On Monday 4 November Sir Lindsay Hoyle became the Speaker of the House of Commons.
Following his election he was called to the House of Lords to receive the Royal Approbation. This reflects the Speaker's constitutional role as spokesperson for the House, with rights of access to the Sovereign. At this time the newly confirmed Speaker laid claim on behalf of the Commons to “all their ancient and undoubted rights and privileges.”
Why does the House need the Queen’s permission to elect a new Speaker?
Historically the Speaker’s role was to report to the Monarch on the Commons’ deliberations. Although this has not been the case for several hundred years, the tradition of Royal permission and Royal approbation remains. The approbation is also the occasion on which the Speaker claims the traditional privileges of the Commons (e.g. of freedom of speech and debate) on behalf of the House.
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4 ноя 2019
