Member News
The Speaker has announced the results of today's election of his three deputies.
Lindsay Hoyle, Labour MP for Chorley, is the new chairman of ways and means.
Nigel Evans (Con, Ribble Valley) is first deputy chairman and Dawn Primarolo, Labour MP for Bristol South, is second deputy chairman.
The three deputy speakers were elected yesterday by MPs under the single transferable vote system
A total of a total of 515 valid votes were cast, there were 5 invalid ballot papers.
Mr Speaker paid tribute to the acting deputies who have been assisting him since the start of the new parliament, Hugh Bayley (Lab, York Central) and Sir Alan Haselhurst (Con, Saffron Walden).
He also expressed the House's thanks to Sir Alan for his 13 years service as a deputy and to two deputies who retired at the election, Sir Michael Lord and Sylvia Heal.
The three new deputy Speakers will take up their posts tomorrow until the end of this Parliament which, under the coalition government's plans, is expected to last the full five years.
"I look forward to working with them," Mr Speaker told the House.
Eight of the candidates for deputy Speaker took part in a hustings yesterday afternoon.
The event was organised by Dods Parliamentary Communications, in association with The House Magazine and ePolitix.com.
Nigel Evans was the first to address the hustings.
He said he had decided to stand prior to the general election, and in his 18 years as an MP he has worked closely with colleagues from all parties.
Evans said his work with the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and the British Youth Council, and his support of the Speaker's desire for the Commons to become more relevant, are good reasons to support his candidacy.
Dawn Primarolo said that since her election in 1987, she has served as a backbencher, a shadow spokesperson and a government minister. She said she was asked by colleagues to stand, and joked that her ability to stay awake would stand her in good stead for the role.
Lindsay Hoyle said he was a proud Lancastrian and a well-known voice for backbenchers. He said the importance of the chamber must not be under-estimated, and the House must be inclusive.
Hoyle said that if elected his door would always be open to MPs new and old.
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