Father of the House
Encyclopedia
Father of the House is a term that has by tradition been unofficially bestowed on certain members of some national legislature
s, most notably the House of Commons in the United Kingdom
. In some legislatures the term refers to the oldest member, but in others it refers the longest-serving member.
The term Mother of the House is also found, although the usage varies between countries. It is used simply as the female alternative to Father of the House, being applied when the relevant member is a woman.
, is named Father.
In the House of Commons, the sole mandatory duty of the Father of the House is to preside over the election of a new Speaker whenever that office becomes vacant. The relevant Standing Order does not refer to this member by the title "Father of the House", referring instead to the longest-serving member of the House present who is not a Minister of the Crown
(meaning that if the Father is absent or a government minister, the next person in line presides).
The current Father of the House of Commons is Sir Peter Tapsell, Conservative MP for Louth and Horncastle, who began his continuous service from the 1966 general election
.
Should Tapsell cease to be a Member of the House of Commons, MPs with continuous service from the 1970 general election
will become eligible to be Father of the House. The members with this length of service are: Sir Gerald Kaufman
, Kenneth Clarke
, Michael Meacher
and Dennis Skinner
(listed according to the order in which they took the oath after the 1970 election).
The Father of the House is not necessarily the sitting MP with the earliest date of first election: Sir Peter Tapsell was first elected in 1959
, and is the only remaining 1950s MP, but lost his seat in 1964
and was out of Parliament until 1966
; this meant that Alan Williams
was Father of the House until his retirement at the 2010 general election by virtue of his continuous service since the 1964 general election
. Michael Foot
, as the only remaining MP from the 1945 election
between 1987
and 1992
, was never Father of the House because he was out of Parliament between 1955
and a by-election in 1960
. Similarly, though Sir Winston Churchill
was first elected in 1900
, he did not become Father of the House until 1959 because he lost his seat in 1922
, not returning to the Commons until 1924
.
Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman
was simultaneously Father of the House and Prime Minister from May 1907 until shortly before his death in April 1908.
(Conservative
), who entered the House on his 21st birthday in 1940, having succeeded to the title in 1938 while still a minor. After the House of Lords Act 1999
removed the automatic right of hereditary peer
s to sit in the House of Lords, Carrington (along with all former Leaders of the House
) was given a life peerage to enable him to continue to sit.
Should Carrington cease to be a Member of the House of Lords, the remaining peers who first sat in the 1940s will become eligible to be Father of the House. There are currently two: Lord Montagu of Beaulieu
(1947) and Lord Denham
(1947). Both are hereditary peers who were elected to remain in the House under the provisions of the 1999 Act.
The senior life peer by date of creation is Lord Chalfont, who entered the House in 1964.
The Parliament of Northern Ireland
, including the House of Commons of Northern Ireland
, was prorogued in 1972 and abolished completely in 1973 leaving the title of Father of the House defunct.
with the longest period of continuous service, whether a Minister or not, is known as "Father of the House". Similarly, the current member of the Senate
with the longest period of continuous service is known as "Father of the Senate". The longer serving of the two Fathers is called "Father of the Parliament
".
As in Britain, these terms have no official status. However, unlike Britain:
Since 1 July 2008, Senator Ron Boswell
, who was first elected in 1983, has been the Father of the Senate.
Since 1 September 1998, Philip Ruddock
, who was first elected in 1973, has been the Father of the House of Representatives and Father of the Parliament
.
who is not a cabinet minister is known as the Dean of the House, and presides over the election of the Speaker at the beginning of each Parliament. The same term is used for the equivalent position
in the U.S.
House of Representatives
.
) of 1848, all democratic German parliaments had a Father (or Mother) of the House, usually called Alterspräsident (President by right of age).
Under the current constitution (Grundgesetz) of 1949, the Alterspräsident will preside over the Parliament (Bundestag
) at the start of each legislative period.
Following tradition, the Alterspräsident will first ascertain himself that he is the oldest member of the Bundestag by stating his birth date and asking if anyone is present who was born before his date. If no older member of the Bundestag is present (which is usually the case) he will formally declare that he indeed is the Alterspräsident and will start proceedings.
As acting President of the Bundestag (Bundestagspräsident) he delivers the first programmatic speech and oversees the elections of the President of the Bundestag and the Vicepresidents of the Bundestag (Bundestagsvizepräsidenten). He then stands down and yields his power to the newly elected Bundestagspräsident.
As the position of Father of the House usually draws a certain public attention, the PDS twice nominated old independents (Stefan Heym in 1994, Fred Gebhardt in 1998) to obtain this office. None of them served a complete term (Heym resigned in 1996, Gebhardt died in 2000). This was considered a manipulation.
, before the election of a permanent speaker
, there is a temporary speaker. In the past it was the oldest member of Knesset, now it is the longest-serving member. Michael Eitan
is the most recent Knesset member to serve in this capacity, doing so from February 24 - March 30, 2010.
, the term Father of the Dáil is an unofficial title applied to the longest-serving Teachta Dála (TD) in the house, regardless of their position. The current Father is the Taoiseach and Fine Gael
party leader, Enda Kenny
, TD
, since the retirement of Séamus Pattison
at the 2007 general election. On a number of occasions two or more people have shared the position of Father of the Dáil.
, the term Father- or Mother of the House is an unofficial title applied to the longest-serving MP in the house, regardless of their position. The Father of the House has no official role in Parliament. The current Father of the House in the New Zealand Parliament is Jim Anderton
, the leader of the New Zealand Progressive Party
. Anderton has served in Parliament since 1984.
In New Zealand's
first election
s of 1854, the Bay of Islands
electorate
was the first to declare the election of a successful candidate, the unopposed candidate Hugh Francis Carleton
. In the subsequent General Assembly of 1854, Carleton liked to be known as the Father of the House.
List of Fathers (and Mothers) of the House
was elected.
Legislature
A legislature is a kind of deliberative assembly with the power to pass, amend, and repeal laws. The law created by a legislature is called legislation or statutory law. In addition to enacting laws, legislatures usually have exclusive authority to raise or lower taxes and adopt the budget and...
s, most notably the House of Commons in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. In some legislatures the term refers to the oldest member, but in others it refers the longest-serving member.
The term Mother of the House is also found, although the usage varies between countries. It is used simply as the female alternative to Father of the House, being applied when the relevant member is a woman.
House of Commons
The Father of the House is a title that is by tradition bestowed on the senior Member of the House of Commons who has the longest unbroken service. If two or more MPs have the same length of current uninterrupted service, then whoever was sworn in earliest at its commencement, as listed in HansardHansard
Hansard is the name of the printed transcripts of parliamentary debates in the Westminster system of government. It is named after Thomas Curson Hansard, an early printer and publisher of these transcripts.-Origins:...
, is named Father.
In the House of Commons, the sole mandatory duty of the Father of the House is to preside over the election of a new Speaker whenever that office becomes vacant. The relevant Standing Order does not refer to this member by the title "Father of the House", referring instead to the longest-serving member of the House present who is not a Minister of the Crown
Minister of the Crown
Minister of the Crown is the formal constitutional term used in the Commonwealth realms to describe a minister to the reigning sovereign. The term indicates that the minister serves at His/Her Majesty's pleasure, and advises the monarch, or viceroy, on how to exercise the Crown prerogatives...
(meaning that if the Father is absent or a government minister, the next person in line presides).
The current Father of the House of Commons is Sir Peter Tapsell, Conservative MP for Louth and Horncastle, who began his continuous service from the 1966 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1966
The 1966 United Kingdom general election on 31 March 1966 was called by sitting Labour Prime Minister Harold Wilson. Wilson's decision to call an election turned on the fact that his government, elected a mere 17 months previously in 1964 had an unworkably small majority of only 4 MPs...
.
Should Tapsell cease to be a Member of the House of Commons, MPs with continuous service from the 1970 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1970
The United Kingdom general election of 1970 was held on 18 June 1970, and resulted in a surprise victory for the Conservative Party under leader Edward Heath, who defeated the Labour Party under Harold Wilson. The election also saw the Liberal Party and its new leader Jeremy Thorpe lose half their...
will become eligible to be Father of the House. The members with this length of service are: Sir Gerald Kaufman
Gerald Kaufman
Sir Gerald Bernard Kaufman is a British Labour Party politician, who has been a Member of Parliament since 1970, first for Manchester Ardwick, and then subsequently for Manchester Gorton...
, Kenneth Clarke
Kenneth Clarke
Kenneth Harry "Ken" Clarke, QC, MP is a British Conservative politician, currently Member of Parliament for Rushcliffe, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice. He was first elected to Parliament in 1970; and appointed a minister in Edward Heath's government, in 1972, and is one of...
, Michael Meacher
Michael Meacher
Michael Hugh Meacher is a British Labour politician, who has been the Member of Parliament for Oldham West and Royton since 1997. Previously he had been the MP for Oldham West, first elected in 1970. On 22 February 2007 he declared that he would be standing for the Labour Leadership, challenging...
and Dennis Skinner
Dennis Skinner
Dennis Edward Skinner is a British Labour Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament for Bolsover since 1970, the Chairman of the Labour Party from 1988 to 1989, and has sat on the National Executive Committee numerous times since 1978.Born in Clay Cross, Derbyshire, Skinner is the...
(listed according to the order in which they took the oath after the 1970 election).
The Father of the House is not necessarily the sitting MP with the earliest date of first election: Sir Peter Tapsell was first elected in 1959
United Kingdom general election, 1959
This United Kingdom general election was held on 8 October 1959. It marked a third successive victory for the ruling Conservative Party, led by Harold Macmillan...
, and is the only remaining 1950s MP, but lost his seat in 1964
United Kingdom general election, 1964
The United Kingdom general election of 1964 was held on 15 October 1964, more than five years after the preceding election, and thirteen years after the Conservative Party had retaken power...
and was out of Parliament until 1966
United Kingdom general election, 1966
The 1966 United Kingdom general election on 31 March 1966 was called by sitting Labour Prime Minister Harold Wilson. Wilson's decision to call an election turned on the fact that his government, elected a mere 17 months previously in 1964 had an unworkably small majority of only 4 MPs...
; this meant that Alan Williams
Alan Williams
Alan John Williams is a British Labour Party politician, who was the Member of Parliament for Swansea West from 1964 to 2010.-Early life:...
was Father of the House until his retirement at the 2010 general election by virtue of his continuous service since the 1964 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1964
The United Kingdom general election of 1964 was held on 15 October 1964, more than five years after the preceding election, and thirteen years after the Conservative Party had retaken power...
. Michael Foot
Michael Foot
Michael Mackintosh Foot, FRSL, PC was a British Labour Party politician, journalist and author, who was a Member of Parliament from 1945 to 1955 and from 1960 until 1992...
, as the only remaining MP from the 1945 election
United Kingdom general election, 1945
The United Kingdom general election of 1945 was a general election held on 5 July 1945, with polls in some constituencies delayed until 12 July and in Nelson and Colne until 19 July, due to local wakes weeks. The results were counted and declared on 26 July, due in part to the time it took to...
between 1987
United Kingdom general election, 1987
The United Kingdom general election of 1987 was held on 11 June 1987, to elect 650 members to the British House of Commons. The election was the third consecutive election victory for the Conservative Party under the leadership of Margaret Thatcher, who became the first Prime Minister since the 2nd...
and 1992
United Kingdom general election, 1992
The United Kingdom general election of 1992 was held on 9 April 1992, and was the fourth consecutive victory for the Conservative Party. This election result was one of the biggest surprises in 20th Century politics, as polling leading up to the day of the election showed Labour under leader Neil...
, was never Father of the House because he was out of Parliament between 1955
United Kingdom general election, 1955
The 1955 United Kingdom general election was held on 26 May 1955, four years after the previous general election. It resulted in a substantially increased majority of 60 for the Conservative government under new leader and prime minister Sir Anthony Eden against Labour Party, now in their 20th year...
and a by-election in 1960
Ebbw Vale by-election, 1960
The Ebbw Vale by-election of 17 November 1960 was a by-election for a single seat in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom. Caused by the death of Labour Party Deputy Leader Aneurin Bevan, the constituency was very safely held by the party and never in danger of changing hands...
. Similarly, though Sir Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
was first elected in 1900
United Kingdom general election, 1900
-Seats summary:-See also:*MPs elected in the United Kingdom general election, 1900*The Parliamentary Franchise in the United Kingdom 1885-1918-External links:***-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987**...
, he did not become Father of the House until 1959 because he lost his seat in 1922
United Kingdom general election, 1922
The United Kingdom general election of 1922 was held on 15 November 1922. It was the first election held after most of the Irish counties left the United Kingdom to form the Irish Free State, and was won by Andrew Bonar Law's Conservatives, who gained an overall majority over Labour, led by John...
, not returning to the Commons until 1924
United Kingdom general election, 1924
- Seats summary :- References :* F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987* - External links :* * *...
.
Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman
Henry Campbell-Bannerman
Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman GCB was a British Liberal Party politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1905 to 1908 and Leader of the Liberal Party from 1899 to 1908. He also served as Secretary of State for War twice, in the Cabinets of Gladstone and Rosebery...
was simultaneously Father of the House and Prime Minister from May 1907 until shortly before his death in April 1908.
| Name | Entered House | Became Father | Left House | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sir John Fagg | 1654 | 1701 | 1701 | ||
| Thomas Turgis Thomas Turgis Thomas Turgis was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1659 and 1704.Turgis was the eldest surviving son of Thomas Turgis, grocer of London and his first wife Ebbot Urry, daughter of Thomas Urry of Gatcombe, Isle of Wight. He was baptised on 7 October 1623... |
1659 | 1701 | 1704 | ||
| Sir Christopher Musgrave, 4th Baronet | 1661 | 1704 | 1704 | ||
| Thomas Strangeways | 1673 | 1704 | 1713 | ||
| Sir Richard Onslow Richard Onslow, 1st Baron Onslow Richard Onslow, 1st Baron Onslow PC was a British Whig Member of Parliament, known as Sir Richard Onslow, 2nd Baronet from 1688 until 1716. He served as the Speaker of the House of Commons from 1708 until 1710 and as Chancellor of the Exchequer from 1714 until 1715... |
1679 | 1713 | 1715 |
||
| Thomas Erle Thomas Erle Lieutenant-General Thomas Erle PC was an English army general and politician who sat in the House of Commons of England and of Great Britain from 1678 to 1718. He was Governor of Portsmouth and a Lieutenant-General of the Ordnance.... |
1679 | 1715 | 1718 |
||
| Edward Vaughan Edward Vaughan (MP) Edward Vaughan was a Welsh lawyer and politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1679 to 1681.-Life:Vaughan was born at Trawsgoed, Cardiganshire, Wales, the eldest son of the chief justice Sir John Vaughan and his wife Jane Stedman of Strata Florida. He became a student of the Inner Temple... |
1679 | 1718 | 1718 |
||
| Richard Vaughan | 1685 | 1718 | 1724 |
||
| Lord William Powlett Lord William Powlett Lord William Powlett was the younger son of Charles Paulet, 1st Duke of Bolton. He served as Member of Parliament for Winchester from 1689 until 1710, for Lymington from 1710 until 1715, and again for Winchester from 1715 until his death... |
1689 | 1724 | 1729 |
||
| Sir Justinian Isham, 2nd Baronet Sir Justinian Isham, 2nd Baronet Sir Justinian Isham, second baronet was an English scholar and royalist politician. In the 1660s he was a Member of Parliament and also an early member of the Royal Society.-Life:... |
1694 | 1729 | 1730 |
||
| Sir Charles Turner, 1st Baronet, of Warham | 1695 | 1730 | 1738 |
||
| Sir Roger Bradshaigh | 1695 | 1738 | 1747 |
||
| Sir Edward Ashe | 1695 | 1747 | 1747 |
||
| Sir Thomas Cartwright | 1701 | 1747 | 1748 |
||
| Sir Richard Shuttleworth | 1705 | 1748 | 1749 |
||
| Phillips Gybbon Phillips Gybbon Phillips Gybbon , of Hole Park, Rolvenden, in Kent, was an English Member of Parliament.Gybbon entered Parliament in 1707 as Whig member for Rye, and represented the constituency until his death 55 years later... |
1707 | 1749 | 1762 |
||
| Sir John Rushout, 4th Baronet Sir John Rushout, 4th Baronet Sir John Rushout, 4th Baronet was a British politician and long-serving Member of Parliament, eventually serving as Father of the House.... |
1713 | 1762 | 1768 |
||
| William Aislabie | 1721 | 1768 | 1781 |
||
| Charles FitzRoy-Scudamore Charles FitzRoy-Scudamore Charles FitzRoy-Scudamore was a British politician.Born Charles FitzRoy, he was the illegitimate son of Charles FitzRoy, 2nd Duke of Grafton. Fitzroy married Frances Scudamore after her divorce from Henry Scudamore, 3rd Duke of Beaufort in 1744... |
1733 | 1781 | 1782 |
||
| The Earl Nugent Robert Nugent, 1st Earl Nugent Robert Craggs-Nugent, 1st Earl Nugent PC was an Irish politician and poet.-Background:The son of Michael Nugent and Mary, daughter of Robert Barnewall, 9th Baron Trimlestown, he was born at Carlanstown, County Westmeath... |
1741 | 1782 | 1784 |
||
| Sir Charles Frederick Charles Frederick Sir Charles Frederick KB was a British Member of Parliament.He was a younger son of Sir Thomas Frederick, sometime Governor of Fort St David, and a younger brother of Sir John Frederick, 4th Baronet.... |
1741 | 1784 | 1784 |
||
| The Lord Mendip Welbore Ellis, 1st Baron Mendip Welbore Ellis, 1st Baron Mendip PC FRS was a British statesman. He held a number of political offices, including briefly serving as Secretary for the Colonies in 1782 during the American War of Independence.-Background:... |
1741 | 1784 | 1790 |
||
| William Drake | 1746 | 1790 | 1796 | ||
| Sir Philip Stephens, 1st Baronet | 1759 | 1796 | 1806 |
||
| Clement Tudway | 1761 | 1806 | 1815 | ||
| Sir John Aubrey, 6th Baronet Sir John Aubrey, 6th Baronet Sir John Aubrey, 6th Baronet was a British politician. In 1786, he succeeded to his father's baronetcy.Baptised in Boarstall in Buckinghamshire on 2 July 1739, he was the son of Sir Thomas Aubrey, 5th Baronet and Martha Carter. Aubrey was educated at Westminster School and at Christ Church,... |
1768 | 1815 | 1826 |
||
| Sir Samuel Smith | 1788 | 1826 | 1832 |
||
| George Byng George Byng (1764–1847) George Byng DL JP , of Wrotham Park, Hertfordshire, was a British Whig politician.-Background:Byng was the son of George Byng, son of the Hon. Robert Byng, third son of Admiral George Byng, 1st Viscount Torrington... |
1790 | 1832 | 1847 |
||
| Charles Watkin Williams-Wynn | 1799 | 1847 | 1850 |
||
| George Harcourt George Harcourt George Granville Harcourt was a British Whig and then Conservative Party politician.-Political career:... |
1806 | 1850 | 1861 |
||
| Sir Charles Burrell, 3rd Baronet Sir Charles Burrell, 3rd Baronet Sir Charles Merrik Burrell, 3rd Baronet was an English Conservative politician, who represented the seat of New Shoreham for fifty-six years, becoming Father of the House of Commons.... |
1806 | 1861 | 1862 |
||
| Henry Cecil Lowther | 1812 | 1862 | 1867 |
||
| Thomas Peers Williams Thomas Peers Williams Lt.-Col. Thomas Peers Williams was MP for Great Marlow 1820-1868 and December 1867-1868.Peers Williams live at Craig-y-Don near Beaumaris on Anglesey and Temple House at Bisham in Berkshire, near Marlow... |
1820 | 1867 | 1868 |
||
| Henry Lowry-Corry | 1825 | 1868 | 1873 |
||
| George Weld-Forester George Weld-Forester, 3rd Baron Forester George Cecil Weld-Forester, 3rd Baron Forester PC , styled The Honourable George Weld-Forester between 1821 and 1874, was a British Conservative politician. He notably served as Comptroller of the Household in 1852 and from 1858 to 1859... |
1828 | 1873 | 1874 |
||
| Christopher Rice Mansel Talbot Christopher Rice Mansel Talbot Christopher Rice Mansel Talbot FRS was a landowner, industrialist and Liberal politician. He developed his estate at Margam near Swansea as an extensive ironworks, served by railways and a port, which was re-named Port Talbot.-Early life:Christopher Rice Mansel Talbot was born at Penrice, Swansea,... |
1830 | 1874 | 1890 |
||
| Charles Pelham Villiers Charles Pelham Villiers Charles Pelham Villiers was a British lawyer and politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1835 to 1898, making him the longest-serving Member of Parliament .-Background and education:... |
1835 | 1890 | 1898 |
||
| Sir John Mowbray, 1st Baronet Sir John Mowbray, 1st Baronet Sir John Robert Mowbray, 1st Baronet PC , known as John Cornish until 1847, was a British Conservative politician and long-serving Member of Parliament, eventually serving as Father of the House.-Biography:... |
1853 | 1898 | 1899 |
||
| William Wither Beach William Wither Beach William Wither Bramston Beach was an English Conservative politician, who served in the House of Commons for 44 years between 1857 and 1901, becoming Father of the House of Commons until he was run over by a cab.... |
1857 | 1899 | 1901 |
||
| Michael Hicks Beach | 1864 | 1901 | 1906 |
||
| George Finch | 1867 | 1906 | 1907 |
||
| Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman Henry Campbell-Bannerman Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman GCB was a British Liberal Party politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1905 to 1908 and Leader of the Liberal Party from 1899 to 1908. He also served as Secretary of State for War twice, in the Cabinets of Gladstone and Rosebery... |
1868 | 1907 | 1908 |
||
| Sir John Kennaway, 3rd Baronet Sir John Kennaway, 3rd Baronet Sir John Henry Kennaway, 3rd Baronet PC was an English Conservative Party politician.He was Member of Parliament for East Devon from 1870 to 1885, when the constituency was abolished by the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885... |
1870 | 1908 | 1910 |
||
| Thomas Burt Thomas Burt Thomas Burt PC was a British trade unionist and one of the first working-class Members of Parliament.-Career:... |
1874 | 1910 | 1918 |
||
| T. P. O'Connor T. P. O'Connor Thomas Power O'Connor , known as T. P. O'Connor and occasionally as Tay Pay, was a journalist, an Irish nationalist political figure, and a Member of Parliament in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland for nearly fifty years.-Biography:O'Connor was born in... |
1880 | 1918 | 1929 |
||
| David Lloyd George David Lloyd George David Lloyd George, 1st Earl Lloyd-George of Dwyfor OM, PC was a British Liberal politician and statesman... |
1890 | 1929 | 1945 |
||
| The Earl Winterton Edward Turnour, 6th Earl Winterton Edward Turnour, 6th Earl Winterton PC , known as Viscount Turnour until 1907, was an Irish peer and British politician in the first half of the twentieth century who achieved the rare distinction of serving as both Baby of the House and Father of the House at the opposite ends of his career in the... |
1904 | 1945 | 1951 |
||
| Sir Hugh O'Neill Hugh O'Neill, 1st Baron Rathcavan Robert William Hugh O'Neill, 1st Baron Rathcavan PC , known as Sir Hugh O'Neill, Bt, from 1929 to 1953, was an Ulster Unionist member of both the UK Parliament and the Parliament of Northern Ireland.... |
1915 | 1951 | 1952 |
||
| David Grenfell David Grenfell David Rhys Grenfell PC, CBE, LlD was a British Member of Parliament. He represented the Gower constituency for the Labour Party from 1922 to 1959.-Early life:... |
1922 | 1952 | 1959 |
||
| Sir Winston Churchill Winston Churchill Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice... |
1924 | 1959 | 1964 |
||
| R. A. Butler Rab Butler Richard Austen Butler, Baron Butler of Saffron Walden, KG CH DL PC , who invariably signed his name R. A. Butler and was familiarly known as Rab, was a British Conservative politician... |
1929 | 1964 | 1965 |
||
| Robin Turton Robin Turton, Baron Tranmire Robert Hugh Turton, Baron Tranmire KBE, MC, PC, JP, DL was a British Conservative Party politician.... |
1929 | 1965 | 1974 |
||
| George Strauss George Strauss George Russell Strauss, Baron Strauss PC was a long-serving British Labour Party politician, who was a Member of Parliament for 46 years and was Father of the House of Commons from 1974 to 1979.... |
1934 | 1974 | 1979 |
||
| John Parker | 1935 | 1979 | 1983 |
||
| James Callaghan James Callaghan Leonard James Callaghan, Baron Callaghan of Cardiff, KG, PC , was a British Labour politician, who was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1976 to 1979 and Leader of the Labour Party from 1976 to 1980... |
1945 | 1983 | 1987 |
||
| Bernard Braine Bernard Braine Bernard Richard Braine, Baron Braine of Wheatley, PC was a Conservative Party politician in the United Kingdom. He was educated at Hendon County Grammar School, and served with the North Staffordshire Regiment in the Second World War, rising to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel... |
1950 | 1987 | 1992 |
||
| Sir Edward Heath Edward Heath Sir Edward Richard George "Ted" Heath, KG, MBE, PC was a British Conservative politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and as Leader of the Conservative Party .... |
1950 | 1992 | 2001 |
||
| Tam Dalyell Tam Dalyell Sir Thomas Dalyell Loch, 11th Baronet , known as Tam Dalyell, is a British Labour Party politician, who was a Member of Parliament in the House of Commons from 1962 to 2005, first for West Lothian and then for Linlithgow.-Early life:... |
1962 | 2001 | 2005 |
||
| Alan Williams Alan Williams Alan John Williams is a British Labour Party politician, who was the Member of Parliament for Swansea West from 1964 to 2010.-Early life:... |
1964 | 2005 | 2010 |
||
| Sir Peter Tapsell | 1966 | 2010 | Incumbent |
||
House of Lords
The current Father of the House of Lords is Lord CarringtonPeter Carington, 6th Baron Carrington
Peter Alexander Rupert Carington, 6th Baron Carrington, is a British Conservative politician. He served as British Foreign Secretary between 1979 and 1982 and as the sixth Secretary General of NATO from 1984 to 1988. He is the last surviving member of the Cabinets of both Harold Macmillan and Sir...
(Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
), who entered the House on his 21st birthday in 1940, having succeeded to the title in 1938 while still a minor. After the House of Lords Act 1999
House of Lords Act 1999
The House of Lords Act 1999 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that was given Royal Assent on 11 November 1999. The Act reformed the House of Lords, one of the chambers of Parliament. For centuries, the House of Lords had included several hundred members who inherited their seats;...
removed the automatic right of hereditary peer
Hereditary peer
Hereditary peers form part of the Peerage in the United Kingdom. There are over seven hundred peers who hold titles that may be inherited. Formerly, most of them were entitled to sit in the House of Lords, but since the House of Lords Act 1999 only ninety-two are permitted to do so...
s to sit in the House of Lords, Carrington (along with all former Leaders of the House
Leader of the House of Lords
The Leader of the House of Lords is a member of the Cabinet of the United Kingdom who is responsible for arranging government business in the House of Lords. The role is always held in combination with a formal Cabinet position, usually one of the sinecure offices of Lord President of the Council,...
) was given a life peerage to enable him to continue to sit.
Should Carrington cease to be a Member of the House of Lords, the remaining peers who first sat in the 1940s will become eligible to be Father of the House. There are currently two: Lord Montagu of Beaulieu
Edward Douglas-Scott-Montagu, 3rd Baron Montagu of Beaulieu
Edward John Barrington Douglas-Scott-Montagu, 3rd Baron Montagu of Beaulieu is a British Conservative politician well known in Britain for founding the National Motor Museum, as well as for a pivotal cause célèbre in British gay history, his 1954 conviction and imprisonment for homosexual sex, a...
(1947) and Lord Denham
Bertram Bowyer, 2nd Baron Denham
Bertram Stanley Mitford Bowyer, 2nd Baron Denham KBE PC is a British Conservative politician and member of the House of Lords as one of the remaining hereditary peers...
(1947). Both are hereditary peers who were elected to remain in the House under the provisions of the 1999 Act.
The senior life peer by date of creation is Lord Chalfont, who entered the House in 1964.
| Name | Entered House | Became Father | Left House | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Earl of Mansfield William Murray, 4th Earl of Mansfield and Mansfield William David Murray, 4th Earl of Mansfield and Mansfield KT DL , was a British Conservative politician.... |
1840 | ? | 1898 |
||
| The Lord Templemore | 1842 | 1898 | 1906 |
||
| The Earl of Leicester Thomas Coke, 2nd Earl of Leicester Thomas William Coke, 2nd Earl of Leicester KG , known as Viscount Coke from 1837 to 1842, was a British peer.... |
1844 | 1906 | 1909 |
||
| The Earl Nelson Horatio Nelson, 3rd Earl Nelson Horatio Nelson, 3rd Earl Nelson was a British politician.He was the son of Thomas Bolton by his wife Frances Elizabeth Eyre. On 28 February 1835 his father inherited the title Earl Nelson from William Nelson, 1st Earl Nelson and adopted the surname of Nelson... |
1845 | 1909 | 1913 |
||
| The Earl of Ducie Henry Reynolds-Moreton, 3rd Earl of Ducie Henry John Reynolds-Moreton, 3rd Earl of Ducie GCVO, PC, FRS, JP , styled Lord Moreton between 1840 and 1853, was a British courtier and Liberal Party politician. He notably served as Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard from 1859 to 1866... |
1853 | 1913 | 1921 |
||
| The Earl of Coventry George Coventry, 9th Earl of Coventry George William Coventry, 9th Earl of Coventry PC , styled Viscount Deerhurst until 1843, was a British Conservative politician... |
1859 | 1921 | 1930 |
||
| The Marquess of Huntly Charles Gordon, 11th Marquess of Huntly Charles Gordon, 11th Marquess of Huntly PC, DL, JP , styled Lord Strathavon until 1853 and Earl of Aboyne between 1853 and 1863, was a Scottish Liberal politician... |
1869 | 1930 | 1937 |
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| The Marquess of Ailsa Archibald Kennedy, 3rd Marquess of Ailsa Archibald Kennedy, 3rd Marquess of Ailsa was a Scottish peer, the son of Archibald Kennedy, 2nd Marquess of Ailsa.He married Hon. Evelyn Stuart, daughter of Charles Stuart, 12th Lord Blantyre, on 7 March 1871... |
1870 | 1937 | 1938 |
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| The Lord Grantley John Norton, 5th Baron Grantley John Richard Brinsley Norton, 5th Baron Grantley, FSA, FRNS was a British peer and numismatist.Norton was born in Florence, Italy, the son of Thomas Norton, 4th Baron Grantley and his wife, Maria, née Federigo, and a grandson of Caroline Norton, the writer, and was educated at Harrow School and... |
1877 | 1938 | 1943 |
||
| The Lord Romilly | 1920 | 1943 | 1983 |
||
| The Lord Oranmore and Browne Dominick Browne, 4th Baron Oranmore and Browne Dominick Geoffrey Edward Browne, 4th Baron Oranmore and Browne, 2nd Baron Mereworth was the longest sitting British peer and legislator.... |
1927 | 1983 | 1999 |
||
| The Earl Jellicoe George Jellicoe, 2nd Earl Jellicoe George Patrick John Rushworth Jellicoe, 2nd Earl Jellicoe, KBE, DSO, MC, PC, FRS was a British politician and statesman, diplomat and businessman.... |
1939 | 1999 | 2007 |
||
| The Lord Carrington Peter Carington, 6th Baron Carrington Peter Alexander Rupert Carington, 6th Baron Carrington, is a British Conservative politician. He served as British Foreign Secretary between 1979 and 1982 and as the sixth Secretary General of NATO from 1984 to 1988. He is the last surviving member of the Cabinets of both Harold Macmillan and Sir... |
1940 | 2007 | Incumbent |
||
House of Commons of Northern Ireland (defunct)
| Name | Entered House | Became Father | Left House | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| J. M. Andrews | 1921 | 1949 | 1953 |
||
| Cahir Healy Cahir Healy Cahir Healy was an Irish politician.Born in Mountcharles in County Donegal, he became a journalist working on various local papers. He joined Sinn Féin on its foundation in 1905. He later campaigned against the inclusion of County Fermanagh and County Tyrone in Northern Ireland, arguing that they... |
1925 | 1953 | 1965 |
||
| The Viscount Brookeborough Basil Brooke, 1st Viscount Brookeborough Basil Stanlake Brooke, 1st Viscount Brookeborough, Bt, KG, CBE, MC, PC, HML was an Ulster Unionist politician who became the third Prime Minister of Northern Ireland in 1943 and held office until 1963.... |
1929 | 1965 | 1968 |
||
| Sir Norman Stronge, Bt Norman Stronge Captain Sir Charles Norman Lockhart Stronge, 8th Baronet, MC, PC , JP was a senior Unionist politician in Northern Ireland.... |
1938 | 1968 | 1969 |
||
| Terence O'Neill | 1946 | 1969 | 1970 |
||
| Brian Faulkner | 1949 | 1970 | 1972 |
||
The Parliament of Northern Ireland
Parliament of Northern Ireland
The Parliament of Northern Ireland was the home rule legislature of Northern Ireland, created under the Government of Ireland Act 1920, which sat from 7 June 1921 to 30 March 1972, when it was suspended...
, including the House of Commons of Northern Ireland
House of Commons of Northern Ireland
The House of Commons of Northern Ireland was the lower house of the Parliament of Northern Ireland created under the Government of Ireland Act 1920. The upper house in the bicameral parliament was called the Senate. It was abolished with the passing of the Northern Ireland Constitution Act...
, was prorogued in 1972 and abolished completely in 1973 leaving the title of Father of the House defunct.
Australia
In Australia, the current member of the House of RepresentativesAustralian House of Representatives
The House of Representatives is one of the two houses of the Parliament of Australia; it is the lower house; the upper house is the Senate. Members of Parliament serve for terms of approximately three years....
with the longest period of continuous service, whether a Minister or not, is known as "Father of the House". Similarly, the current member of the Senate
Australian Senate
The Senate is the upper house of the bicameral Parliament of Australia, the lower house being the House of Representatives. Senators are popularly elected under a system of proportional representation. Senators are elected for a term that is usually six years; after a double dissolution, however,...
with the longest period of continuous service is known as "Father of the Senate". The longer serving of the two Fathers is called "Father of the Parliament
Father of the Australian Parliament
This is a list of Fathers of the Australian Parliament.The Father of the Parliament is the more senior of the Father of the Senate and the Father of the House of Representatives...
".
As in Britain, these terms have no official status. However, unlike Britain:
- the term Father of the House/Senate applies where there is one member whose continuous service is unequivocally longer than any other, as determined by the date of election (House) or the date of the start of the term (Senate). Where two or more members have equal length of continuous service, more than any other members, they are considered joint Fathers of the House/Senate. Some state parliaments, however, follow the British convention.
- the Father of the House and the Father of the Senate in Australia have no parliamentary role at all. The election of the presiding officers is conducted by the Clerk of the HouseClerk of the Australian House of RepresentativesThe Clerk of the House of Representatives of the Parliament of Australia is responsible for managing the Department of the House.The Department of the House of Representatives provides services to support the efficient conduct of the House of Representatives, its committees and certain joint...
and the Clerk of the SenateClerk of the Australian SenateThe Clerk of the Australian Senate is the head of the Department of the Senate, which is the parliamentary department supporting the work of the Australian Senate...
respectively.
Since 1 July 2008, Senator Ron Boswell
Ron Boswell
Ronald Leslie Doyle "Ron" Boswell , Australian politician, has been a National Party member of the Australian Senate since 5 March 1983, representing Queensland. Since 2008 he has been the Father of the Senate....
, who was first elected in 1983, has been the Father of the Senate.
Since 1 September 1998, Philip Ruddock
Philip Ruddock
Philip Maxwell Ruddock is an Australian politician who is currently a member of the House of Representatives representing the Division of Berowra, New South Wales, for the Liberal Party of Australia...
, who was first elected in 1973, has been the Father of the House of Representatives and Father of the Parliament
Father of the Australian Parliament
This is a list of Fathers of the Australian Parliament.The Father of the Parliament is the more senior of the Father of the Senate and the Father of the House of Representatives...
.
Canada
The longest-serving member of the House of CommonsCanadian House of Commons
The House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...
who is not a cabinet minister is known as the Dean of the House, and presides over the election of the Speaker at the beginning of each Parliament. The same term is used for the equivalent position
Dean of the United States House of Representatives
The Dean of the United States House of Representatives is the longest continuously serving member of the House. The present Dean is John Dingell, a Democrat of Michigan....
in the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
.
Germany
Starting with the Frankfurter Nationalversammlung (Frankfurt ParliamentFrankfurt Parliament
The Frankfurt Assembly was the first freely elected parliament for all of Germany. Session was held from May 18, 1848 to May 31, 1849 in the Paulskirche at Frankfurt am Main...
) of 1848, all democratic German parliaments had a Father (or Mother) of the House, usually called Alterspräsident (President by right of age).
Under the current constitution (Grundgesetz) of 1949, the Alterspräsident will preside over the Parliament (Bundestag
Bundestag
The Bundestag is a federal legislative body in Germany. In practice Germany is governed by a bicameral legislature, of which the Bundestag serves as the lower house and the Bundesrat the upper house. The Bundestag is established by the German Basic Law of 1949, as the successor to the earlier...
) at the start of each legislative period.
Following tradition, the Alterspräsident will first ascertain himself that he is the oldest member of the Bundestag by stating his birth date and asking if anyone is present who was born before his date. If no older member of the Bundestag is present (which is usually the case) he will formally declare that he indeed is the Alterspräsident and will start proceedings.
As acting President of the Bundestag (Bundestagspräsident) he delivers the first programmatic speech and oversees the elections of the President of the Bundestag and the Vicepresidents of the Bundestag (Bundestagsvizepräsidenten). He then stands down and yields his power to the newly elected Bundestagspräsident.
As the position of Father of the House usually draws a certain public attention, the PDS twice nominated old independents (Stefan Heym in 1994, Fred Gebhardt in 1998) to obtain this office. None of them served a complete term (Heym resigned in 1996, Gebhardt died in 2000). This was considered a manipulation.
| Bundestag | Name | Term | Parliamentary group |
Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 1949–1953 | Paul Löbe Paul Löbe Paul Löbe was a German politician and member of the Social Democratic Party of Germany .-Life and career:... |
1949–1953 | SPD | |
| 2nd | 1953–1957 | Marie Elisabeth Lüders Marie Elisabeth Lüders Marie-Elisabeth Lüders was a German politician and one of the most important figures in the German women's rights movement.... |
1953–1957 | FDP | stood in for Konrad Adenauer Konrad Adenauer Konrad Hermann Joseph Adenauer was a German statesman. He was the chancellor of the West Germany from 1949 to 1963. He is widely recognised as a person who led his country from the ruins of World War II to a powerful and prosperous nation that had forged close relations with old enemies France,... , the oldest member, who refused the office due to his position as Chancellor |
| 3rd | 1957–1961 | Marie Elisabeth Lüders Marie Elisabeth Lüders Marie-Elisabeth Lüders was a German politician and one of the most important figures in the German women's rights movement.... |
1957–1961 | FDP | |
| 4th | 1961–1963 | Robert Pferdmenges | 1961–1963 | CDU Christian Democratic Union (Germany) The Christian Democratic Union of Germany is a Christian democratic and conservative political party in Germany. It is regarded as on the centre-right of the German political spectrum... /CSU Christian Social Union of Bavaria The Christian Social Union in Bavaria is a Christian democratic and conservative political party in Germany. It operates only in the state of Bavaria, while its sister party, the Christian Democratic Union , operates in the other 15 states of Germany... |
|
| Konrad Adenauer Konrad Adenauer Konrad Hermann Joseph Adenauer was a German statesman. He was the chancellor of the West Germany from 1949 to 1963. He is widely recognised as a person who led his country from the ruins of World War II to a powerful and prosperous nation that had forged close relations with old enemies France,... |
1963–1965 | CDU Christian Democratic Union (Germany) The Christian Democratic Union of Germany is a Christian democratic and conservative political party in Germany. It is regarded as on the centre-right of the German political spectrum... /CSU Christian Social Union of Bavaria The Christian Social Union in Bavaria is a Christian democratic and conservative political party in Germany. It operates only in the state of Bavaria, while its sister party, the Christian Democratic Union , operates in the other 15 states of Germany... |
resumed the office after his resignation as Chancellor | ||
| 5th | 1965–1967 | Konrad Adenauer Konrad Adenauer Konrad Hermann Joseph Adenauer was a German statesman. He was the chancellor of the West Germany from 1949 to 1963. He is widely recognised as a person who led his country from the ruins of World War II to a powerful and prosperous nation that had forged close relations with old enemies France,... |
1965–1967 | CDU Christian Democratic Union (Germany) The Christian Democratic Union of Germany is a Christian democratic and conservative political party in Germany. It is regarded as on the centre-right of the German political spectrum... /CSU Christian Social Union of Bavaria The Christian Social Union in Bavaria is a Christian democratic and conservative political party in Germany. It operates only in the state of Bavaria, while its sister party, the Christian Democratic Union , operates in the other 15 states of Germany... |
died in 1967 |
| William Borm | 1967–1969 | FDP | |||
| 6th | 1969–1972 | William Borm | 1969–1972 | FDP | |
| 7th | 1972–1976 | Ludwig Erhard Ludwig Erhard Ludwig Wilhelm Erhard was a German politician affiliated with the CDU and Chancellor of West Germany from 1963 until 1966. He is notable for his leading role in German postwar economic reform and economic recovery , particularly in his role as Minister of Economics under Chancellor Konrad Adenauer... |
1972–1976 | CDU Christian Democratic Union (Germany) The Christian Democratic Union of Germany is a Christian democratic and conservative political party in Germany. It is regarded as on the centre-right of the German political spectrum... /CSU Christian Social Union of Bavaria The Christian Social Union in Bavaria is a Christian democratic and conservative political party in Germany. It operates only in the state of Bavaria, while its sister party, the Christian Democratic Union , operates in the other 15 states of Germany... |
|
| 8th | 1976–1980 | Ludwig Erhard Ludwig Erhard Ludwig Wilhelm Erhard was a German politician affiliated with the CDU and Chancellor of West Germany from 1963 until 1966. He is notable for his leading role in German postwar economic reform and economic recovery , particularly in his role as Minister of Economics under Chancellor Konrad Adenauer... |
1976–1977 | CDU Christian Democratic Union (Germany) The Christian Democratic Union of Germany is a Christian democratic and conservative political party in Germany. It is regarded as on the centre-right of the German political spectrum... /CSU Christian Social Union of Bavaria The Christian Social Union in Bavaria is a Christian democratic and conservative political party in Germany. It operates only in the state of Bavaria, while its sister party, the Christian Democratic Union , operates in the other 15 states of Germany... |
died in 1977 |
| Johann Baptist Gradl Johann Baptist Gradl Johann Baptist Gradl was a German politician and member of the German party Christian Democratic Union.... |
1977–1980 | CDU Christian Democratic Union (Germany) The Christian Democratic Union of Germany is a Christian democratic and conservative political party in Germany. It is regarded as on the centre-right of the German political spectrum... /CSU Christian Social Union of Bavaria The Christian Social Union in Bavaria is a Christian democratic and conservative political party in Germany. It operates only in the state of Bavaria, while its sister party, the Christian Democratic Union , operates in the other 15 states of Germany... |
|||
| 9th | 1980–1983 | Herbert Wehner Herbert Wehner Herbert Richard Wehner was a German politician. A former member of the Communist Party, he joined the Social Democrats after World War II... |
1980–1983 | SPD | |
| 10th | 1983–1987 | Willy Brandt Willy Brandt Willy Brandt, born Herbert Ernst Karl Frahm , was a German politician, Mayor of West Berlin 1957–1966, Chancellor of West Germany 1969–1974, and leader of the Social Democratic Party of Germany 1964–1987.... |
1983–1987 | SPD | stood in for Egon Franke |
| 11th | 1987–1990 | Willy Brandt Willy Brandt Willy Brandt, born Herbert Ernst Karl Frahm , was a German politician, Mayor of West Berlin 1957–1966, Chancellor of West Germany 1969–1974, and leader of the Social Democratic Party of Germany 1964–1987.... |
1987–1990 | SPD | |
| 12th | 1990–1994 | Willy Brandt Willy Brandt Willy Brandt, born Herbert Ernst Karl Frahm , was a German politician, Mayor of West Berlin 1957–1966, Chancellor of West Germany 1969–1974, and leader of the Social Democratic Party of Germany 1964–1987.... |
1990–1992 | SPD | died in 1992 |
| Alfred Dregger Alfred Dregger Alfred Dregger was a German politician and a leader of the Christian Democratic Union .Dregger was born in Münster. After graduating from a school in Werl, he entered the German Wehrmacht in 1939... |
1992–1994 | CDU Christian Democratic Union (Germany) The Christian Democratic Union of Germany is a Christian democratic and conservative political party in Germany. It is regarded as on the centre-right of the German political spectrum... /CSU Christian Social Union of Bavaria The Christian Social Union in Bavaria is a Christian democratic and conservative political party in Germany. It operates only in the state of Bavaria, while its sister party, the Christian Democratic Union , operates in the other 15 states of Germany... |
|||
| 13th | 1994–1998 | Stefan Heym Stefan Heym Helmut Flieg was a German-Jewish writer, known by his pseudonym Stefan Heym. He lived in the United States between 1935 and 1952, before moving back to the part of his native Germany which was, from 1949–1990, German Democratic Republic... |
1994–1995 | PDS | resigned his seat in 1995 |
| Alfred Dregger Alfred Dregger Alfred Dregger was a German politician and a leader of the Christian Democratic Union .Dregger was born in Münster. After graduating from a school in Werl, he entered the German Wehrmacht in 1939... |
1995–1998 | CDU Christian Democratic Union (Germany) The Christian Democratic Union of Germany is a Christian democratic and conservative political party in Germany. It is regarded as on the centre-right of the German political spectrum... /CSU Christian Social Union of Bavaria The Christian Social Union in Bavaria is a Christian democratic and conservative political party in Germany. It operates only in the state of Bavaria, while its sister party, the Christian Democratic Union , operates in the other 15 states of Germany... |
|||
| 14th | 1998–2002 | Fred Gebhardt | 1998–2000 | PDS | died in 2000 |
| Hans-Eberhard Urbaniak | 2000–2002 | SPD | |||
| 15th | 2002–2005 | Otto Schily Otto Schily Otto Georg Schily was Federal Minister of the Interior of Germany from 1998 to 2005, in the cabinet of former German chancellor Gerhard Schröder. He is a member of the Social Democratic Party of Germany .-Biography:... |
2002–2005 | SPD | |
| 16th | 2005–2009 | Otto Schily Otto Schily Otto Georg Schily was Federal Minister of the Interior of Germany from 1998 to 2005, in the cabinet of former German chancellor Gerhard Schröder. He is a member of the Social Democratic Party of Germany .-Biography:... |
2005–2009 | SPD | |
| 17th | 2009–2013 | Heinz Riesenhuber Heinz Riesenhuber Heinz Riesenhuber is a German politician and was minister in the cabinets of Helmut Kohl from 1982 until 1993.-Life and education:... |
since 2009 | CDU Christian Democratic Union (Germany) The Christian Democratic Union of Germany is a Christian democratic and conservative political party in Germany. It is regarded as on the centre-right of the German political spectrum... /CSU Christian Social Union of Bavaria The Christian Social Union in Bavaria is a Christian democratic and conservative political party in Germany. It operates only in the state of Bavaria, while its sister party, the Christian Democratic Union , operates in the other 15 states of Germany... |
|
Israel
In the beginning of each KnessetKnesset
The Knesset is the unicameral legislature of Israel, located in Givat Ram, Jerusalem.-Role in Israeli Government :The legislative branch of the Israeli government, the Knesset passes all laws, elects the President and Prime Minister , approves the cabinet, and supervises the work of the government...
, before the election of a permanent speaker
Speaker (politics)
The term speaker is a title often given to the presiding officer of a deliberative assembly, especially a legislative body. The speaker's official role is to moderate debate, make rulings on procedure, announce the results of votes, and the like. The speaker decides who may speak and has the...
, there is a temporary speaker. In the past it was the oldest member of Knesset, now it is the longest-serving member. Michael Eitan
Michael Eitan
Michael Eitan is an Israeli politician, Minister of Improvement of Government Services and member of the Knesset for Likud. He served as Minister of Science & Technology between July 1997 and July 1998. Alongside Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, Eitan is the joint longest-serving MK, and as such was...
is the most recent Knesset member to serve in this capacity, doing so from February 24 - March 30, 2010.
Ireland
In the Republic of IrelandRepublic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
, the term Father of the Dáil is an unofficial title applied to the longest-serving Teachta Dála (TD) in the house, regardless of their position. The current Father is the Taoiseach and Fine Gael
Fine Gael
Fine Gael is a centre-right to centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland. It is the single largest party in Ireland in the Oireachtas, in local government, and in terms of Members of the European Parliament. The party has a membership of over 35,000...
party leader, Enda Kenny
Enda Kenny
Enda Kenny is an Irish Fine Gael politician, and has been the Taoiseach since 2011. He has led Fine Gael since 2002. He served as Minister for Tourism and Trade from 1994 to 1997. He is also a two-term Vice President of the European People's Party.Kenny has been a Teachta Dála for Mayo since...
, TD
Teachta Dála
A Teachta Dála , usually abbreviated as TD in English, is a member of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas . It is the equivalent of terms such as "Member of Parliament" or "deputy" used in other states. The official translation of the term is "Deputy to the Dáil", though a more literal...
, since the retirement of Séamus Pattison
Séamus Pattison
Séamus Pattison is a former Irish Labour Party politician. He was a Teachta Dála for the Carlow–Kilkenny constituency from 1961–2007 and was Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann from 1997–2002....
at the 2007 general election. On a number of occasions two or more people have shared the position of Father of the Dáil.
| Name | Entered Dáil | Became Father | Left Dáil | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frank Fahy Frank Fahy Francis Patrick Fahy was an Irish teacher, barrister, and politician. He served for nearly 35 years as a Teachta Dála , first for Sinn Féin and later as a member of Fianna Fáil, before becoming Ceann Comhairle for over 19 years.- Early life :Fahy was born in Kilchreest, County Galway, a son of... |
1918 election | 4 February 1948 | 14 July 1953 | Fianna Fáil Fianna Fáil Fianna Fáil – The Republican Party , more commonly known as Fianna Fáil is a centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland, founded on 23 March 1926. Fianna Fáil's name is traditionally translated into English as Soldiers of Destiny, although a more accurate rendition would be Warriors of Fál... |
|
| Éamon de Valera Éamon de Valera Éamon de Valera was one of the dominant political figures in twentieth century Ireland, serving as head of government of the Irish Free State and head of government and head of state of Ireland... |
23 June 1959 | Fianna Fáil Fianna Fáil Fianna Fáil – The Republican Party , more commonly known as Fianna Fáil is a centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland, founded on 23 March 1926. Fianna Fáil's name is traditionally translated into English as Soldiers of Destiny, although a more accurate rendition would be Warriors of Fál... |
|||
| Gerald Boland Gerald Boland Gerald Boland was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician. A founder-member of the party, he served in a number of Cabinet positions, most notably as the country's longest-serving Minister for Justice.-Early life:... |
1923 election Irish general election, 1923 The Irish general election of 1923 was held on 27 August 1923. The newly elected members of the 4th Dáil assembled at Leinster House on 19 September when the new President of the Executive Council and Executive Council of the Irish Free State were appointed. The election was held just after the end... |
23 June 1959 | 4 October 1961 | Fianna Fáil Fianna Fáil Fianna Fáil – The Republican Party , more commonly known as Fianna Fáil is a centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland, founded on 23 March 1926. Fianna Fáil's name is traditionally translated into English as Soldiers of Destiny, although a more accurate rendition would be Warriors of Fál... |
|
| James Ryan | 7 April 1965 | Fianna Fáil Fianna Fáil Fianna Fáil – The Republican Party , more commonly known as Fianna Fáil is a centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland, founded on 23 March 1926. Fianna Fáil's name is traditionally translated into English as Soldiers of Destiny, although a more accurate rendition would be Warriors of Fál... |
|||
| Patrick McGilligan Patrick McGilligan Patrick McGilligan was an Irish lawyer and Cumann na nGaedheal/Fine Gael politician.McGilligan was born in Coleraine, County Londonderry, Ireland. He was educated at St... |
7 April 1965 | Fine Gael Fine Gael Fine Gael is a centre-right to centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland. It is the single largest party in Ireland in the Oireachtas, in local government, and in terms of Members of the European Parliament. The party has a membership of over 35,000... |
|||
| James Everett James Everett James Everett was an Irish politician. On leaving school Everett became an organiser with County Wicklow Agricultural Union, which later merged with the ITGWU. He was a member of Sinn Féin and served as a justice in the Republican courts for Kildare and Wicklow from 1919. He was first elected to... |
18 December 1967 | Labour Party Labour Party (Ireland) The Labour Party is a social-democratic political party in the Republic of Ireland. The Labour Party was founded in 1912 in Clonmel, County Tipperary, by James Connolly, James Larkin and William X. O'Brien as the political wing of the Irish Trade Union Congress. Unlike the other main Irish... |
|||
| Thomas McEllistrim | 18 June 1969 | Fianna Fáil Fianna Fáil Fianna Fáil – The Republican Party , more commonly known as Fianna Fáil is a centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland, founded on 23 March 1926. Fianna Fáil's name is traditionally translated into English as Soldiers of Destiny, although a more accurate rendition would be Warriors of Fál... |
|||
| Frank Aiken Frank Aiken Frank Aiken was a commander of the Irish Republican Army and later an Irish politician. A founding-member of Fianna Fáil, Aiken was first elected to Dáil Éireann in 1923 and at each subsequent election until 1973... |
28 February 1973 | Fianna Fáil Fianna Fáil Fianna Fáil – The Republican Party , more commonly known as Fianna Fáil is a centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland, founded on 23 March 1926. Fianna Fáil's name is traditionally translated into English as Soldiers of Destiny, although a more accurate rendition would be Warriors of Fál... |
|||
| Paddy Smith | 5 July 1977 | Fianna Fáil Fianna Fáil Fianna Fáil – The Republican Party , more commonly known as Fianna Fáil is a centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland, founded on 23 March 1926. Fianna Fáil's name is traditionally translated into English as Soldiers of Destiny, although a more accurate rendition would be Warriors of Fál... |
|||
| Liam Cosgrave Liam Cosgrave Liam Cosgrave is an Irish Fine Gael politician who served as Taoiseach and as Leader of Fine Gael . He was a Teachta Dála from 1943 to 1981.... |
1943 election Irish general election, 1943 The Irish general election of 1943 was held on 23 June 1943. The 138 newly elected members of the 11th Dáil assembled on 1 July when the new Taoiseach and government were appointed.... |
5 July 1977 | 11 June 1981 | Fine Gael Fine Gael Fine Gael is a centre-right to centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland. It is the single largest party in Ireland in the Oireachtas, in local government, and in terms of Members of the European Parliament. The party has a membership of over 35,000... |
|
| Dan Spring Dan Spring Dan Spring was an Irish politician who represented the constituency of Kerry North in the Dáil, from 1943 to 1981. He was a member of the Labour Party and was the father of Dick Spring, who led the Labour Party from 1982 to 1997.Dan Spring was born into a working-class family in Tralee, County Kerry... |
11 June 1981 | Labour Party Labour Party (Ireland) The Labour Party is a social-democratic political party in the Republic of Ireland. The Labour Party was founded in 1912 in Clonmel, County Tipperary, by James Connolly, James Larkin and William X. O'Brien as the political wing of the Irish Trade Union Congress. Unlike the other main Irish... |
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| Oliver J. Flanagan Oliver J. Flanagan Oliver J. Flanagan was an Irish Fine Gael politician who served in Dáil Éireann for 43 years and was Minister for Defence for six months. He was elected to the Dáil fourteen times between 1943 and 1982, topping the poll on almost every occasion... |
17 February 1987 | Fine Gael Fine Gael Fine Gael is a centre-right to centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland. It is the single largest party in Ireland in the Oireachtas, in local government, and in terms of Members of the European Parliament. The party has a membership of over 35,000... |
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| Neil Blaney Neil Blaney Neil Terence Columba Blaney was a senior Irish politician. He was first elected to Dáil Éireann in 1948 as a Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála representing Donegal East. Blaney served as Minister for Posts and Telegraphs , Minister for Local Government and Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries... |
Dec. 1948 by-election | 17 February 1987 | 8 November 1995 | Independent Fianna Fáil Independent Fianna Fáil Independent Fianna Fáil was a splinter republican party created by Neil Blaney after his expulsion from Fianna Fáil following the Irish Arms Crisis . It ceased to exist on 26 July 2006... |
|
| Paddy Harte Paddy Harte Paddy Harte, Honorary OBE, Honorary LLD is a retired Irish Fine Gael party politician who served for 36 years as Teachta Dála for Donegal North East.-Political career:... |
1961 election Irish general election, 1961 The Irish general election of 1961 was held on 4 October 1961, just over three weeks after the dissolution of the Dáil on 8 September. The newly elected members of the 17th Dáil assembled at Leinster House on 11 October when the new Taoiseach and government were appointed.The general election took... |
8 November 1995 | 6 June 1997 | Fine Gael Fine Gael Fine Gael is a centre-right to centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland. It is the single largest party in Ireland in the Oireachtas, in local government, and in terms of Members of the European Parliament. The party has a membership of over 35,000... |
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| Seán Treacy | 6 June 1997 | Labour Party Labour Party (Ireland) The Labour Party is a social-democratic political party in the Republic of Ireland. The Labour Party was founded in 1912 in Clonmel, County Tipperary, by James Connolly, James Larkin and William X. O'Brien as the political wing of the Irish Trade Union Congress. Unlike the other main Irish... |
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| Séamus Pattison Séamus Pattison Séamus Pattison is a former Irish Labour Party politician. He was a Teachta Dála for the Carlow–Kilkenny constituency from 1961–2007 and was Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann from 1997–2002.... |
14 June 2007 | Labour Party Labour Party (Ireland) The Labour Party is a social-democratic political party in the Republic of Ireland. The Labour Party was founded in 1912 in Clonmel, County Tipperary, by James Connolly, James Larkin and William X. O'Brien as the political wing of the Irish Trade Union Congress. Unlike the other main Irish... |
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| Enda Kenny Enda Kenny Enda Kenny is an Irish Fine Gael politician, and has been the Taoiseach since 2011. He has led Fine Gael since 2002. He served as Minister for Tourism and Trade from 1994 to 1997. He is also a two-term Vice President of the European People's Party.Kenny has been a Teachta Dála for Mayo since... |
Nov. 1975 by-election | 14 June 2007 | Incumbent | Fine Gael Fine Gael Fine Gael is a centre-right to centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland. It is the single largest party in Ireland in the Oireachtas, in local government, and in terms of Members of the European Parliament. The party has a membership of over 35,000... |
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New Zealand
In New ZealandNew Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, the term Father- or Mother of the House is an unofficial title applied to the longest-serving MP in the house, regardless of their position. The Father of the House has no official role in Parliament. The current Father of the House in the New Zealand Parliament is Jim Anderton
Jim Anderton
James Patrick Anderton, usually known as Jim Anderton , is the leader of the Progressive Party, a New Zealand political party. He has served in Parliament since 1984. He served as Deputy Prime Minister from 1999 to 2002 and is currently also the sitting Father of the House, the longest...
, the leader of the New Zealand Progressive Party
New Zealand Progressive Party
Jim Anderton's Progressive Party , is a New Zealand political party generally somewhat to the left of its ally, the Labour Party....
. Anderton has served in Parliament since 1984.
In New Zealand's
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
first election
Election
An election is a formal decision-making process by which a population chooses an individual to hold public office. Elections have been the usual mechanism by which modern representative democracy operates since the 17th century. Elections may fill offices in the legislature, sometimes in the...
s of 1854, the Bay of Islands
Bay of Islands
The Bay of Islands is an area in the Northland Region of the North Island of New Zealand. Located 60 km north-west of Whangarei, it is close to the northern tip of the country....
electorate
Electoral district
An electoral district is a distinct territorial subdivision for holding a separate election for one or more seats in a legislative body...
was the first to declare the election of a successful candidate, the unopposed candidate Hugh Francis Carleton
Hugh Carleton
Hugh Francis Carleton was New Zealand's first ever Member of Parliament.-New Zealand:He was a member of New Zealand's first, second, third, and fourth Parliaments, representing the Bay of Islands electorate from 1853 to 1870...
. In the subsequent General Assembly of 1854, Carleton liked to be known as the Father of the House.
List of Fathers (and Mothers) of the House
- Hugh Francis Carelton 1853-1870 (first elected 1853)
- Alfred BrandonAlfred BrandonAlfred de Bathe Brandon was a 19th century New Zealand politician.-Early life:Brandon was born in London in 1809; his father was Henry Brandon. He was educated as a lawyer...
1870-1881 (first elected 1858) - James MacandrewJames MacandrewJames Macandrew was a New Zealand ship-owner and politician. He served as a Member of Parliament from 1853 to 1887 and as the last Superintendent of Otago Province.-Early life:...
1881-1887 (first elected 1853, re-elected 1859) - Sir Maurice O'RorkeMaurice O'RorkeSir George Maurice O’Rorke was a New Zealand politician, representing the Auckland seat of Onehunga, and later Manukau, and was Speaker of the House of Representatives. He was a committed provincialist and was the eighth Superintendent of the Auckland Province...
1887-1890 (first elected 1861, defeated 1890 and re-elected 1893) - John BryceJohn BryceJohn Bryce was a New Zealand politician from 1871 to 1891 and Minister of Native Affairs from 1879 to 1884...
1890-1891 (first elected 1866, re-elected 1871) - Ebenezer Hamlin 1891-1893 (first elected 1876)
- Richard John Seddon 1893-1906 (first elected 1879) (PM 1893-1906)
- Sir Arthur Robert Guinness 1906-1913 (first elected 1884)
- Sir James CarrollJames CarrollJames Carroll may refer to:* James Carroll * James Carroll , Irish independent politician, represented Dublin South West from 1957–1965...
1913-1919 (first elected 1887) - Sir James Allen 1919-1920 (first elected 1887, re-elected 1892)
- William Ferguson Massey 1920-1925 (first elected 1894) (PM 1912-1925)
- (Sir) Thomas Mason WilfordThomas Mason WilfordSir Thomas Mason Wilford, KC was a New Zealand politician. He held the seats of Wellington Suburbs then Hutt continuously for thirty years, from 1899 to 1929...
1925-1929 (first elected 1896, re-elected 1899) - Sir Apirana NgataApirana NgataSir Apirana Turupa Ngata was a prominent New Zealand politician and lawyer. He has often been described as the foremost Māori politician to have ever served in Parliament, and is also known for his work in promoting and protecting Māori culture and language.-Early life:One of 15 children, Ngata...
1930-1943 (first elected 1905) - Peter Fraser 1943-1950 (first elected 1918) (PM 1940-1949)
- William ParryWilliam Parry (politician)William Edward Parry was a New Zealand Minister and trade unionist.-Early years:Bill Parry was born at Orange, in New South Wales, Australia and arrived in New Zealand in 1906 ....
1950-1951 (first elected 1919) - Robert McKeenRobert McKeenRobert McKeen, CMG was a New Zealand politician of the Labour Party He was the twelfth Speaker of the House of Representatives, from 1947 to 1950....
1951-1954 (first elected 1922) - Henry Greathead Rex MasonRex MasonHenry Greathead Rex Mason was a New Zealand politician. He served as Attorney General, Minister of Justice, Minister of Education, and Minister of Native Affairs, and had a significant influence on the direction of the Labour Party...
1954-1966 (first elected 1926) (longest-serving MP in NZ's history) - Sir Walter NashWalter NashSir Walter Nash, GCMG, CH served as the 27th Prime Minister of New Zealand in the Second Labour Government from 1957 to 1960, and was also highly influential in his role as Minister of Finance...
1966-1968 (first elected 1929) (PM 1957-1960) - (Sir) Keith Jacka Holyoake 1968-1977 (first elected 1932, re-elected 1938) (PM 1957 & 1960-1972)
- Warren FreerWarren FreerWarren Wilfred Freer was a New Zealand politician of the Labour Party.He represented the Mount Albert electorate in Parliament from 1947 to 1981, when he retired. He was only 26 when he entered Parliament in a by-election for the Mount Albert seat following the death of Arthur Richards, and he...
1977-1981 (first elected 1947) - (Sir) Robert David Muldoon 1981-1991 (first elected 1960) (PM 1975-1984)
- Jonathan Lucas Hunt 1991-2005 (first elected 1966)
- Helen Elizabeth Clark 2005-2009 (to April 18) (first elected 1981) (PM 1999-2008)
- Michael John Cullen 2009 (April 18 to 29?) (first elected 1981)
- James Patrick Anderton 2009- (from April 29) (first elected 1984)
Norway
In Norway it is the representative of the Storting with longest seniority that is temporary Stortingspresident (speaker). Per Kristian Foss had this position in 2009 until Dag Terje AndersenDag Terje Andersen
Dag Terje Andersen is a Norwegian politician for the Norwegian Labour Party. In addition to professional politics he has been working at a steel mill and as a lumberjack, something that has given him a reputation for representing the average guy in politics.He was elected into the Norwegian...
was elected.
Russia
- 1993 Lukava - Liberal Democratic Party of Russia
- 1995 Galaziy - Our Home – RussiaNDRNDR may refer to:* Numalian Democratic Republic a Micronation within the borders of Malaysia.* Nador International Airport — IATA code Morocan airport* National Derby Rallies...
, Irkutsk - 1999 LigachevYegor LigachevYegor Kuzmich Ligachev is a Russian politician who was a high-ranking official in the Communist Party of the Soviet Union . Originally a protege of Mikhail Gorbachev, Ligachev became a challenger to his leadership.-Early life:...
- Pens, Tomsk - 2003 Varennikov - RodinaRodinaRodina or Motherland-National Patriotic Union was one of the four parties that controlled seats in the Russian legislature in 2003-2007...
- 2007 Alferov - Communist Party of the Russian FederationCommunist Party of the Russian FederationThe Communist Party of the Russian Federation is a Russian political party. It is the second major political party in the Russian Federation.-History:...
Finland
Note: this is a list of longest-serving Finnish MPs; however, before the election of the Speaker, the Finnish Parliament is chaired by the oldest MP, not the longest-serving one.- Kyösti KallioKyösti KallioKyösti Kallio was the fourth President of Finland . He was a prominent leader of the Agrarian League, and served as Prime Minister four times and Speaker of the Parliament six times.-Early life:...
(first elected 1907) -1937 - Kalle Lohi (first elected 1909) 1937-1945
- Miina SillanpääMiina SillanpääMiina Sillanpää was Finland's first female minister and a key figure in the workers' movement....
(first elected 1907, re-elected 1914, 1919 and 1936) 1945-1948 - Jussi Tolonen (first elected 1914, re-elected 1919 and 1927) 1948-1951
- John Österholm (first elected 1919) 1951-1960
- Viljo Rantala (first elected 1922) 1960-1962
- Karl-August FagerholmKarl-August FagerholmKarl-August Fagerholm was Speaker of Parliament and three times Prime Minister of Finland . Fagerholm became chairman of the Social Democrats after the armistice in the Continuation War...
(first elected 1930) 1962-1966 - Eino Raunio (first elected 1939) 1966-1970
- Hertta KuusinenHertta KuusinenHertta Elina Kuusinen was a Finnish Communist politician. She was a member of the central committee and the political bureau of the Communist Party of Finland, member of parliament , general secretary and the leader of the parliamentary group of the Finnish People's Democratic League...
(first elected 1945) 1970-1972 - Johannes VirolainenJohannes VirolainenJohannes Virolainen was a Finnish politician.Virolainen was born near Viipuri. After the Continuation War Virolainen moved to Lohja, but he remained one of the leaders of the evacuated Karelians, and never gave up the hope that Soviet Union and later Russia would return Finnish Karelia to Finland...
(first elected 1945) 1972-1983 - Veikko VennamoVeikko VennamoVeikko Emil Aleksander Vennamo was a Finnish politician. In 1959, he founded the Finnish Rural Party , which was succeeded by the True Finns in 1995. He had originally been the leader of a faction of the Agrarian League...
(first elected 1945, re-elected 1966) 1983-1987 - Johannes Virolainen (re-elected 1987) 1987-1991
- Henrik Westerlund (first elected 1966) 1991-1995
- Pertti Salolainen (first elected 1970) 1995-1996
- Håkan Malm (first elected 1975) 1996-1999
- Paavo Väyrynen (first elected 1970, re-elected 1999) 1999
- Esko-Juhani TenniläEsko-Juhani TenniläEsko-Juhani Tennilä is Finnish leftist politician from Lapland and member of Parliament since 1975 until 2011.Tennilä was born in Rovaniemi and has studied in University of Tampere and worked as reporter for Hämeen Yhteistyö 1966–1975....
(first elected 1975) 1999-2011 - Ilkka KanervaIlkka KanervaIlkka Armas Mikael Kanerva is a member of the Finnish Parliament. He was born in Lokalahti, now a part of Uusikaupunki in Finland Proper. He was the Minister for Foreign Affairs from 2007 to 2008. He was forced to resign from the position due to a scandal involving hundreds of text messages he...
(first elected 1975) 2011-
Sweden
- Per WesterbergPer WesterbergPer Erik Gunnar Westerberg is a Swedish Moderate Party politician and as of 2006 the current Speaker of the Swedish Riksdag, of which he is a member since 1979, and thus also its most senior member ....
(first elected 1979) 2006- - Lennart NilssonLennart NilssonLennart Nilsson is a Swedish photographer and scientist. He is noted for his photographs of in vivo human embryos and other medical subjects once considered unphotographable, and more generally for his extreme macro photography...
(first elected 1976) 2004-2006 - Bo LundgrenBo LundgrenBo Axel Magnus Lundgren is a Swedish politician. He is the former leader of the Moderate Party. Lundgren was born in Kristianstad in Skåne. Between 1991 and 1994, he served as Deputy Minister of Finance with special responsibility for taxation...
(first elected 1976) 2003-2004 - Anders BjörckAnders BjörckAnders Per - Arne Björck is a Swedish politician and the former Governor of Uppsala County from 2003 to 2009.Björck was born in Nässjö and was interested in politics from an early stage. He was national chairman of the Moderate Youth League, or the Rightist Youth League as it was known at the...
(first elected 1969) 2002-2003 - Jan Bergqvist (first elected 1969) 1998-2002
- Börje Nilsson (first elected 1965) 1996-1998
- Ingvar CarlssonIngvar CarlssonGösta Ingvar Carlsson is a Swedish politician, Prime Minister of Sweden and leader of the Swedish Social Democratic Party ....
(first elected 1965) 1994-1996 - Stig Alemyr (first elected 1957) 1988-1994
- Ingemund BengtssonIngemund BengtssonSten Bertil Ingemund Bengtsson was a Social democratic politician, and Speaker of the Riksdag from 1979 to 1988.He was born 30 January 1919 in Veddige, Sweden, and was a Member of Parliament from 1951....
(first elected 1951) 1985-1988 - Gunnar SträngGunnar SträngGunnar Sträng was a Swedish Social Democratic politician, most known for being Sweden's longest serving Minister for Finance....
(first elected 1946) 1979-1985 - Henry AllardHenry AllardKarl Åke Henry Allard, was Swedish politician , speaker of the Riksdag's second chamber 1969–1970. He became the first speaker of the unicamberal Riksdag in 1971 a post he held until 1979....
(first elected 1945) 1976-1979 - Torsten NilssonTorsten NilssonHarald Torsten Leonard Nilsson was a Swedish Social Democratic politician. He served as Minister for Defence from 1951 to 1957, and as Minister for Foreign Affairs from 1962 to 1971. Nilsson also served as Minister of Social Affairs and Minister of Communications.- References :...
(first elected 1941) 1973-1976 - Tage ErlanderTage Erlanderwas a Swedish politician. He was the leader of the Swedish Social Democratic Party and Prime Minister of Sweden from 1946 to 1969...
(first elected 1932) 1971-1973
See also
- Oldest member (European Parliament)
- Baby of the HouseBaby of the HouseBaby of the House is the unofficial title given to the youngest member of a parliamentary house. The term is most often applied to members of the British parliament.-Australia:In Australia the term is rarely used...
- Dean of the HouseDean of the HouseThe Dean of the House is the member with the longest unbroken record of service in several legislatures. Specific positions include:*Dean of the United States House of Representatives.*Dean of the House of Commons, the dean in the Canadian House of Commons....
- Dean of the House (Canada)Dean of the House (Canada)In Canada, the Dean of the House is the Member of the House of Commons with the longest unbroken record of service who is not a Cabinet Minister, party Leader, House Leader or Whip. The Dean is responsible for presiding over the election of the Speaker of the House of Commons at the beginning of...
- Dean of the U.S. House of Representatives
- List of longest-serving members of the Australian House of Representatives
- President pro tempore of the United States SenatePresident pro tempore of the United States SenateThe President pro tempore is the second-highest-ranking official of the United States Senate. The United States Constitution states that the Vice President of the United States is the President of the Senate and the highest-ranking official of the Senate despite not being a member of the body...