The three new deputy speakers elected by secret ballot
MPs have just elected by secret ballot three new deputy speakers, and a very different lot they are from previous holders of the post.
Lindsay Hoyle (Labour) was elected as the new chairman of Ways and Means, while his two deputies are the Conservative Nigel Evans and the former long-standing Treasury minister (and one time ally of Tony Benn) Dawn Primarolo.
Taken with the new Speaker John Bercow, this represents a very new generation in the chair - a long way from the pin-striped knights of the shires and elderly trades union types who used to occupy such offices in the past.
Perhaps the most colourful amongst them is Nigel Evans who briefly served in the Conservative shadow cabinet. Although he is MP for Ribble Valley in Lancashire, Evans still owns (and sometimes works in) the family newsagents shop in his native Swansea - or at least he still did the last time we discussed it a year or two back.
I'm Michael Crick, and I'm Newsnight's political editor. My guiding rule is that in any story there's usually something the politicians would prefer the world not to know. My job is to find that out. Follow me on
Comment number 1.
At 8th Jun 2010, Jericoa wrote:C'mon Crick is this all youve got?
Family newsagents in swansea and deputy speakers....
Must be a slow day in westminster.
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Comment number 2.
At 8th Jun 2010, barriesingleton wrote:DOES IT MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE WHO SITS IN THAT CEREMONIAL CHAIR?
While no attempt is made to censure the Westminster 'non-answer' it might as well be Sooty.
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Comment number 3.
At 10th Jun 2010, Smile be happy things could be worse wrote:Interesting that both Lindsay and Nigel voted in division on 8 June after their election results were announced. A last one before kicking the habit and taking office.
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