Threats against MPs are stifling debate and weakening democracy, speaker warns
A rise in threats and abuse targeting MPs and election candidates is actively undermining the health of democracy, a cross-party inquiry chaired by the commons speaker has concluded. An interim report from the speaker’s conference found that intimidation is dissuading individuals from standing for office and making it harder for elected representatives and candidates to […]
Budget disclosure avoids ‘surprising’ financial markets, says Labour after speaker criticism
The speaker said it was “unacceptable to go around the world telling everybody” about new policy instead of informing MPs first.
Over 90 MPs back motion of no confidence in commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle
Over 60 MPs have backed a motion of no confidence in House of Commons speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle after a day of chaos in the chamber.
Week-in-Review: Rancour over Gaza debate disguises difficulties for all parties
After all the rancour, partisan chicanery and accusations of a Speaker stitch-up, the House of Commons’ official record, Hansard, records soberly the outcome of the SNP’s opposition day debate on Wednesday as follows: “[Labour Party] Amendment (a) agreed to. [Motion], as amended, put and agreed to”. Presiding over a chamber consumed by cantankerous din, deputy […]
Betty Boothroyd, first and only female commons Speaker, dies aged 93
Baroness Betty Boothroyd, the first and only woman to serve as speaker of the House of Commons, has died aged 93. She was the Labour MP for West Bromwich for 27 years and served as speaker of the House from 1992-2000. Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle has led tributes to his predecessor in the role. He […]
Speaker calls for ‘increased level of scrutiny’ on All-Party Parliamentary Groups
All Party Parliamentary Groups (APPGs) are too easily set up and lack independent scrutiny, according to a rare joint intervention by the Speakers of both Houses of Parliament. House of Commons speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle and Lords speaker Lord McFall have written in a letter that Parliament’s reputation is being put at risk by the […]
Speaker makes statement on Falklands War anniversary
At the beginning of Tuesday’s business in the House of Commons, speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle made a statement on the 40th anniversary of the end of the Falklands War. Hoyle paid tribute to 255 British military personnel and 3 Falkland Islanders who lost their lives. MPs will hold a ceremony at St. Margaret’s church after […]
Speaker denies threatening press freedom over Rayner story
Mail on Sunday editor David Dillon has refused to meet with Commons Speaker, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, regarding last weekend’s controversial article on deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner. During this morning’s broadcast round, justice secretary Dominic Raab refused to criticise Dillon’s boycott of the proposed Speaker meeting. However Raab denounced the Mail’s initial article as terrible”, […]
President Zalensky asks MPs to ‘make sure Ukrainian skies are safe’
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zalensky addressed the House of Commons via live link, in an unprecedented speech in which he said that Ukraine “will continue fighting for their land”. Zalensky told the House that this was a war that Ukraine didn’t start and didn’t want” and that while Ukraine were “thankful” the help so far, it is “looking for the […]
Speaker reminds MPs: ‘our words have consequences’
Following “abuse” towards Keir Starmer outside parliament last night, the Speaker of the House, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, made a statement, which reminded MPs that their “words have consequences”. This follows “reports that some abuse was directed towards the leader of the opposition related to claims made by the prime minister”. Hoyle repeated his previous remarks, […]
