This story from the excellent Red Box puts the Speaker in a much better light than is now fashionable: One of the few pieces of good news for Parliament was the appointment last week of Jill Pay as the first ever female Sergeant at Arms - the official in tights in charge of Commons security. Popular amongst her colleagues, the achievement is the result of years her hard work as she rose through the ranks.
Apparently, however, it nearly didn't happen. When the Parliamentary authorities realised that there was a shortlist of one - a woman, gasp - they hesitated and introduced a second name, a retired army type with little experience. But the prospect of an army buffer trumping years of graft appalled the Speaker who stepped in and ensured that she got the job - something that has gone down well amongst Labour colleagues.