What happens next in the House of Commons
4 July 2024
The UK general election took place on Thursday 4 July 2024.
The House of Commons returns on 9 July
The House of Commons will return on Tuesday 9 July to elect the Speaker.
Once Members of Parliament (MPs) have chosen a Speaker-elect, the appointment must be approved by the King - this is known as Royal Approbation. MPs will be summoned to the Lords to hear Lords Commissioners, acting on behalf of the King, formally approve the choice of Speaker.
Once Royal Approbation has taken place, the process of ‘swearing in’ can begin.
Swearing in
After the Speaker has sworn in, the swearing in process for all Members begins.
The exact timetable for swearing in will be made clear after the election of the Speaker.
The House is likely to meet for swearing in on Wednesday 10 July and Thursday 11 July. Timings will be announced on the parliamentary website and on Parliament's social media channels.
The Speaker will be the first Member to either swear the oath of allegiance or make a solemn affirmation. Once the Speaker has been sworn in, other Members will be called to swear in.
Why do Members of Parliament have to swear in?
MPs are required by law to swear an oath of allegiance before they can take their seat.
State Opening will take place on 17 July
The State Opening of Parliament marks the formal start of the parliamentary year and will be held on 17 July. The King's Speech at the State Opening will set out the Government's proposed policies and legislation for the coming session.
What is State Opening?
The State Opening of Parliament marks the formal start of the parliamentary year and the King’s Speech sets out the government's agenda for the coming session, outlining proposed policies and legislation.
It is the only regular occasion when the three constituent parts of Parliament – the Sovereign, the House of Lords and the House of Commons – meet.
What is the King’s Speech?
The King’s Speech is delivered by the King from the Throne in the House of Lords. Although the King reads the Speech, it is written by the government.
It contains an outline of its policies and proposed legislation for the new parliamentary session.
Following the State Opening, Members of the House of Commons will then debate the contents of the King’s Speech over several days, looking at different subject areas. The King's Speech is then voted on by the Commons.
Find out more
Get the facts for the new Parliament with impartial information from the House of Commons Library. Explore all their relevant research in one place, including what happens after the general election, how election data is collected, and more: