Mr Bercow pledged to be impartial

Conservative backbencher John Bercow has won the race to become the 157th Commons Speaker.

The Buckingham MP received 322 votes to his rival and fellow Conservative MP Sir George Young's 271.

Mr Bercow was "dragged" to the chair, a tradition for the new Speaker. A message will now be sent to Buckingham Palace for approval.

He will replace Michael Martin, who stepped down after nine years in the job amid the furore over MPs' expenses.

Mr Bercow said MPs had bestowed on him "the greatest honour that I have enjoyed in my political life".

'Process of change'

He pledged to cast aside his political views and be "completely impartial as between members of one political party and another".

And he said while the House of Commons had to reform, he believed most MPs were "upright, decent, honourable people" who had not come into politics to "feather their nests" but for public service.

I continue to believe the vast majority of members of this House are upright, decent, honourable people John Bercow Profile: John Bercow

He was welcomed by Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg, in short speeches in the Commons chamber.

Mr Brown congratulated him and said in the election process the House of Commons had taken an important step in the "process of change".

He said it was an opportunity for the House to "begin a new chapter" with a new Speaker.

Mr Cameron told him: "We share a collective responsibility for what went wrong, we share a collective responsibility for putting it right."

And Mr Clegg told Mr Bercow he had a "mandate for change" and urged him to get on with it.

The new Speaker Elect will not formally take up the role until after an Approbation ceremony later, when the Royal Commission assembles in Lords, Black Rod is despatched to the Commons, then MPs led by the Speaker Elect walk to the Lords chamber when the Queen's approval is given.

Opposition parties and campaigners have condemned Gordon Brown's decision to hold an independent inquiry into the Iraq war behind closed doors.

Tory leader accused Mr Brown of "an establishment stitch-up", while the Lib Dems threatened to boycott the "secret" inquiry.

John Miller, whose son Simon was killed in Iraq in 2003, said private hearings would be marred by "lies and deceit".

But others argued that closed proceedings would be more effective.

Tory MP, who was part of the Butler inquiry into the intelligence that led to the Iraq war, backed the prime minister's decision.

"Everybody who came in front of us... was able to speak frankly and they were able to say what part they had played in this bit of intelligence or that," he told the BBC.

"I don't think we could have done as good a job for the country as we were able to do if we had to sit in public."

'Full and candid'

The inquiry will start in July and take at least a year to complete. It will cover the period from July 2001 to July 2009 and be chaired by civil servant Sir John Chilcot.

It will not seek to "apportion blame", the prime minister said, but will aim to identify "lessons learned".

The government had been urged to hold it in public, but Mr Brown said privacy would ensure that evidence given by politicians, military officers and officials would be as "full and candid as possible".

Mr C accused the prime minister of reneging on promises he made just a week ago to introduce a "new era of democratic renewal" and make politics more transparent.

"The inquiry needs to be, and needs to be seen to be, truly independent and not an establishment stitch-up," the Tory leader said.

Former Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell rejected claims that a public enquiry would cost too much, insisting it would be "well worth the money if it stopped us making the same kind of mistake again".

The present leader, Nick Clegg, who has threatened to boycott any private hearing, said it would be possible for a public inquiry to handle sensitive information by hearing some sessions on an exceptional basis behind closed doors.

Mr Clegg told the BBC: "This, remember, was probably the biggest foreign policy mistake that any government has made since Suez.

"It's very important the the process by which we learn the lessons from that is open - the process of doing it is almost as important as the conclusions themselves."

'Day of reckoning'

"This would have been a great moment for Gordon Brown, who has said he wanted more openness and transparency in politics, to show he meant it."

Several of Mr Brown's own Labour MPs also spoke out in favour of full disclosure.

Gordon Prentice said he was "not prepared to accept a secret inquiry into Iraq", while David Hamilton said there needed to be a "day of reckoning" which could only come about through public proceedings.

Their feelings were echoed by relatives of those killed in Iraq.

It will give us some sort of government narrative that can then be picked apart Maj Charles Hayman Armed Forces UK

Mr Miller said that without apportioning any blame, the inquiry could not possibly deliver any real answers.

"To be honest, I could write on the back of a stamp what you would learn from this inquiry and that would be lies and deceit," he told the BBC.

But Maj Charles Hayman, editor of Armed Forces UK, said the inquiry would bring significant facts "into the open".

"It's not going to go as far as most people would have wanted, but it will certainly open the Pandora's box to the whole of this Iraq problem," he said.

"It will give us some sort of government narrative that can then be picked apart."

Discredited claim

Sir John Chilcot, 70, is a former permanent under-secretary of state at the Northern Ireland Office who sat on the Butler Inquiry into the intelligence on Iraq's weapons of mass destruction.

Also on the panel are former diplomat Sir Roderick Lyne, crossbench peer Baroness Prashar and historians Sir Lawrence Freedman and Sir Martin Gilbert.

The reasons for going to war in Iraq - including the now discredited claim that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction which could be used within 45 minutes of an order being given - have been a source of long-standing controversy.

Two inquiries - the Hutton and Butler inquiries - have already been held into aspects of the Iraq war.

The Butler inquiry looked at intelligence failures while the Hutton inquiry examined the circumstances leading to the death of former government adviser David Kelly.

In 2008, the government defeated Conservative attempts to force a public inquiry, saying it would be a "diversion" for UK troops serving in Iraq.

In February, Justice Secretary Jack Straw vetoed the publication of minutes of cabinet meetings discussing the legality of the war in the run-up to the invasion.

Mick Bates was a science teacher before becoming an AM

The Liberal Democrat Mick Bates has announced that he will not stand at the next Welsh Assembly elections in 2011.

Mr Bates, the AM for Montgomeryshire, had a majority of just under 2,000 votes at the last assembly election.

The 61-year-old said he had made the decision now in order to give the local party time to select a new candidate.

He said his decision was influenced by his wife, a school headmistress, taking early retirement. He also said he wanted more time to "shear the sheep".

Mr Bates said his decision had nothing to do with the recent European election results and said it had been "on the cards for a long time".

"It's been planned for a long time and making this announcement before the summer is ideal - it allows the local party to get their selection process together and gives the new candidate a chance to settle in before winning the seat at the next Assembly election," he told BBC Wales.

"People are drawing conclusions from recent events - including the European election results - but it's been on the cards for a long time. My wife is retiring from her job and 2011 is an ideal time for me to go.

I hope that I have helped farmers build their businesses and I hope that I have played a role in promoting rural Wales Mick Bates

Mr Bates had a hip replacement last year, but he denied that his decision to stand down is anything to do with his health.

"I want to spend more time with my family - I'd like to see more of my grandchild and I'd also like a bit more time to shear the sheep," he said.

"I've just come in from shearing now - it's a big job!

He said he had loved his 12 years at the assembly, particularly when the Liberal Democrats were in the partnership government with Labour.

"I like to think that I used my expertise to help the farmers of Wales," he said.

"I hope that I have helped farmers build their businesses and I hope that I have played a role in promoting rural Wales.

"There are lots of issues over disillusionment and disconnection with politics but I'd like to think that I have been of genuine service to my constituents."

Mr Bates was elected for Montgomeryshire to the Welsh Assembly in the first assembly elections of 1999.

At the last election in 2007, he had a majority of just under 2,000 votes with 39% of the vote. The Conservatives were in second place.

'Legacy'

Kirsty Williams AM, the leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, paid tribute to Mr Bates as "a tremendous assembly member".

She added: "He has worked incredibly hard for the people of Montgomeryshire and has been a crucial member of the Liberal Democrat team in Cardiff Bay.

"His work on sustainability and rural issues has been crucial in driving forward policy in those areas.

"His lasting legacy will be free school milk, the Farming Connect Scheme and a commitment to sustainability that runs through the national assembly's work."

Mr Bates is the chairman of the assembly's sustainability committee, which deals with environmental and rural affairs.

A former science teacher, his interests include sport, painting and walking. He likes music, especially Bob Dylan.

The first race will start at 1820 BST on 18 June

The opening meeting at the first new turf racecourse to open in Britain for more than 80 years has sold out.

Around 8,500 race-goers have bought tickets for the fixture at Ffos Las near Trimsaran in Carmarthenshire.

Almost £30m has been invested in the development over 600 acres on a former opencast mining site.

The course said interest in the first of eight meetings to be staged there this year on 18 June had surpassed all expectations.

General manager John Williams said: "People have been desperate to experience this fantastic new racecourse.

"I would appeal to everyone without a ticket not to come to the racecourse because there will be no admission for them."

He said as well as the general admission areas, all hospitality and the restaurant were full.

Ffos Las has three tracks and will cater for flat racing, hurdles and chase events.

It has been a long wait and many hurdles have had to be overcome, but it has been well worth it Meryl Gravell, Trimsaran councillor

Eight fixtures are scheduled for 2009 with 16 next year on dates to be confirmed.

The first race starts next Thursday at 1820 BST although the gates will open at 1300 BST with racing from Royal Ascot being broadcast live on big screens.

Race horse owner and millionaire Dai Walters who runs a plant hire, civil engineering and earthworks company, is behind the venture.

Plans to develop the site were first put forward almost a decade ago and work finally started in 2007.

He has described Ffos Las as his "gift to Wales."

It will employ over 100 staff on race days.

It is managed by Northern Racing, which operates nine other courses in the UK, including Hereford, Sedgefield, Newcastle and Chepstow, which is home to the Welsh Grand National.

Carmarthenshire Council leader Meryl Gravell, who is the councillor for Trimsaran, said: "Ffos Las is a very exciting development which will bring tremendous benefits to the surrounding communities and to the whole of Carmarthenshire.

"It has been a long wait and many hurdles have had to be overcome, but it has been well worth it."

Wales has four MEPs and people vote for a party, not individuals

Voters are heading to the polls to cast their ballots in the European parliamentary elections.

Wales has four MEPs and people vote for a party rather than individuals. The four main parties are fielding candidates as are seven smaller groups.

Polling stations opened on Thursday at 0700 BST and close at 2200 BST.

Labour, the Conservatives, Plaid Cymru and the Liberal Democrats are all putting forward a full team of candidates for election.

Voters mark the ballot once with an X besides the party they are supporting.

Along with the four main parties, there are also a full team of candidates from the British National Party, the Christian Party of Wales, the Green Party, the Jury Team, No2EU: Yes to Democracy, the Socialist Labour Party and the UK Independence Party.

At the last European election in 2004, Wales voted for two Labour MEPs, one Conservative and one Plaid Cymru representative.

Some 41% of registered voters turned out last time around. That was an increase on 1999, when the turnout was 29%.

Most voters will cast their ballot at a local school or hall as usual. However, people are increasingly applying for postal votes.

Polling stations

If they had not been sent by Thursday, they were too late to post. However, people can still hand in the completed postal vote to a polling station.

There are also a number of more unusual polling stations. These include a car sales office in Merthyr Tydfil, a hairdressers in Ebbw Vale, the conservatory of a private house on the Lleyn Peninsula and a pub at Rhuallt Hill in Denbighshire.

Though voting closes on Thursday night in the UK, the votes will not be counted and the results will not be declared until Sunday night.

This is because different EU states vote on different days. UK elections have historically been held on Thursdays.

Ireland goes to the polls for the election on Friday. Countries such as Portugal, France and Germany do not vote until Sunday.

The 27 member states of the European Union will be voting to send 736 MEPs into the parliament.

The European Parliament has a range of powers including over workers' rights, international trade, economic development and the environment.

Alan Butt Philip says Wales is stronger when working with the rest of Europe

Welsh Liberal Democrats have stressed their "positive" approach, as their biggest campaign for a European election entered its last days.

Meeting farmers at Welshpool cattle market, lead candidate Alan Butt Philip said all the issues discussed could only be dealt with at a European level.

He said a "pro-active approach to Europe" was the "only sensible option".

Welsh Lib Dem leader Kirsty Williams said the party was focused on "making Europe work better for Wales".

Mr Butt Philip hopes to become Wales' first Welsh Lib Dem MEP when the results of Thursday's Europe-wide poll are declared on Sunday night.

Joined by local AM Mick Bates, Mr Butt Philip met Farmers' Union of Wales president Gareth Vaughan and other FUW members.

Mr Butt Philip said the "the economic, environmental, and of course agricultural policy issues that impact upon farmers here in Montgomeryshire and across Wales" had all been covered in the discussions.

We know that the positive vision we provide, of a Wales stronger for being part of Europe and poorer apart is shared by many Welsh people Kirsty Williams, Welsh Liberal Democrat leader

"All of the issues we discussed, such as sheep ID tagging, CAP reform and market regulation can only be dealt with effectively at a European level, so it's vital that the interests of Welsh farmers are understood and properly represented in Brussels," he said.

"The Welsh Liberal Democrats have a positive view of Wales stronger for working with Europe and... when you consider an industry and way of life such as farming, it's clear that a positive, pro-active approach to Europe is the only sensible option.

"For farming to thrive in Wales we need the right support, right policies and the ability to trade freely and fairly across the European market," Mr Butt Philip added.

Ms Williams said the Welsh Lib Dems had "campaigned harder and smarter than ever before".

'Dangerous criminals'

"We know that the positive vision we provide, of a Wales stronger for being part of Europe and poorer apart is shared by many Welsh people, not least those who work in industries or sectors to whom Europe is the market in which they trade or operate," she said.

She said Mr Butt Philip had met businesses "frustrated" that Welsh Assembly Government coalition partners, Labour and Plaid Cymru, were "wasting huge sums of European money on pet projects instead of investing in transport or IT infrastructure".

For farming to thrive in Wales we need the right support, right policies and the ability to trade freely and fairly across the European market Alan Butt Philip, lead Liberal Democrat candidate

"Alan has met with green and sustainable technology professionals who look to Europe, not Westminster or Cardiff, for the leadership on climate change and peak oil that Wales urgently needs," she said.

"And Alan has met with people across Wales who are happy that 900 dangerous criminals have been removed from the UK and 300 brought back here to justice, because of the European arrest warrant.

"People are angry because of the behaviour of the two establishment parties in Westminster and they see that the Welsh Liberal Democrats are focused on real reform and making Europe work better for Wales," Ms Williams added.

'Out of touch'

Responding for Labour, Wales Office Minister Wayne David said: "First Minister Rhodri Morgan recently launched the latest strategy for sustainable living and Environment Minister Jane Davidson is setting the standard when it comes to low carbon homes and construction.

"European funding is being used to regenerate communities across Wales (and) in the ProAct and ReAct schemes we are providing funds that are keeping people in work and preparing the Welsh workforce for the future".

Mr David accused the Lib Dems of being "clearly out of touch with the reality of modern Wales".

Labour working at all levels to deliver high-quality jobs at what will be an excellent facility Welsh Secretary Paul Murphy on plans for a military defence academy

Plaid Cymru lead candidate and MEP Jill Evans said: "The Lib Dems can't even agree amongst themselves [as] only two weeks ago the Scottish Lib Dems were praising the Plaid-led ProAct scheme as a 'targeted, innovative measure'.

"In the assembly and in Europe Plaid are delivering for the people of Wales.

"We have innovative proposals to connect Wales with an improved transport network and high-speed broadband."

Meanwhile, Labour's lead candidate Derek Vaughan and Welsh Secretary Paul Murphy visited St Athan in the Vale of Glamorgan, the proposed site of the new military defence academy.

Mr Murphy said the plans were "great news" for the local economy and the armed forces thanks to "Labour working at all levels to deliver high-quality jobs at what will be an excellent facility".

Accusing Ms Evans of opposing the new jobs, he challenged all Plaid candidates to "make clear for once and for all" if they backed the training academy.

But, campaigning in Cardiff and Neath, Ms Evans said "the collapse in Labour's vote is evident, and their desperate attacks don't fool anyone, especially not the voters".

"They have not forgotten the Iraq war or the banking collapse, even in the midst of the furore around expenses which has so damaged the London parties."

"Plaid's confidence in winning two seats in Thursday's election in Wales grows day by day, and there is no doubt we will defeat Labour in seats across Wales."

'Real difference'

The Conservatives launched a new "transparency drive" in Europe, including on MEPs and European commissioners' expenses and on EU budgets.

The party was canvassing in Monmouthshire and, like her Labour opposite number, Conservative lead candidate for Wales Kay Swinburne was in the Vale of Glamorgan.

She discussed economic regeneration with Tory councillors at a meeting in Barry after visiting the Liberty Stadium and National Waterfront Museum in Swansea in the morning.

Dr Swinburne said: "Our campaign has been focused on what Europe can do to make a real difference to people's lives.

Stressing the importance of Thursday's elections, she added: "They are about how political parties work in Europe and back in Wales to protect jobs, support the economy and regeneration, protect the environment, and stand up for consumers."