Would-be Speakers line up for contest

These are the favourites to be elected the next Speaker of the Commons in today's secret ballot, together with their odds.

Margaret Beckett - 2/1

Form: First woman Foreign Secretary, 66, making a comeback days after being sacked for the second time by Gordon Brown. Seen as "anti-reform". She opposes select committee chairmen being elected by MPs rather than whips.

Expenses: Booed on BBC Question Time for £11,000 expenses claims for gardening.

Sir George Young - 3/1

Form: Old-school Tory could win if Labour vote splits. Chair of Standards and Privileges Committee.

Expenses: Claimed the maximum second homes allowance for two years.

John Bercow - 3/1

Form: Maverick Conservative championed by Labour MPs because it would upset David Cameron if he wins. Fellow Tories dislike him and suspect he may defect one day. He is the most pro-reform candidate.

Expenses: Claimed almost £1,000 for tax advice and "flipped" his second home to a £540,000 flat in London and then claimed the maximum allowable amount for it.

Ann Widdecombe - 10/1

Form: Maverick Tory to resign at next election.

Expenses: claims £9,000 bill for press cuttings mentioning her was not a "vanity exercise".

Sir Alan Beith - 10/1

Form: Lib-Dem veteran would "lead on reform".

Expenses: Claimed £117,000 on second home. Wife put £60,000 on Lords expenses for same house.