chris Bryant (Labour, Rhondda since 2001).  Nicknamed 'Captain Underpants' after his exploits on a gay website, Bryant has been eyeing up the Speaker's role for a while.  An ardent Remainer, he has consistently voted to block Brexit at every opportunity, at odds with his constituency which returned a 60% Leave vote.  Odds:  10/1 (Betfred, William Hill), 16/1 (Ladbrokes)

Charles Walker (Conservative, Broxbourne since 2005).  The only known Brexiteer among the favourites, he came out strongly in support of Bercow during a Tory plot to remove him in 2015.  Odds:  12/1 (Betfred, William Hill), 16/1 (Ladbrokes)