Mother of Parliaments

+I have written to the Speaker of the House of Commons. Self explanatory.
 
Dear Sir Lindsay,
 
I hope you will consider putting the following proposal through the appropriate channels.
 
It is simply that after the next election, the person who takes on the role and functions of the most senior member should be a woman. This proposal is made blind to personalities or parties. The last figures shown on the HoC website show that still only 34% of MPs are women, so it is likely that after the next election the most senior MP will continue to be male. I recognise that traditionalists will object to a move to make the Mother of the House leapfrog the Father of the House, but such a step would help, albeit perhaps in a small, symbolic way to demonstrate that genuine reform is possible to make the ‘Mother of Parliaments’ more representative. It should be pointed out to traditionalists that many traditions have changed over the years. Members no longer have to wear top hats when seeking to make a point of order. You yourself no longer need to wear a wig. MPs can use electronic media whilst in the Chamber. And to my regret, an insistence on sartorial standards generally seems to be in abeyance.
 
The new Father or Mother of the House plays some key roles, not least presiding over the election of the Speaker. That clearly is not an immediate concern, but isn’t it time the Commons appeared a bit less patriarchal?
 
I look forward to your response,
 
Humbly yours,

Etc., Etc.
 
+Dale Vince, the founder and now millionaire owner of green energy company Ecotricity has been castigated by the Daily Mail for giving money to the climate change protestors and disrupters of 'Just Stop Oil.' He also gives a lot of money to the Labour Party, so the Mail is demanding Starmer gives the money back, since it is somehow spuriously related to illegal protest activity. That argument is a bit of a stretch. But Vince was on the radio this morning saying his business is British and pays all its taxes here, unlike, he said, Jacob Rees Mogg who has his tax avoiding off shore business accounts. Mogg wasn’t present to respond, and I’m surprised the Beeb let it pass. Well, maybe it’s true, so that’s that. On the other hand, Mogg’s reputation has been besmirched has it not, so perhaps he’ll speak to his libel lawyers. I wish that were so. Vince has deep enough pockets to see the faux patriot Mogg in court.