Tony Benn has called for the House of Commons to change the way it elects the speaker in advance of this month's election for Betty Boothroyd's successor.

Benn has written to the father of the House, Sir Edward Heath, calling on him to sanction a change in the standing orders of the Commons in a bid to ensure that the election is run as a secret ballot of all MPs. Sir Edward would preside over the proceedings and, says Benn, would have the full authority of the speaker whilst in the chair.

Under Benn's proposed system, MPs wishing to run would have to be proposed and seconded before a secret ballot takes place in the no-lobby. The two speakership candidates who poll the highest number of votes would then go to a head-to-head vote where MPs would troop through the division lobbies to lend their support.

Benn, who has also written to senior politicians and all the current candidates, says his system should secure the support of MPs from all parties. "I think there will be strong support," he told epxNews: "With perhaps 10 candidates in the field, this is the only practicable way of dealing with the matter."

Under current rules, the House of Commons would see a complex system used where one candidate stands on a motion to the House, with a competing candidate tabled as an amendment to that motion. Benn believes candidates further down the list may not even get the chance to formally put themselves forward under the current system.

The race to become speaker seems to be hotting-up, with Sir George Young, Gwyneth Dunwoody, Sir Alan Haselhurst and Michael Martin the firm favourites.