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Articles tagged with: Speaker of the Commons
Parliamentary minds
Social affairs
By Charlotte Tosti
Parliamentary minds
The Speaker and others have been at the forefront of a drive to make Parliament a better workplace for those struggling with mental health conditions – but the unique challenges it puts up mean there’s more to be done. Charlotte Tosti reports.
'A dear friend': Lord Cormack pays tribute to Betty Boothroyd
Obituaries
By Lord Cormack
'A dear friend': Lord Cormack pays tribute to Betty Boothroyd
A truly great speaker, Betty Boothroyd was also a wonderful, warm human being
‘A trailblazer’: Harriet Harman pays tribute to Betty Boothroyd
Obituaries
By Harriet Harman MP
‘A trailblazer’: Harriet Harman pays tribute to Betty Boothroyd
An outstanding parliamentarian, as the first woman speaker Betty Boothroyd broke not one but numerous glass ceilings.
'A remarkable woman': Theresa May pays tribute to Betty Boothroyd
Obituaries
By Theresa May MP
'A remarkable woman': Theresa May pays tribute to Betty Boothroyd
Betty Boothroyd mastered an often unruly Commons with a mixture of charm, wit and, when necessary, a rod of iron. I doubt we shall see her like again
Betty Boothroyd, First Woman House Of Commons Speaker, Has Died Aged 93
Political parties
Betty Boothroyd, First Woman House Of Commons Speaker, Has Died Aged 93
Baroness Betty Boothroyd, the first woman to hold the role of House of Commons Speaker, has died aged 93, prompting tributes to her "no nonsense" style in the role.
Tales from the crypt: The controversies behind the Chapel of St Mary Undercroft
History
By Graham Seel
Tales from the crypt: The controversies behind the Chapel of St Mary Undercroft
The Chapel of St Mary Undercroft might be familiar to those in Parliament, but few know that a row over its status had the potential to cause an incendiary religious split – until a resourceful Speaker defused the situation. Historian Graham Seel tells the full story.
Hidden history: Parliament's secret Second World War munitions factory
History
By Zoe Crowther
Hidden history: Parliament's secret Second World War munitions factory
After the horrors of the Blitz, with much of Parliament in ruins, staff hatched a secret plan: as Zoe Crowther reports, a hidden factory was created in the basements of the Commons to help the war effort.
Members of the eighth Speaker’s Conference announced
Parliament
By The House Staff
Members of the eighth Speaker’s Conference announced
Membership of the Speaker’s Conference – established to look at the employment conditions of Members’ staff – has been announced following its first meeting on 19 October.
Celebrating seven decades of our Queen is something the Commons can unite on
History
By Sir Lindsay Hoyle MP
Celebrating seven decades of our Queen is something the Commons can unite on
As I am sure is the case for most people, Her Majesty the Queen has always been a constant presence in my life.
Montserrat speaker Charliena White seeks support from Sir Lindsay Hoyle
Foreign affairs
By Zoe Crowther
Montserrat speaker Charliena White seeks support from Sir Lindsay Hoyle
As Speaker of the Parliament of Montserrat, Charliena White knows she has plenty to learn from her UK counterpart – and just as much to teach him.
Speaker to Speaker: Lord McFall and Sir Lindsay Hoyle talk about their close working relationship
Parliament
By Rosa Prince
Speaker to Speaker: Lord McFall and Sir Lindsay Hoyle talk about their close working relationship
In a rare joint interview, Speakers Lord McFall and Sir Lindsay Hoyle talk about their close working relationship, plans for restoration, and recognising the importance of Parliament’s people. By Rosa Prince. Photography by Baldo Sciacca.
Health and Safety Executive Investigating Asbestos Release in Parliament
Parliament
By Georgina Bailey
Health and Safety Executive Investigating Asbestos Release in Parliament
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is now investigating the asbestos release in Parliament which it has emerged could have affected as many as 117 members of staff.
Speaker urges tolerance amid Rose Duffield transgender row
Political parties
By Noa Hoffman
Speaker urges tolerance amid Rose Duffield transgender row
Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle has urged the public to exercise “tolerance” towards elected Members with whose views they disagree.
What we can learn from the hybrid Parliament
Coronavirus
By Alice Lilly
What we can learn from the hybrid Parliament
The 2019-21 session looked as though it would be a return to business as usual. A government was elected with a large majority, and was able to finally push through a Brexit deal and begin to focus on other matters. But then the pandemic hit, and the session ended up being anything but ordinary.
Speaker Forced To Intervene After No Black MPs Are Picked To Speak On Racist Abuse In Commons
Political parties
Speaker Forced To Intervene After No Black MPs Are Picked To Speak On Racist Abuse In Commons
The Speaker’s Office was forced to intervene on Wednesday after a procedural issue meant no black MPs were selected to speak during an urgent question on racist online abuse.
Speakers commemorate 80 years since House of Commons bombing
History
By Georgina Bailey
Speakers commemorate 80 years since House of Commons bombing
Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle and new Lord Speaker Lord McFall have commemorated the 80th anniversary of the destruction of the House of Commons Chamber in the Blitz, paying tribute to three members of parliamentary staff who died in the Luftwaffe attack on the night of 10 -11 May 1941.
MPs Hit Out At 'Unethical' Academics For Sending Them 'Spoof' Emails During The Pandemic
Coronavirus
MPs Hit Out At "Unethical" Academics For Sending Them "Spoof" Emails During The Pandemic
MPs and unions have heavily criticised a group of academics for sending fictitious emails to their offices as part of a research project monitoring responses.
Lindsay Hoyle: “Everything I Never Envisaged The House Would Do: We Did All Of That”
Coronavirus
By Georgina Bailey
Lindsay Hoyle: “Everything I Never Envisaged The House Would Do: We Did All Of That”
Lindsay Hoyle’s first year as Speaker has seen some of the most radical changes in the House of Commons’ history, as Parliament grapples with Covid-19. As he marks his anniversary in the Chair he talks to Georgina Bailey about keeping our democracy functioning
Junior minister rebuked in Commons for 'questioning judgement' of Speaker Lindsay Hoyle
Communities
Junior minister rebuked in Commons for 'questioning judgement' of Speaker Lindsay Hoyle
Junior minister Chris Pincher was rebuked in the Commons for "questioning the judgement" of Speaker Lindsay Hoyle after he was sent to respond to an urgent question on his boss's conduct.
Speaker Lindsay Hoyle warns of ‘deadlock’ over end of virtual Commons as MPs asked to form long queues to vote
Coronavirus
Speaker Lindsay Hoyle warns of ‘deadlock’ over end of virtual Commons as MPs asked to form long queues to vote
The Commons Speaker says he has has been forced to “break the deadlock” over controversial plans to end remote voting on Tuesday.
Jacob Rees-Mogg confirms virtual Parliament will end despite claim shielding MPs will be ‘euthanised from Commons’
Coronavirus
Jacob Rees-Mogg confirms virtual Parliament will end despite claim shielding MPs will be ‘euthanised from Commons’
Jacob Rees-Mogg has vowed once again to end the virtual Parliamentary proceedings and force MPs to come into Westminster from 2 June.
John Bercow and the Clerks
Brexit
By Sebastian Whale
John Bercow and the Clerks
From his championing of Urgent Questions to the creation of a creche, John Bercow was undoubtedly a reforming Speaker. But his working relationship with some parliamentary authorities – who he viewed as obstructive – was often stretched to breaking point. In an abridged extract from ‘Call to Order’, his new biography of the former Speaker, Sebastian Whale looks at the fraught relationships during the Bercow era
Matt Hancock’s ‘tone’ row, Boris v Keir - and a ticking off from the Speaker: catch up on all this week’s key Commons clashes
Coronavirus
By Eleanor Langford
Matt Hancock’s ‘tone’ row, Boris v Keir - and a ticking off from the Speaker: catch up on all this week’s key Commons clashes
PoliticsHome reporter Eleanor Langford rounds up all the punchiest Commons exchanges of the week for The House Live
Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle warns Boris Johnson over plan to use Sunday TV speech for coronavirus lockdown ‘roadmap’
Coronavirus
Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle warns Boris Johnson over plan to use Sunday TV speech for coronavirus lockdown ‘roadmap’
Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle has criticised the Government amid reports Boris Johnson will spell out his lockdown exit strategy in a televised speech before MPs are given the chance to take a look.