Speaker of the House of Commons (UK)
The Speaker of the House of Commons is the chair of the United Kingdom's lower house of Parliament, responsible for keeping debates to order and ensuring that proper parliamentary procedure is followed. They also acts as ceremonial spokesperson for the House, typically to convey good wishes or other messages to the monarch. The current Speaker of the House of Commons is Michael Martin, Members of Parliament (MP) for Glasgow North East in Scotland. His predecessor, Betty Boothroyd, was the first woman to occupy the role.
The Speaker sits close to and above the despatch boxes, and from this position can call on MPs to speak - if they have been able to 'catch the Speaker's eye' by standing or half-standing - or, if necessary, cease their address. The Speaker has the power to suspend proceedings in the event of serious disorder, or when the chamber is disrupted in some other way (such as members of the public unlawfully gaining access to the floor). The 'Speaker's procession' occurs daily when the Speaker, formally attired, walks from their official residence through the Palace of Westminster to the House.
Election of the Speaker
Following a general election, the Speaker is elected through a vote by all members. Candidates make speeches organised by the 'Father of the House', i.e. the MP with the longest record of continuous parliamentary service. Sometimes an arrangement exists where Speakers are drawn alternately from the governing and opposition parties, or from the government side. Traditionally, the elected Speaker makes a show of physically resisting the office, and is light-heartedly dragged to the Speaker's chair by other MPs. This reflects past times when being Speaker might incur the wrath of the monarch or others (between the fourteenth and sixteenth centuries, several were killed).
Once elected, a new Speaker must sever all ties to their old party, and be impartial at all times. This requirement for the Speaker to divest themselves of party ties dates back to the eighteenth century, before which the Speaker was often an agent of the monarch.[1]
In a general election, the Speaker stands in their constituency as 'the Speaker seeking re-election', and by tradition most parties do not contest the seat. It is therefore possible, but unlikely, that a Speaker could fail to win re-election as an MP.
Deputies
The Speaker has three deputies, who are also MPs and generally do not vote; one of them, the 'Chairman of Ways and Means', presides during debates over taxation or the Budget.[2]
Footnotes
- ↑ House of Commons Information Office: 'The Speaker'. .pdf document.
- ↑ House of Commons Information Office: 'The Speaker'. .pdf document.