OUTSPOKEN local MP Terry Lewis has announced that he will not vote for a Speaker who supports breast feeding in the House of Commons.

And the Worsley Labour MP has also said he will not support any Scot who wants to take over chairing Parliament's Lower House.

The Left-wing maverick spoke out as the campaign to succeed Betty Boothroyd hotted up.

So far two Scots -- Labour's Michael Martin and Liberal Democrat Defence and Foreign Affairs Spokesman Menzis Campbell -- are considered to be front runners for the high profile job.

Crewe and Nantwich MP Gwynneth Dunwoody is also a leading candidate from the Labour benches, while Sir Alan Haselhurst (the Senior Deputy Speaker) and Macclesfield MP Nicholas Winterton are understood to be interested on the Tory benches.

Mr Lewis told the BEN: "I would be unable to support a member from a Scottish constituency becoming Speaker because they have their own parliament now.

"We also have several members from Scottish seats holding great offices of state such as the Chancellorship and Foreign Secretary, as well as other Cabinet posts.

"I think that the Speaker should come from an English constituency.

"I also understand that some women MPs are asking candidates for the Speakership to declare whether they are in favour of allowing breast feeding in the Chamber.

"I would like to make clear that I would be unable to vote for any candidate who does so declare. It is a diversion away from the real business of running the Commons."

Mr Lewis's intervention comes as pressure at Westminster grows for the candidates for the Speakership to attend "hustings" where their backbench colleagues can quiz them over their views.

North West MP Gordon Prentice has garnered considerable support for this new addition to the means of electing the Speaker.

Miss Boothroyd has announced that she will step down at the beginning of the next Parliamentary session, allowing her successor time to bed in before the election.