Election of the Speaker: Latest

MPs have elected John Bercow MP as the new Speaker of the House of Commons.

This page was updated throughout the day with the latest on the election of the new Speaker.

9.45pm -Final parliamentary confirmation of the Speaker's position

Black Rod summoned MPs and the Speaker-elect to the House of Lords to hear the Royal Approbation (confirmation of the choice of Speaker).

Known as Royal Approbation, the Lords Commissioners (Baroness Royall of Blaisdon, Lord Strathclyde, Lord McNally, Baroness D’Souza and the Lord Chancellor, Jack Straw MP) assembled in the House of Lords and confirmed the Speaker-elect as Speaker of the House of Commons.

8.38pm - Party leaders congratulate the new Speaker

Gordon Brown, David Cameron and Nick Clegg lead congratulations to John Bercow on his election as Speaker of the Commons.

8.31pm - John Bercow MP is the new Speaker of the Commons

Mr Bercow makes his acceptance speech from the steps of the Speaker's Chair.

8.30pm - The results of the third ballot

593 ballots were cast. The number of votes cast for each candidate was as follows:

John Bercow MP - 322 votes
Sir George Young MP - 271 votes

John Bercow has secured more than 50 per cent of the ballots cast. The Question is put to the House that he takes the Chair as Speaker.

7.39pm - Third ballot closes

The voting in the third ballot has now finished. Counting of the votes begins.

7.19pm - Third ballot open

The presiding officer, Alan Williams MP, has just announced that the third ballot is now open and that MPs will have 20 minutes to cast their vote.

7.07pm - The next ballot

Through to the third ballot are:

John Bercow MP (221 votes)
Sir George Young MP (174 votes)

Withdrawn:

Margaret Beckett MP (70 votes)
Alan Haselhurst MP (57 votes)
Sir Alan Beith MP (46 votes)

Eliminated:

Ann Widdecombe MP (30 votes)

The third ballot will be open for 20 minutes.

6.55pm - Results of the Second ballot

599 ballots were cast. The number of votes cast for each candidate was as follows:

Margaret Beckett MP (70 votes)
Sir Alan Beith MP (46 votes)
John Bercow MP (221 votes)
Alan Haselhurst MP (57 votes)
Ann Widdecombe MP (30 votes)
Sir George Young MP (174 votes)

One ballot was spoiled.

If a candidate receives more than 50 per cent of the votes, the Question is put to the House that he or she takes the Chair as Speaker.

If no candidate does so, the candidate with the fewest votes, and those with less than 5 per cent of the vote, are eliminated. In addition, any candidate may withdraw within 10 minutes of the announcement of the result of the ballot.

6.20pm -Transcripts of candidate speeches available

The transcripts of the speeches delivered by all the candidates are now available online.

6.06pm - Second ballot closes

The voting in the second ballot has now finished. Counting of the votes begins.

5.36pm - Second ballot

Alan Williams MP has just announced that the second ballot is now open and that MPs will have 30 minutes to cast their vote.

5.19pm - The next ballot

Through to the next ballot:

John Bercow MP (179 votes)
Sir George Young MP (112 votes)
Margaret Beckett MP (74 votes)
Alan Haselhurst MP (66 votes)
Sir Alan Beith MP (55 votes)
Ann Widdecombe MP (44 votes)

Eliminated:

Parmjit Dhanda MP (26 votes)
Richard Shepherd MP (15 votes)
Sir Patrick Cormack MP (13 votes)
Sir Michael Lord MP (9 votes)

No candidates have withdrawn.

5.08pm - Results of the first ballot

594 ballots were cast. Results of the first ballot:

Margaret Beckett MP (74 votes)
Sir Alan Beith MP (55 votes)
John Bercow MP (179 votes)
Sir Patrick Cormack MP (13 votes)
Parmjit Dhanda MP (26 votes)
Alan Haselhurst MP (66 votes)
Sir Michael Lord MP (9 votes)
Richard Shepherd MP (15 votes)
Ann Widdecombe MP (44 votes)
Sir George Young MP (112 votes)

There was one spoiled ballot paper.

If a candidate receives more than 50 per cent of the votes, the Question is put to the House that he or she takes the Chair as Speaker.

4.15pm - Videos of speeches available

Video and Audio feed of all the candidates' speeches are now available.

4.09pm - First ballot closes

The voting in the first ballot ends. Counting of the votes begins.

3.37pm - Speeches delivered, voting begins

All the candidates have delivered their speeches. MPs now proceed to the first secret ballot. This will take place in the division lobbies of the Commons Chamber. The ballot will be open for 30 minutes. Each MP receives a ballot paper bearing the names of all the candidates, listed in alphabetical order. Each MP can only vote for one candidate. The ballot boxes will be sealed and only opened once they have been removed for counting. Once the votes have been counted (estimated time one hour) Alan Williams will announce the result in the Chamber.

2.30pm - Proceedings begin with speeches

The presiding officer, Alan Williams, who is the longest serving MP, invites all the candidates to address the House of Commons. The order of speeches was decided by lot earlier today.

In the past candidates have usually confined themselves to an address of about 5-10 minutes, although there is no limit as to how long they can speak. Once everyone has spoken, the House will proceed to the first secret ballot.

Order of speeches:

Margaret Beckett MP
Sir George Young MP
Ann Widdecombe MP
Sir Alan Beith MP
John Bercow MP
Richard Shepherd MP
Sir Michael Lord MP
Sir Patrick Cormack MP
Sir Alan Haselhurst MP
Parmjit Dhanda MP

Further information

You can also follow the Speaker's election on the UKParliament Twitter feed and watch proceedings live in Video and Audio.

If you have any questions about the election of the Speaker, you can contact the House of Commons Information Office:

By telephone: 020 7219 4272

Callers with a text phone can talk through Typetalk Direct dial: 08001 020 7219 4272 Via a Typetalk operator: 0870 240 9598

By email: hcinfo@parliament.uk