NORTH West Hampshire MP Sir George Young has narrowly failed in his bid to become the new House of Commons Speaker – the second time he has been pipped to the top post.

Although Sir George secured the support of 271 colleagues in the final round of voting on Monday, it was not enough to beat Buckingham MP John Bercow who received 322 votes.

Sir George told The Gazette: “I knew from the beginning that I was not favourite – I was second or third. It was always likely to be quite a steep mountain to climb.

“All the candidates agreed reform was necessary and I’m sure John will do a good job as Speaker to oversee that reform.”

He said he would now return to “business as normal, looking after my constituents and holding the Government to account.”

Previous Speaker Michael Martin stepped down, following criticism of the way he handled the MPs’ expenses scandal, prompting Monday’s election.

When voting began, Sir George – nicknamed the Bicycling Baronet – was 9/4 second favourite with bookmaker Paddy Power, behind former Labour minister Margaret Beckett and ahead of fellow Tory Mr Bercow.

With Mrs Beckett tainted by suspicions that Government whips were encouraging backbench Labour MPs to back her, there was all to play for in the secret ballots – and Sir George made a big impact.

In a speech widely regarded as the best of the ten candidates, Sir George told the Commons he would be fair and independent.

He said: “On impartiality, I have always been in the Conservative Party, not run by the Conservative Party.”

Sir George said he wanted a more self-confident, independent, effective, relevant and accessible Commons, with more power returned from the Government to Parliament.

He added: “Government have nothing to fear from that at all. If we raise our game, they will have to raise theirs and the country will benefit.”

By the end of the speeches, Sir George was 11/10 favourite – but his words failed to swing enough MPs behind him.

He came second in the first ballot with 112 votes to Mr Bercow’s 179. In the second round, after four candidates left the race, Sir George polled 174 votes, 47 behind Mr Bercow but well ahead of Mrs Beckett, who was third with 70.

It was now a two-horse race, but Sir George failed to secure enough supporters from Mrs Beckett, Alan Haselhurst, Sir Alan Beith and Ann Widdecombe to close the gap on Mr Bercow.

Basingstoke MP Maria Miller, who sat beside Sir George in the Commons, told The Gazette: “I supported Sir George and I think he’s got all the qualities necessary for the Speaker.”

North East Hampshire MP James Arbuthnot, who signed Sir George’s nomination papers, said: “I think he would have made an exceptionally good Speaker, and obviously I supported him throughout the process.

“Now we have John Bercow, who has the potential to be a great Speaker, and we in Parliament must now do all we can to make sure that that potential is realised.”