A CONSERVATIVE MP disowned by his own side - but backed enthusiastically by Labour MPs - will lead the clean-up of the Commons, after John Bercow was elected the new Speaker tonight.

The former right-winger, who made a remarkable political journey to become an "ultra-moderniser", triumphed after three rounds of voting stretching over a dramatic six hours.

In the final run-off, Mr Bercow comfortably defeated a fellow Tory, Eton-educated Sir George Young, in what was seen as a victory for the candidate who went furthest in demanding radical reform of parliament.

However, some Tories were muttering that they would not accept the new Speaker if they win the next election convincingly, but would instead try to unseat him.

In a sign of the distrust in his own party, it was reported that one Bercow-supporting Labour MP told David Cameron that he had voted for a Tory, only for the Conservative leader to reply: "John Bercow doesn't count."

Minutes after the result was read out, Mr Bercow was dragged to the chair in the traditional ceremony, before describing it as "the greatest honour I have enjoyed in my professional life".

Pledging to be "completely impartial", the new Speaker was quick to remind MPs of the scandal that had triggered yesterday's election.

He told them: "We have faced quite the most testing times, it has been a gruelling experience. Many members feel very sore and very vulnerable - but large sections of the public also feel angry and disappointed."

The election - the first to be carried out by secret ballot - followed the resignation of Michael Martin, who became the biggest casualty of the expenses row and the first Speaker to be forced out in more than 300 years.

Mr Martin was attacked for overseeing the system which apparently encouraged MPs to fiddle their expenses - while fighting to prevent the release of the receipts which proved the scandal.

In his 'hustings' speech to a packed Commons earlier in the day, Mr Bercow drew laughter as he joked that one MP had insisted he was far too young to become Speaker - at the age of 46.

More seriously, he described himself as the "clean-break" candidate - someone who would go out into the country to explain the role of parliament and the work MPs do, as well as listening to the public's concerns.

Many Labour MPs - including Durham City's Roberta Blackman-Woods - voted for the new Speaker because they genuinely believed he will lead reform and help parliament stand up to an over-mighty government.

However, many others backed him to "stuff the Tories". Mr Bercow quit the frontbench over its refusal to support adoption by gay couples - and is suspected of flirting with defection to Labour.

He triumphed despite his own expenses controversy. Last month, he repaid £6,500 in capital gains tax on the sale of two properties after it was disclosed that he had "flipped" his designated 'second home'.

Mr Bercow defeated Sir George by 322 votes to 271, after the original ten candidates for Speaker were whittled down to just two.

The biggest surprise was that former Labour Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett won just 74 votes in the first round - and dropped out after slumping to 70 in the second - despite being the bookies' favourite.

The new Speaker will be paid £141,866 a year - which includes an MP's salary of £64, 766 - live in luxurious rooms overlooking the Thames and enjoy a gold-plated pension.