Now that John Bercow has announced his imminent departure, an inevitable political bun fight will surely follow. The outgoing Speaker told colleagues that he would be stepping down from his post by 31 October, the day the UK is supposed to leave the European Union. The move comes after the Business Secretary Andrea Leadsom told the Mail on Sunday that the Tories were planning to break with convention and field a candidate in his Buckingham constituency at the next election. So who will replace the controversial Commons referee? The most likely runners and riders are outlined below:
Lindsay Hoyle (Lab)
The most obvious choice for the next Speaker of the Commons. Hoyle has established himself as one of the front runners during his tenure as Bercow’s most senior deputy. Lauded for his calm and evenhanded approach, the popular Labour MP notably ticked off SNP MPs as they sang the EU’s official anthem ‘Ode to Joy’ during a vote on the Brexit Bill, telling them ‘I don’t want a sing-off in the chamber’.
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