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John Bercow: What's the role of a Speaker in Parliament? Sir Lindsay Hoyle: What's the role of a Speaker in Parliament?
(about 2 months later)
You might know him as the man who shouts something that sounds like "odd-DEURRRR, odd-DEURRRRR!" So there's a new person in charge of proceedings in the House of Commons.
John Bercow is the Speaker of the House of Commons and he's announced he is going to quit. Sir Lindsay Hoyle has been elected by MPs as the new Commons Speaker, after previous Speaker John Bercow stepped down.
He's been the subject of numerous memes during parliamentary debates on Brexit over the past few years. You'll probably know John Bercow from the way he said "order" (pronounced "odd-DEURRRR, odd-DEURRRRR!") while trying to keep things calm and fair during discussions between the UK's political parties.
But after a decade he's said he'll stand down at the next election if one happens or on 31 October - whichever comes first. Since 1997, Sir Lindsay has been a Labour party MP for Chorley in Lancashire - but he will have to quit that job because the Commons Speaker must be impartial.
What's that phrase again... something about an unstoppable force meeting an immovable object? He was dragged to the Speaker's chair by two MPs, which is a tradition in the House of Commons when someone new takes the role.
That pretty much sums up his battles with the government during this whole Brexit argument. As well as making a promise to be "neutral" and "transparent" Speaker, Sir Lindsay also paid tribute to his 28-year-old daughter Natalie, who died in 2017, during his acceptance speech.
So here's a quick look at what a Speaker does and what's next. "There is one difficult part I want to get over. There is one person who is not here; my daughter Natalie," he said.
Why has he been such a big figure? "I wish she could have been here. She was everything to all of us."
John Bercow has been prominent in the Brexit debate by using old conventions which date back as far as 1604. Now he's the Speaker, he'll be sitting in that all-powerful green chair - given by Australia - deciding which MPs are allowed to speak.
And he's faced major criticism from Brexiteers who have questioned his fairness in the Brexit debate and think he's trying to prevent the UK leaving - or at least push us towards a "soft" Brexit where we keep close ties to the EU. So here's a quick look at what the speaker does and what the role could mean for Brexit.
In a break from the norm he was facing being ousted both as a Speaker and MP by his own party - the Conservatives - at the next election. What's the role and why is it so important?
How is he replaced?
Well, the new Speaker - whoever he or she may be - will be selected by MPs using a secret ballot system.
If a candidate gets more than 50% of votes, they are elected to the post.
But if no candidate gets more than half of the vote then there are more rounds of voting.
Those with the fewest votes are eliminated and MPs keep on voting until one person gets a majority.
Traditionally, the role alternates between the two main parties - so if this is maintained, the next Speaker will be a Labour MP.
But Conservative MP Eleanor Laing - who is also a deputy speaker - has announced she'll be a candidate, as has Labour MP and Mother of the House Harriet Harman.
So with parliament and the country trundling along in uncertain political waters, it'll be interesting to see who the next person that'll be keeping "Odd-DEURRR!" is.
What's the role? And why do we need so much order?
Simply put, the Speaker is in charge of what goes on within the House of Commons.Simply put, the Speaker is in charge of what goes on within the House of Commons.
If the Commons is the TV show Pointless, then he is Alexander Armstrong and Richard Osman combined. Imagine that for a second. If the Commons is the TV show Pointless, then the Speaker is Alexander Armstrong and Richard Osman combined. Imagine that for a second.
So that's why he steps in when things get too rowdy with his trademark cry. Contrary to popular belief, he's not simply a fan of hors d'oeuvres. So that's why he or she will step in when things get too rowdy with the trademark cry of "order!". Contrary to popular belief, it's not because they're a fan of hors d'oeuvres.
By tradition, the Speaker is above politics. He is supposed to represent only the rules and conventions of Parliament. By tradition, the Speaker is above politics and is supposed to represent only the rules and conventions of Parliament.
So when he or she is elected, they cease to represent their party. So when he or she is elected, they stop representing their party.
No disrespectNo disrespect
The title of Speaker dates back to 1377, and Sir Thomas Hungerford was the first.The title of Speaker dates back to 1377, and Sir Thomas Hungerford was the first.
Back in the day it was a dangerous game.Back in the day it was a dangerous game.
No fewer than seven Speakers were beheaded before 1535.No fewer than seven Speakers were beheaded before 1535.
And in a nod to this traditional past, when a new Speaker is elected, they will be physically dragged to the Chair by other MPs.
That's because when the Speaker would communicate the opinion of the Commons to the monarch - there was a chance of early death if the monarch disagreed with the message.
So you can understand why some previous speakers required a bit of gentle persuasion to accept the role.
The modern role of the Speaker being independent from political parties evolved in the 18th and 19th centuries.The modern role of the Speaker being independent from political parties evolved in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Read interviews with John Bercow and it's clear how he sees the role of a Speaker - making sure no political party disrespects Parliament by bending or breaking the rules. How was Sir Lindsay chosen?
Bercow vs. May The new Speaker was selected by MPs using a secret ballot system.
Tensions came to a head earlier this year, when the then-prime minister Theresa May was hoping for a third chance to put her doomed Brexit deal to a vote. If a candidate gets more than 50% of votes, they're elected to the post.
But Speaker Bercow decided that couldn't happen unless the deal had changed or a new session of Parliament started. But if no candidate gets more than half of the vote then there are more rounds of voting.
Everything was disguised by complicated, flowery language and references to ancient rules. But make no mistake, it was a savage blow that hastened - indeed arguably helped to cause - Mrs May's downfall. Those with the fewest votes are eliminated and MPs keep on voting until one person gets a majority.
A social Speaker Dealing with complicated controversies (mostly Brexit)
In many ways, John Bercow has been tailor-made for the age of social media. Much like John Bercow, Sir Lindsay is likely to have a big role to play regarding Brexit.
He tells it like he sees it, he shouts a lot and he even has a catchphrase. Mr Bercow was visible in the Brexit debate - and faced major criticism from Brexiteers who questioned his fairness.
No massive surprise, then, that he became a meme earlier this year. For example, he didn't allow Prime Minister Boris Johnson to put his deal with the EU to a parliamentary vote after it had been rejected once.
He's become known in other parts of Europe as well, with German newspaper Die Welt claiming a few months ago that he's better known there than any of our party leaders. He said the reason was because of a parliamentary convention from 1604, which says a motion can't be brought back if it's the same "in substance" as a previous one.
That may no longer be strictly true, but what about the Sunday Times describing him as "Europe's surprising new pin-up"? He also opposed allowing US President Donald Trump to speak in parliament in 2017.
A referee It was called "an unprecedented and extraordinary rebuke" and "a diplomatic snub" by BBC political correspondent Eleanor Garnier.
"I'm a regular at my club with my son, a season-ticket holder at Arsenal. There are 60,000 people in the crowd, who think they know better than the referee." Mr Bercow - who was in the job for ten years - described his role as being similar to a referee in an interview by the US broadcaster CNN.
That's how Mr Bercow described his role as Speaker when he was interviewed by the US broadcaster CNN. "I'm a regular at my club with my son, a season-ticket holder at Arsenal," he said.
He also told the Guardian newspaper he's "always been passionate about Parliament", adding: "I've always believed strongly it could do a better job." "There are 60,000 people in the crowd, who think they know better than the referee."
An earlier version of this feature was published in March. And that's something Sir Lindsay will probably have to follow, to keep some vital order in the House.
An earlier version of this feature was published in September 2019.
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