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| Deputy speakers 'to be elected' | Deputy speakers 'to be elected' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Commons Speaker John Bercow is to say he wants MPs to vote to choose his deputy speakers, the BBC understands. | Commons Speaker John Bercow is to say he wants MPs to vote to choose his deputy speakers, the BBC understands. |
| Mr Bercow is believed to be concerned that following his own election by secret ballot last month the three deputies should also be elected. | |
| Deputy Speakers are traditionally appointed by the party whips. | Deputy Speakers are traditionally appointed by the party whips. |
| Mr Bercow is to make a statement in the Commons at 1220 BST. His office refused to comment on its contents but it is understood he will announce a contest. | Mr Bercow is to make a statement in the Commons at 1220 BST. His office refused to comment on its contents but it is understood he will announce a contest. |
| BBC Political correspondent Reeta Chakrabarti says it is thought Mr Bercow is looking to implement the changes - or to start the process of change - after the summer recess. | |
| Election of the deputy speakers could raise a question of political balance - traditionally the Speaker and his three deputies have been drawn in equal proportion from the government and the Opposition. | Election of the deputy speakers could raise a question of political balance - traditionally the Speaker and his three deputies have been drawn in equal proportion from the government and the Opposition. |
| The three current deputy speakers are Conservative MPs Sir Alan Haselhurst and Sir Michael Lord, who were both among the MPs defeated by Mr Bercow in the contest to be Speaker, and Labour's Sylvia Heal, who did not stand. | |
| Mr Bercow, who got 322 votes to fellow Tory MP Sir George Young's 271, was the first Commons Speaker to be elected by a secret ballot of MPs. | |
| He was elected on a reforming platform after his predecessor Michael Martin became the first Speaker to be forced to quit in 300 years, over his handling of the expenses scandal. |