Margaret Beckett for Speaker?

I read that:

"Labour Party veteran Margaret Beckett looks set to become the next Speaker of the House of Commons, replacing the disgraced Michael Martin who steps down on June 21. According to Labour sources today, Beckett has "all but made up her mind" to stand for election on June 22. "

The interesting thing is that the article includes this:

" Until last Friday ... she was housing minister under Hazel Blears, but with a seat at the Cabinet table - Beckett has barely been off the Labour front bench, whether in opposition or in government, for quarter of a century.

She has been Leader of the House, Foreign Secretary and Environment Secretary. She even holds the distinction of being a former leader of the Labour Party: she was in charge for the interregnum between the death of John Smith in May 1994 and the election of Tony Blair to party leader in July the same year."

Maybe someone could explain to me how a person who has been a Labour minister or shadow minister for longer than any other current MP could be even considered for the allegedly non-partisan role of Speaker. Oh hold on I've just worked it out, she would be expected to be as non-partisan as the current Speaker, Michael Martin. This Labour government really do make me sick.