In the
United KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a sovereign state located off the northwestern coast of continental Europe. It is an island country, spanning an archipelago including Great Britain, the northeastern part of Ireland, and many small islands...
, the
Speaker of the House of Commons is the presiding officer of the House of Commons, and is seen historically as the
First Commoner of the Land. The present Speaker is
John BercowJohn Simon Bercow is the current Speaker of the British House of Commons, having been elected to this office in June 2009. He has been the Member of Parliament for Buckingham since 1997. Until he became Speaker, he sat in the House as a member of the Conservative Party...
, who was elected on 22 June 2009, following the resignation of
Michael MartinMichael John Martin, Baron Martin of Springburn, PC is a British politician. He was a Labour Member of Parliament for Glasgow North East from 1979 and was the Speaker of the House of Commons from 2000, until his resignation from both posts in 2009.On his election to the post of Speaker in 2000 he...
.
The Speaker presides over the House's debates, determining which members may speak. The Speaker is also responsible for maintaining order during debate, and may punish members who break the rules of the House. Conventionally, the Speaker remains non-partisan, and renounces all affiliation with his former political party when taking office. The Speaker does not take part in debate nor vote (except to break ties, and even then, subject to conventions that maintain his or her non-partisan status), although the Speaker is still able to speak. Aside from duties relating to presiding over the House, the Speaker also performs administrative and procedural functions, and remains a constituency
Member of ParliamentA Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a parliament. In many countries the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a unique title, such as senate, and thus also have unique titles for its members, such as senators. Members of...
(MP). The Speaker has the right and obligation to reside in the Parliamentary estate, near to Big Ben.
History
The continuous history of the office is held to date from 1376 (see definitive studies by the late Professor JS Roskell) when Sir
Peter de la MareSir Peter de la Mare was an English politician who is best remembered as the Presiding Officer of the House of Commons during the Good Parliament of 1376. Before becoming speaker, he worked variously as a toll collector, Sheriff of Herefordshire, and as a steward to Edmund Mortimer, 3rd Earl of...
spoke for the commons in the '
Good ParliamentThe Good Parliament is the name traditionally given to the English Parliament of 1376. Sitting in London from April 28 to July 10, it was the longest Parliament up until that time....
' as they joined leading magnates in purging the chief ministers of the Crown and the most unpopular members of the king's household.
Edward IIIEdward III was one of the most successful English monarchs of the Middle Ages. Restoring royal authority after the disastrous reign of his father, Edward II, Edward III went on to transform the Kingdom of England into the most efficient military power in Europe...
was frail and in seclusion, his prestigious eldest son,
Edward the Black PrinceEdward, Prince of Wales, was the eldest son of King Edward III of England and Philippa of Hainault, and father to King Richard II of England. He was called Edward of Woodstock in his early life, after his birthplace, and has more recently been popularly known as The Black Prince...
, terminally ill. It was left to the next son, a furious John of Gaunt, to fight back. He arrested De la Mare and disgraced other leading critics. In the next, '
Bad ParliamentThe Bad Parliament sat in England between 27 January and 2 March 1377. Influenced by Prince John of Gaunt, it undid the work done by the Good Parliament to reduce corruption in the Royal Council. It also introduced a poll tax which led to the Peasants' Revolt in 1381....
,' in 1377, a cowed commons put forward Gaunt's steward,
Thomas HungerfordSir Thomas Hungerford was the first person to be recorded in the rolls of the Parliament of England as holding the office of Speaker of the House of Commons.-Biography:...
, as their spokesman in retracting their predecessors' mis-actions of the previous year. Gaunt evidently wanted a 'mirror-image' as his form of counter-coup. Although there had been occasional designated spokesmen for the commons, at least on specific issues, right back into the mid-13C, this notion, born in crisis, of one 'speaker', who quickly also became 'chairman' and organiser of the commons' business, was recognised as valuable and took immediate root after 1376-7. On 6 October 1399
Sir John CheyneSir John Cheyne, also called Cheney, was a Member of Parliament representing Gloucestershire and the initial Speaker in the House of Commons in the October 1399 Parliament, summoned by the newly-acclaimed Henry IV...
of Beckford (Gloucs.) was elected speaker. The powerful
Archbishop of CanterburyAlso see Leaders of ChristianityThe Archbishop of Canterbury is the chief bishop and principal leader of the Church of England, the symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican Communion and the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury, the see that churches must be in communion with in order to be...
,
Thomas ArundelThomas Arundel was Archbishop of Canterbury in 1397 and from 1399 until his death, an outspoken opponent of the Lollards.-Ecclesiastical career:...
is said to have voiced his fears of Cheyne's reputation as a critic of the Church. Eight days later, Cheyne resigned on grounds of ill-health, although he remained in favour with the king and active in public life for a further fourteen years. He may well, then, have been forced out of office. Although the officer was elected by the commons at the start of each parliament, with at least one contested election known, in 1420 (
Roger Hunt prevailing by a majority of just four votes), in practice the Crown was usually able to get whom it wanted, indicating that the famous 'defence of the commons' privilege' should not be seen in isolation as the principal thread in the office's evolution. Whilst the idea of giving this spokesman personal immunity from recrimination as only being the voice of the whole body was quickly adopted and did enhance the commons' role, the Crown found it useful to have one person with the authority to select and lead the lower house's business and responses to the Crown's agenda, much more often than not in the way the Crown wanted. Thus, Whig ideas of the commons growing in authority as against royal power are somewhat simplistic - the Crown used the commons as and when it found it advantageous to do so, and the speakership was part of the process of making the commons a more cohesive, defined and effective instrument of the king's government. Throughout the medieval and early modern period, every speaker was an MP for a county, reflecting the implicit situation that such shire representatives were of greater standing in the house than the more numerous burgess MPs. Although evidence is almost non-existent, it has been surmised that any vote was by count of head, but by the same token perhaps the fact so very little is said about actual votes suggests that most decisions, at least of a general kind, were reached more through persuasion and the weight by status of the county MPs. In such a situation, the influence of the speaker should not be underestimated. Sir
Thomas MoreSir Thomas More , also known as Saint Thomas More, was an English lawyer, scholar, author, and statesman....
was the first speaker to go on to become
Lord ChancellorThe Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain, or Lord Chancellor, is a senior and important functionary in the government of the United Kingdom. He is the second highest ranking of the Great Officers of State, ranking only after the Lord High Steward. The Lord Chancellor is appointed by the Sovereign...
.
Until the 17th century, members of the House of Commons often continued to view their Speaker (correctly) as an agent of
the CrownThe Crown is a corporation sole that in certain countries of the Commonwealth of Nations, as well as in any provincial or state sub-divisions thereof, represents the legal embodiment of executive government...
. As Parliament evolved, however, the Speaker's position grew into one that involved more duties to the House than to the Crown; such was definitely the case by the time of the
English Civil WarThe English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists. The first and second civil wars pitted the supporters of King Charles I against the supporters of the Long Parliament, while the third war saw fighting between supporters of...
. This change is sometimes said to be reflected by an incident in 1642, when
King Charles ICharles I, , the second son of James VI of Scotland and I of England, was King of England, Scotland and Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution. Charles famously engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England...
entered the House in order to search for and arrest five members for
high treasonHigh treason is criminal disloyalty to one's country. Participating in a war against one's country, attempting to overthrow its government, spying on its military, its diplomats, or its secret services for a hostile and foreign power, or attempting to kill its head of state are perhaps the...
. When the King asked him if he knew of the location of these members, the Speaker,
William LenthallWilliam Lenthall , was an English politician of the Civil War period. He served as Speaker of the House of Commons....
, famously replied: "May it please your Majesty, I have neither eyes to see nor tongue to speak in this place but as the House is pleased to direct me, whose servant I am here."
The development of Cabinet government under
King William IIIWilliam III was a sovereign Prince of Orange by birth. From 1672 he governed as Stadtholder William III of Orange over Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Guelders, and Overijssel of the Dutch Republic. From 1689 he reigned as William III over England and Ireland, and as William II over Scotland...
in the late 17th century caused further change in the nature of the Speakership. Speakers were generally associated with the ministry, and often held other government offices. For example,
Robert HarleyRobert Harley, 1st Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer , was a British politician and statesman of the late Stuart and early Georgian periods. He began his career as a Whig, before defecting to a new Tory Ministry. Between 1711 and 1714 he served as First Lord of the Treasury, effectively Queen Anne's...
served simultaneously as Speaker and as a
Secretary of StateSecretary of State is a commonly used title for a member of government. The role varies between countries, and in some cases there are multiple Secretaries of State in the government.In many countries, a Secretary of State is a mid-level post...
between 1704 and 1705. The Speaker between 1728 and 1761,
Arthur OnslowArthur Onslow was an English politician. He was the elder son of Foot Onslow and his wife Susannah....
, reduced ties with the government, though the office did remain to a large degree political. The Speakership evolved into its modern form—in which the holder is an impartial and apolitical officer who does not belong to any party—only during the middle of the 19th century.
Over 150 individuals have served as Speaker of the House of Commons. Their names are inscribed in gold leaf around the upper walls of Room C of the
House of Commons LibraryThe House of Commons Library is the library and information resource of the lower house of the British Parliament. It has adopted the phrase Contributing to a well-informed democracy as a summary of its mission statement.- History :...
. The three most recent Speakers have been notable for a series of "firsts", as
Betty BoothroydBetty Boothroyd, Baroness Boothroyd of Sandwell OM, PC is a British politician, who served as Member of Parliament for West Bromwich and West Bromwich West from 1973 to 2000 and was the first, and to date only, female Speaker of the British House of Commons between 1992 and 2000.-Early...
, elected in 1992 and served until 2000, was the first woman to fill the position. Her successor, Michael Martin, was the first Roman Catholic to serve as Speaker since the reign of
Queen Mary IMary I , was Queen of England and Queen of Ireland from 19 July 1553 until her death. She was the oldest daughter of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon. The fourth crowned monarch of the Tudor dynasty, she is remembered for restoring England to Roman Catholicism after succeeding her short-lived...
, while John Bercow, elected in 2009, is the first Jewish person to be chosen for the role.
By convention Speakers are normally addressed in Parliament as Mr Speaker (or Mr Deputy Speaker for their deputies). When Betty Boothroyd, the first female speaker, presided, she was, at her request, addressed as Madam Speaker. When
Betty Harvie AndersonMargaret "Betty" Harvie Anderson, Baroness Skrimshire of Quarter, PC, DL was a British Conservative Party politician....
had served in the 1970s as a Deputy Speaker, on the other hand, she had been addressed as "Mr Deputy Speaker".
Election
MPs elect the Speaker from amongst their own ranks.The House must elect a Speaker at the beginning of each new parliamentary term after a
general electionIn a parliamentary political system, a general election is an election in which all or most members of a given political body are up for election...
, or after the death or resignation of the incumbent. Once elected, a Speaker continues in office until the dissolution of Parliament, unless he or she resigns prior to this. Customarily, the House re-elects Speakers who desire to continue in office for more than one term. Theoretically, the House could vote against re-electing a Speaker, but such an event is extremely unlikely.
The procedure for electing a Speaker has changed in recent years. Until 1971, the
Clerk of the House of CommonsThe Clerk of the House of Commons is the chief executive of the House of Commons in the Parliament of the United Kingdom. His equivalent in the House of Lords is the Clerk of the Parliaments...
became temporary Chairman of the House. As the Clerk is never a Member, and therefore is not permitted to speak, he would silently stand and point at the Member who was to speak. However, this procedure broke down at the election of a new Speaker in 1971 (see below) and had to be changed. Since that time, as recommended by a Select Committee, the
Father of the HouseFather of the House is a term that has by tradition been unofficially bestowed on certain members of some national legislatures, 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...
(the member of the House with the longest period of unbroken service) becomes the presiding officer.
Until 2001, the election of a Speaker was conducted as a routine matter of House of Commons business. A member would move "That Mr(s) [X] do take the Chair of this House as Speaker", and following debate (which may have included an amendment to replace the name of the member on whom the Speakership was to be conferred), a routine Division of the House would resolve in favour of one candidate. There was, however, a considerable amount of behind-the-scenes lobbying before suitable candidates were agreed upon, and so it was very rare for a new Speaker to be opposed. However, this system broke down in 2000 when 12 rival candidates declared for the job and the debate occupied an entire Parliamentary day. The House of Commons Procedure Committee then re-examined the means of electing a Speaker and recommended a new system which came into effect in 2007 and was first used in June 2009, following the resignation of Michael Martin.
Under the new system, candidates must be nominated by at least twelve members, of whom at least three must be of a different party from the candidate. Each member may nominate no more than one candidate. The House then votes by
secret ballotThe secret ballot is a voting method in which a voter's choices are confidential. The key aim is to ensure the voter records a sincere choice by forestalling attempts to influence the voter by intimidation or bribery....
; an
absolute majorityAn absolute majority or majority of the entire membership is a voting basis which usually requires that more than half of all the members of a group must vote in favour of a proposition in order for it to be passed...
(in the U.K. sense, i.e. more than 50% of the votes cast) is required for victory. If no candidate wins a majority, then the individual with the fewest votes is eliminated, as are any candidates who receive less than five percent of the votes cast. The House continues to vote, for several rounds if necessary, until one member receives the requisite majority. Then, the House votes on a formal motion to appoint the member in question to the Speakership. (In the unlikely event that this motion fails, the House must hold a fresh series of ballots on all of the nominees.)
If only one candidate is nominated, then no ballot is held, and the House proceeds directly to the motion to appoint the candidate to the Speakership. A similar procedure is used if a Speaker seeks a further term after a General Election: no ballot is held, and the House immediately votes on a motion to re-elect the Speaker. If the motion to re-elect the Speaker fails, candidates are nominated, and the House proceeds with voting (as described above).
Upon the passage of the motion, the Speaker-elect is expected to show reluctance at being chosen; he or she is customarily "dragged" by colleagues to the Chair.
The Speaker-elect must receive the Sovereign's approval, or the "approbation," before he or she may take office. On the day of the election, the Speaker-elect leads the Commons to the Chamber of the House of Lords, where
Lords CommissionersThe Lords Commissioners are Privy Counsellors appointed by the Monarch of the United Kingdom to exercise, on his or her behalf, certain functions relating to Parliament, including the opening and prorogation of Parliament, the confirmation of a newly elected Speaker of the House of Commons and the...
appointed by the Crown confirm him or her in the monarch's name. Thereafter, the Speaker symbolically requests "in the name and on behalf of the Commons of the United Kingdom, to lay claim, by humble petition to Her Majesty, to all their ancient and undoubted rights and privileges, especially to freedom of speech in debate, to freedom from arrest, and to free access to Her Majesty whenever occasion shall require." After the Lords Commissioners, on the behalf of the Sovereign, confirm the Commons' rights and privileges, the Commons return to their Chamber. If a Speaker is chosen in the middle of a Parliament due to a vacancy in the office, he or she must receive the royal approbation as described above, but does not again lay claim to the Commons' rights and privileges.
After election, however, the Speaker ceases to be associated with his or her former party. In 2000, Michael Martin was the second consecutive ex-Labour Speaker, breaking a pattern of alternation between Labour and Conservative members which had occurred from the 1965 through to the 1992 elections of Speakers.
The general election
At the general election (if the current Speaker contests that election) the major political parties normally do not contest the Speaker's seat and he is entitled to describe himself on the ballot as "The Speaker seeking re-election", under the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act.
This convention was not respected by the
Scottish National PartyThe Scottish National Party is a centre-left political party which campaigns for Scottish independence. In the last few decades, the SNP has normally polled the second highest number of votes for a political party in Scotland. However, the 2009 European Election saw the party top the poll with...
during the election of
Michael MartinMichael John Martin, Baron Martin of Springburn, PC is a British politician. He was a Labour Member of Parliament for Glasgow North East from 1979 and was the Speaker of the House of Commons from 2000, until his resignation from both posts in 2009.On his election to the post of Speaker in 2000 he...
to the office for the constituencies of
Glasgow SpringburnGlasgow Springburn was a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1918 until the 2005 general election, when it was largely replaced by the Glasgow North East constituency....
in 2001 and
Glasgow North EastGlasgow North East is a burgh constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom . It was first contested at the 2005 general election....
in 2005.
Notable elections
Though the election of a Speaker is normally non-partisan, there have been several controversial elections in history. For example, in 1895, the sudden retirement of
Arthur PeelArthur Wellesley Peel, 1st Viscount Peel PC , was a British Liberal politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1865 to 1895...
came at a time when partisan feelings were running high. The Conservatives and
Liberal UnionistsThe Liberal Unionists were a British political party that split away from the Liberals in 1886. Led by Lord Hartington and Joseph Chamberlain the party formed a political alliance with the Conservatives in opposition to Irish Home Rule...
put forward Sir Matthew White Ridley, a well-respected MP who had many years of experience, and hoped for a unanimous election as the previous Speaker had been a Liberal. However, the Liberals decided to oppose him and nominated
William Court GullyWilliam Court Gully, 1st Viscount Selby, QC, PC was a British lawyer and Liberal politician. He served as Speaker of the House of Commons between 1895 and 1905.-Background and education:...
who had been an MP for only nine years and had been a relatively quiet presence. On a party-line vote Gully was chosen by 285 to 274. Although Gully proved his impartiality to the satisfaction of most of his opponents, and was unanimously re-elected after the
1895 general electionThe UK general election of 1895 was held from 13 July - 7 August 1895. It was won by the Conservatives, led by Lord Salisbury, who obtained a large majority over Lord Rosebery's Liberals in combination with the Liberal Unionists who now formed a government with them...
, the episode left many Unionists bitter. During that year's general election Gully became one of the few Speakers to be opposed in his own constituency, a sign of the bitterness of the time. It was not until the mid-1930s that it became common for a Speaker to face some form of opposition for re-election.
The 1951 election was similarly controversial. After the incumbent Speaker, Douglas Clifton Brown, retired at the
1951 general electionThe 1951 United Kingdom general election was held eighteen months after the.1950 general election, which the Labour Party won, but with a very slim majority of just five seats...
, there was a great demand from the Labour Party for
Major James MilnerMajor James Milner, 1st Baron Milner of Leeds, MC, PC was a British Labour Party politician.Milner was educated at the University of Leeds and became a solicitor. He was a major in World War I and was wounded, awarded the Military Cross and bar for his service...
to become the first Labour Speaker after he had served as Deputy Speaker for eight years. However, the Conservatives (who had just regained power) nominated
William Shepherd MorrisonWilliam Shepherd Morrison, 1st Viscount Dunrossil, GCMG, MC, KStJ, PC, QC , 14th Governor-General of Australia, was born in Scotland and educated at George Watson's College and the University of Edinburgh. He joined the British Army in the First World War and served with an artillery regiment in...
against him. The vote again went down party lines, and Morrison was elected. Milner received a
PeerageThe Peerage is a system of titles in the United Kingdom, which represents the upper ranks of British nobility and is part of the British honours system. The term is used both collectively to refer to the entire body of titles, and individually to refer to a specific title...
as compensation.
In 1971, having had early warning that
Horace KingHorace Maybray King, Baron Maybray-King, PC , was a British politician who served as a Labour Member of Parliament from 1950 until 1970 before becoming a life peer. Following the death of Harry Hylton-Foster in September 1965, King, who had served as deputy speaker for ten months, became the...
would be retiring, the Conservatives took the lead in offering to the Labour Party either
Selwyn LloydJohn Selwyn Brooke Lloyd, Baron Selwyn-Lloyd CH, PC , known for most of his career as Selwyn Lloyd, was a British Conservative politician.-Background and early careers:...
or John Boyd-Carpenter as potential Speakers. The Labour Party chose Selwyn Lloyd partly because he was perceived as a weak figure. However, when the House of Commons debated the new Speaker, Conservative MP
Robin Maxwell-HyslopSir Robin John Maxwell-Hyslop is a retired British Conservative Party politician.Maxwell-Hyslop was educated at Stowe School and Christ Church, Oxford. He worked in an aero engine firm....
and Labour MP
Willie HamiltonWilliam Winter Hamilton, known as Willie Hamilton, was a Scottish anti-monarchist Labour Member of Parliament in Fife....
nominated
Geoffrey de FreitasSir Geoffrey Stanley de Freitas was a British politician and diplomat. For many years a Labour Member of Parliament, he also served as British High Commissioner in Accra and Nairobi, and later as President of the Council of Europe.-Family and early career:Geoffrey de Freitas was the son of Sir...
, a senior and respected backbench Labour MP. De Freitas was taken aback by the sudden nomination and urged the House not to support him (a genuine feeling, unlike the feigned reluctance which all Speakers traditionally show). Lloyd was elected but there was a feeling among all parties that the system of election needed to be overhauled. Now, a candidate's consent is required before he or she can be nominated.
The last three instances of the election of a new Speaker (1992, 2000 and 2009) have all been relatively controversial.
Bernard WeatherillBruce Bernard Weatherill, Baron Weatherill, PC, DL was an English politician, and Speaker of the British House of Commons.-Tailor:...
had announced his impending retirement a long time before the
1992 general electionThe United Kingdom general election of 1992 was held on 9 April 1992, and was the fourth consecutive victory for the Conservative Party.John Major had won the leadership election in November 1990 succeeding the outgoing PM Margaret Thatcher....
, leading to a long but suppressed campaign for support.
Betty BoothroydBetty Boothroyd, Baroness Boothroyd of Sandwell OM, PC is a British politician, who served as Member of Parliament for West Bromwich and West Bromwich West from 1973 to 2000 and was the first, and to date only, female Speaker of the British House of Commons between 1992 and 2000.-Early...
, a Labour MP who had been Deputy Speaker, was known to be extremely interested in becoming the first woman Speaker (and in doing so, finished the chances of fellow Labour MP Harold Walker who had also been Deputy Speaker). The Conservative former Cabinet member
Peter BrookePeter Leonard Brooke, Baron Brooke of Sutton Mandeville, CH, PC , is a British politician, a former Conservative Cabinet member, and former Member of Parliament for the Cities of London and Westminster....
was put forward at a late stage as a candidate. Unlike previous elections, there was an active campaign among Conservative MPs to support Boothroyd and about seventy of them did so, ensuring her election. She was the only speaker elected in the 20th century not to be a member of the governing party.
Betty Boothroyd announced her retirement shortly before the summer recess in 2000, which left a long time for would-be Speakers to declare their candidature but little opportunity for Members of Parliament to negotiate and decide on who should be chosen. Many backbench Labour MPs, especially from
ScotlandScotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, advanced the claims of
Michael MartinMichael John Martin, Baron Martin of Springburn, PC is a British politician. He was a Labour Member of Parliament for Glasgow North East from 1979 and was the Speaker of the House of Commons from 2000, until his resignation from both posts in 2009.On his election to the post of Speaker in 2000 he...
as a long-serving Deputy Speaker. Most Conservatives felt strongly that the recent alternation between the main parties ought to be maintained and a Conservative Speaker chosen. The most prominent Conservative choices were
Sir George YoungSir George Samuel Knatchbull Young, 6th Baronet, is a British politician. He is a Conservative Party Member of Parliament who has represented the constituency of North West Hampshire since 1997, having previously represented the constituency of Ealing Acton from 1974-97. He served in the Cabinet...
and Deputy Speaker
Sir Alan HaselhurstSir Alan Gordon Barraclough Haselhurst is a British politician. He is the Conservative Party Member of Parliament for Saffron Walden...
. With several maverick candidates announcing themselves, the total number of Members seeking the Speakership was 14, none of whom would withdraw. A lengthy sitting of the House saw Michael Martin first proposed, then each of the candidates proposed as an amendment which was voted down. In points of order before the debate, many members demanded a secret ballot.
Non-partisanship
Unlike the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, upon election, the Speaker, by convention, breaks all ties with his or her political party, as it is considered essential that the Speaker be seen as an impartial presiding officer. In many cases, individuals have served in ministerial or other political positions before being elected Speaker. For example,
Selwyn LloydJohn Selwyn Brooke Lloyd, Baron Selwyn-Lloyd CH, PC , known for most of his career as Selwyn Lloyd, was a British Conservative politician.-Background and early careers:...
and
George ThomasThomas George Thomas, 1st Viscount Tonypandy, PC was a British Labour politician and Speaker of the British House of Commons.-Early life and education:...
(Speakers during the 1970s and early 1980s) had both previously served as high-ranking Cabinet members, whilst
Bernard WeatherillBruce Bernard Weatherill, Baron Weatherill, PC, DL was an English politician, and Speaker of the British House of Commons.-Tailor:...
(Speaker from 1983 to 1992) was previously a party
whipThe whip is a role in party politics whose primary purpose is to ensure control of the formal decision-making process in a parliamentary legislature. Whips are party 'enforcers', who typically offer both inducements and punishments to party members...
.
In General Elections, it is customary for the Speaker to stand without party affiliation. Since
partiesA political party is a political organization that seeks to attain and maintain political power within government, usually by participating in electoral campaigns...
began being listed on ballot papers, the Speaker's affiliation is shown as "Speaker seeking re-election". In the past few decades, the Conservatives have not stood against Speakers seeking re-election, regardless of their previous political affiliation. Labour and the Liberal Democrats have stood against ex-Conservative Speakers, but not against ex-Labour ones.
Plaid CymruPlaid Cymru is a political party in Wales. It advocates the establishment of an independent Welsh state within the European Union.Plaid Cymru was formed in 1925 and won its first seat in 1966...
also stood against the Speaker in 1979. Most recently, in 2001 and 2005, the only major party to oppose the ex-Labour Speaker Michael Martin was the
Scottish National PartyThe Scottish National Party is a centre-left political party which campaigns for Scottish independence. In the last few decades, the SNP has normally polled the second highest number of votes for a political party in Scotland. However, the 2009 European Election saw the party top the poll with...
. In the House, the Speaker does not vote on any motion, except in order to resolve ties. After leaving office, the Speaker normally takes no part in party politics; if elevated to the
House of LordsThe House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom and is also commonly referred to as "the Lords". Parliament comprises the Sovereign, the House of Commons , and the Lords...
, he or she would normally sit as a crossbencher.
Presiding officer
The Speaker's primary function is to preside over the House of Commons. Whilst "in the Chair" (that is, presiding), the Speaker wears a uniform consisting of a black court suit and black robe with a train. On important ceremonial occasions, the black robe is replaced with a long black and gold robe with lace frills and lace jabot. Formerly, the Speaker also wore a full-bottomed wig when presiding and on other occasions; in 1992, however,
Betty BoothroydBetty Boothroyd, Baroness Boothroyd of Sandwell OM, PC is a British politician, who served as Member of Parliament for West Bromwich and West Bromwich West from 1973 to 2000 and was the first, and to date only, female Speaker of the British House of Commons between 1992 and 2000.-Early...
decided to end this practice. Her successor,
Michael MartinMichael Martin may refer to:*Michael Martin , former Speaker of the House of Commons in the United Kingdom*Micheál Martin , Irish Fianna Fáil politician and Minister...
, also eschewed the wig; moreover, he chose to simplify other aspects of the uniform, doing away with the once customary buckled court shoes and silk stockings. His successor
John BercowJohn Simon Bercow is the current Speaker of the British House of Commons, having been elected to this office in June 2009. He has been the Member of Parliament for Buckingham since 1997. Until he became Speaker, he sat in the House as a member of the Conservative Party...
drastically eliminated almost all of the traditional court dress, leaving only a simple black gown over his business suit when presiding.
Whilst presiding, the Speaker sits in a chair at the front of the House. Traditionally, members supporting the Government sit on his or her right, and those supporting the Opposition on his or her left. The Speaker's powers are extensive, and are much more extensive than those of his or her
LordsThe House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom and is also commonly referred to as "the Lords". Parliament comprises the Sovereign, the House of Commons , and the Lords...
counterpart, the
Lord SpeakerThe Lord Speaker is the speaker of the House of Lords in the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The office is analogous to the Speaker of the House of Commons: the Lord Speaker is "appointed" by the members of the House of Lords and is expected to be politically impartial...
. Most importantly, the Speaker calls on members to speak; no member may make a speech without the Speaker's prior permission. By custom, the Speaker alternates between members supporting the Government and supporting the Opposition. Members direct their speeches not to the whole House, but to the Speaker, using the words "Mister Speaker" or "Madam Speaker." Members must refer to each other in the third person by their parliamentary titles (not their names); they may not directly address anyone other than the Speaker (who does call them by name). In order to maintain his or her impartiality, the Speaker generally refrains from making speeches, although there is nothing to prevent him or her from doing so. For example, on Wednesday 3 December 2008, Speaker Martin addressed the House on the subject of the arrest of Damien Green MP and the subsequent searching of his office within the precincts of the House of Commons. (The matter is somewhat controversial because the warrantless search powers used under
The Police and Criminal Evidence ActThe Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 is an Act of Parliament which instituted a legislative framework for the powers of police officers in England and Wales to combat crime, as well as providing codes of practice for the exercise of those powers. Part VI of PACE required the Home Secretary...
(PACE) have been argued to not apply to the House of Commons).
During debate, the Speaker is responsible for maintaining discipline and order. He or she rules on all points of order (objections made by members asserting that a rule of the House has been broken); the decisions may not be appealed. The Speaker bases decisions on the rules of the House and on precedent; if necessary, he or she may consult with the Parliamentary Clerks before issuing a ruling. In addition, the Speaker has other powers that he may use to maintain orderly debate. Usually, the Speaker attempts to end a disruption, or "calls members to order," by repeating "Order! Order!" If members do not follow his or her instructions, the Speaker may punish them by demanding that they leave the House for the remainder of the day's sitting. For grave disobedience, the Speaker may "
nameNaming is a procedure in the British House of Commons whereby the Speaker or one of his deputies proposes a vote on the suspension of a member of the House whom he believes has broken the rules of conduct of the House....
" a member, by saying "I name [Mr X]." (deliberately breaching the convention that members are only referred to by reference to their constituency, "The [Right] Honourable Member for [Y]"). The House may then vote to suspend the member "named" by the Speaker. In case of "grave disorder," the Speaker may immediately adjourn the entire sitting.
In addition to maintaining discipline, the Speaker must ensure that debate proceeds smoothly. If the Speaker finds that a member is making irrelevant remarks, is tediously repetitive, or is otherwise attempting to delay proceedings, he or she may order the member to end the speech. Furthermore, before debate begins, the Speaker may invoke the "Short Speech" rule, under which he or she may set a time limit (at least eight minutes) which will apply to every speech. At the same time, however, the Speaker is charged with protecting the interests of the minority by ensuring sufficient debate before a vote. Thus, the Speaker may disallow a
closureIn parliamentary procedure, cloture , also called closure and sometimes a guillotine, is a motion or process aimed at bringing debate to a quick end....
, which seeks to end debate and immediately put the question to a vote, if he or she finds that the motion constitutes an abuse of the rules or breaches the rights of the minority.
Before the House votes on any issue, the Speaker "puts the question"; that is, he or she verbally states the motion on which the members are to vote. He or she then assesses the result of a voice vote, but any member may demand a
divisionA division is a parliamentary mechanism which calls for a rising vote, wherein the members of the house literally divide into groups indicating a vote in favour of or in opposition to a motion on the floor...
(a recorded vote). The Speaker may overrule a request for a division and maintain the original ruling; this power, however, is used only rarely, usually when members make frivolous requests for divisions in order to delay proceedings.
The Speaker does not vote in the division, except when the Ayes and Noes are tied, in which case he or she must use the
casting voteA casting vote is a vote given to the presiding officer of a council or legislative body to resolve a deadlock and which can be exercised only when such a deadlock exists...
. In exercising the casting vote, the Speaker may theoretically vote as he or she pleases, but, in practice, always votes in accordance with certain unwritten conventions, such as
Speaker Denison's RuleSpeaker Denison's rule is an explanation given by a 19th century Speaker of the British House of Commons, John Evelyn Denison, as to why the Speaker casts their vote in most cases in favour of, rather than against, a government, where they have the casting vote.The principle is simple...
. Firstly, the Speaker votes to give the House further opportunity to debate a bill or motion before reaching a final decision. (For example, the Speaker would be obliged to vote against a closure motion.) Secondly, any final decision should be approved by the majority. (Thus, for instance, the Speaker would vote against the final passage of a bill.) Finally, the Speaker should vote to leave a bill or motion in its existing form; in other words, the Speaker would vote against an amendment.
Since the House of Commons is a very large body (with over 600 members), Speakers are rarely called upon to use the casting vote. Since 1801, there have been only forty-nine instances of tied divisions. The last tied votes were in 1980, when the House divided 201-201 on a motion to grant leave to bring the Televising of Parliament Bill (the Speaker voted Aye) and on 21 June 1990, 197-197 on an amendment to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill (the Deputy Speaker voted No). There was believed to be a 317-317 vote on an amendment to a motion concerning the
Maastricht TreatyThe Maastricht Treaty was signed on 7 February 1992 in Maastricht, the Netherlands after final negotiations on 9 December 1991 between the members of the European Community and entered into force on 1 November 1993 during the Delors Commission. It created the European Union and led to the creation...
in 1993, but it was quickly discovered that one extra "Aye" vote had been erroneously counted. Prior to the counting error having been noted, Speaker
Betty BoothroydBetty Boothroyd, Baroness Boothroyd of Sandwell OM, PC is a British politician, who served as Member of Parliament for West Bromwich and West Bromwich West from 1973 to 2000 and was the first, and to date only, female Speaker of the British House of Commons between 1992 and 2000.-Early...
did give a Casting Vote of No, although this was later expunged when the error became clear.
Other functions
In addition to his or her role as presiding officer, the Speaker performs several other functions on the behalf of the House of Commons. He or she represents the body in relations with the Sovereign, the House of Lords, and non-parliamentary bodies. On important occasions of state (such as
Queen Elizabeth IIElizabeth II is the queen regnant of sixteen independent states known informally as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines,...
's
Golden JubileeA Golden Jubilee is a celebration held to mark a 50th anniversary.- In the Commonwealth Realms :In the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth Realms, a Golden Jubilee celebration is held in the 50th year of a monarch's reign.- For Queen Elizabeth II :...
in 2002), the Speaker presents Addresses to the Crown on behalf of the House.
The Speaker performs various procedural functions. He or she may recall the House from recess during a national emergency, or when otherwise requested by the Government. When vacancies arise, the Speaker authorises the issuance of
writs of electionA writ of election is a writ issued by the government ordering the holding of a special election for a political office.In the United Kingdom and in Canada, this is the only way of holding an election for the House of Commons...
. Furthermore, the Speaker is responsible for certifying bills that relate solely to national taxation as "
money billIn the Westminster system , a money bill or supply bill is a bill that solely concerns taxation or government spending , as opposed to changes in public law.- Conventions :...
s" under the Parliament Acts 1911 and 1949. The House of Lords has no power to block or substantially delay a
money billIn the Westminster system , a money bill or supply bill is a bill that solely concerns taxation or government spending , as opposed to changes in public law.- Conventions :...
; even if the Lords fail to pass the bill, it becomes law within a month of passage by the Commons. The Speaker's decision on the matter is final, and cannot be challenged by the Upper House.
The Speaker is also responsible for overseeing the administration of the House. He or she chairs the House of Commons Commission, a body that appoints staff, determines their salaries, and supervises the general administration of those who serve the House. Furthermore, the Speaker controls the parts of the
Palace of WestminsterThe Palace of Westminster, also known as the Houses of Parliament, is the seat of the two houses of the Parliament of the United Kingdom—the House of Lords and the House of Commons...
used by the House of Commons. Also, the Speaker is the
ex officio Chairman of the four Boundary Commissions (for
EnglandEngland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the North Sea to the east, with the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
,
WalesWales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom, bordered by England to its east, and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It is also an elective region of the European Union...
,
ScotlandScotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, and
Northern IrelandNorthern Ireland is a part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and it is situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland. It shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
), which are charged with redrawing the boundaries of parliamentary constituencies to reflect population changes. However, the Speaker normally does not attend meetings of the Boundary Commissions; instead, the Deputy Chairman of the Commission (usually a judge) normally presides.
Finally, the Speaker continues to represent his or her constituency in Parliament. Like any other Member of Parliament, he or she responds to letters from constituents and attempts to address their concerns.
Deputies
The Speaker is assisted by three deputies, all of whom are elected by the House. The most senior deputy is known as the
Chairman of Ways and MeansIn the United Kingdom, the Chairman of Ways and Means is a senior member of the House of Commons who acts as one of the Speaker's three deputies. The current Chairman is the Right Honourable Sir Alan Haselhurst MP.-History and functions:...
; the title derives from the now defunct Ways and Means Committee which formerly considered taxation-related bills. The remaining deputies are known as the First Deputy and Second Deputy Chairmen of Ways and Means. Typically, the Speaker presides for only three hours each day; for the remainder of the time, one of the deputies takes the Chair. During the annual Budget, when the
Chancellor of the ExchequerThe Chancellor of the Exchequer is the title held by the British Cabinet minister who is responsible for all economic and financial matters. Often simply called The Chancellor, the office-holder controls HM Treasury and plays a role akin to the posts of Minister of Finance or Secretary of the...
reads out the government's spending proposal, the Chairman of Ways and Means, rather than the Speaker, presides. Moreover, the Speaker never presides over the
Committee of the Whole HouseIn the United Kingdom House of Commons, the Committee of the Whole House is used instead of a standing committee for the clause-by-clause debate of important or contentious bills...
, which, as its name suggests, consists of all the members, but operates under more flexible rules of debate. (This device was used so that members could debate independently of the Speaker, whom they suspected acted as an agent or spy of the monarch. Now, the procedure is used to take advantage of the more flexible rules of debate.)
Deputies have the same powers as the Speaker when presiding. Akin to the Speaker, they do not take part in partisan politics, and remain completely impartial in the House. However, they are entitled to take part in constituency politics, and to make their views known on these matters. In General Elections, they stand as party politicians. If a Deputy Speaker is presiding, then he or she holds the casting vote instead of the Speaker.
Precedence and privileges
The Speaker is one of the highest-ranking officials in the United Kingdom. By an
Order-in-CouncilAn Order-in-Council is a type of legislation in many countries, typically those in the Commonwealth of Nations. In the United Kingdom this legislation is formally made in the name of the Queen by the Privy Council , but in other countries the terminology may vary.-Assent:Although the Orders are...
issued in 1919, the Speaker ranks in the
order of precedenceThe Order of precedence in the United Kingdom is different in each of its four constituent member nations. See:* Order of precedence in England and Wales* Order of precedence in Scotland* Order of precedence in Northern Ireland...
above all non-royal individuals except the Prime Minister, the Lord Chancellor, and the
Lord President of the CouncilThe Lord President of the Council is the fourth of the Great Officers of State of the United Kingdom, ranking beneath the Lord High Treasurer and above the Lord Privy Seal. The Lord President has the responsibility of presiding over meetings of the Privy Council...
. In England and Wales, he also
ranksThe Order of precedence in England and Wales as of 12 November 2008:Names in italics indicate higher precedence elsewhere in the table.-Members of the Royal Family:*The Sovereign *HRH The Duke of Edinburgh*Sons of the Sovereign...
below the two
archbishopIn Christianity, an archbishop is an elevated bishop. In many Christian Churches, this means that they lead a diocese of particular importance called an archdiocese, or in the Anglican Communion an Ecclesiastical Province, but this is not always the case. An archbishop is equivalent to a bishop in...
s of the
Church of EnglandThe Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England, the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion and the oldest among the communion's thirty-eight independent national and regional churches...
, in Scotland, he also
ranksThe order of precedence in Scotland was fixed by Royal Warrant in 1905. Amendments were made by further Warrants in 1952, 1958 and most recently in 1999 to coincide with the establishment of the Scottish Parliament and Scottish Executive....
below the
Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of ScotlandThe Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland is an honorary role, held for 12 months.Meetings of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, held in May each year, are chaired by the Moderator...
, and in Northern Ireland, he also ranks below the
Church of IrelandThe Church of Ireland is a Christian church, an autonomous province of the Episcopal/Anglican Communion, operating across the island of Ireland, and the largest non-Roman Catholic religious body on the island...
and Roman Catholic
archbishopIn Christianity, an archbishop is an elevated bishop. In many Christian Churches, this means that they lead a diocese of particular importance called an archdiocese, or in the Anglican Communion an Ecclesiastical Province, but this is not always the case. An archbishop is equivalent to a bishop in...
s of Ireland, and the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church.
, the Speaker receives a salary of £78,575, in addition to his or her salary as a Member of Parliament. The Speaker's salary is equal to that of a Cabinet Minister. The Speaker is also provided with official apartments in the Palace of Westminster, the home of both Houses of Parliament. Each day, prior to the sitting of the House of Commons, the Speaker and other officials travel in procession from the apartments to the Chamber. The procession includes the Doorkeeper, the
Serjeant-at-ArmsA Sergeant at Arms is an officer appointed by a deliberative body, usually a legislature, to keep order during its meetings. The word sergeant is derived from the Latin serviens, which means "servant"....
, the Speaker, a trainbearer, the Chaplain, and the Speaker's Private Secretary. The Serjeant-at-Arms attends the Speaker on other occasions, and in the House; he or she bears a
ceremonial maceThe ceremonial mace is a highly ornamented staff of metal or wood, carried before a sovereign or other high official in civic ceremonies by a mace-bearer, intended to represent the official's authority. The mace as used today derives from the original mace used as a weapon...
that symbolises the royal authority under which the House meets, as well as the authority of the House of Commons itself.
Customarily, Speakers are appointed to the
Privy CouncilHer Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council is a body of advisors to the British Sovereign. Its members are largely senior politicians, who were or are members of either the House of Commons or House of Lords of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.The Privy Council, the...
upon election. Thus, the present and former Speakers are entitled to the style "The Right Honourable." Upon retirement, Speakers were traditionally elevated to the House of Lords as
viscountA viscount is a member of the European nobility whose comital title ranks usually, as in the British peerage, above a baron, below an earl or a count .-Etymology:...
s. The last Speaker to receive a viscountcy was
George ThomasThomas George Thomas, 1st Viscount Tonypandy, PC was a British Labour politician and Speaker of the British House of Commons.-Early life and education:...
, who became Viscount Tonypandy upon his retirement in 1983. Since that year, it has instead been normal to grant only life baronies to retiring Speakers.
Current Speaker and Deputy Speakers
- Speaker: The Right Hon. John Bercow
John Simon Bercow is the current Speaker of the British House of Commons, having been elected to this office in June 2009. He has been the Member of Parliament for Buckingham since 1997. Until he became Speaker, he sat in the House as a member of the Conservative Party...
- Chairman of Ways and Means (Deputy Speaker): The Right Hon. Sir Alan Haselhurst
Sir Alan Gordon Barraclough Haselhurst is a British politician. He is the Conservative Party Member of Parliament for Saffron Walden...
- First Deputy Chairman of Ways and Means (Deputy Speaker): The Right Hon. Sylvia Heal
Sylvia Lloyd Heal MP is a British politician. She is Labour Member of Parliament for Halesowen and Rowley Regis and is the First Deputy Chairman of Ways and Means and a Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons.-Early life:...
- Second Deputy Chairman of Ways and Means (Deputy Speaker): The Right Hon. Sir Michael Lord
See also
- List of Speakers of the British House of Commons
- Presiding Officer of the National Assembly for Wales
The Presiding Officer of the National Assembly for Wales is the Speaker of the National Assembly for Wales, elected by the Members of the National Assembly for Wales to chair their meetings ; to maintain order; and to protect the rights of Members.He or she also heads the Corporate Body of the...
- Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament
The Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament is the speaker of the Scottish Parliament, elected by the Members of the Scottish Parliament. He or she also heads the Corporate Body of the Scottish Parliament and as such is viewed as a figurehead for the entire organisation. Two Deputy Presiding...
- Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly
The Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly is the presiding officer of the Northern Ireland Assembly, elected on a cross-community vote by the Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly. Three Deputy Speakers are elected to help fulfil the role....
- Speaker (politics)
The term speaker is a title often given to the presiding officer of 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 powers to discipline members who break the...
External links