13/06/2017

:00:29. > :00:35.Good afternoon from me, Daniel Britain at Westminster were,

:00:36. > :00:38.shortly, we shall see the meeting of the new Parliament, the 57th

:00:39. > :00:46.Parliament of the United Kingdom is just about seven weeks since we were

:00:47. > :00:49.in this cubicle to watch the hauled in this cubicle to watch the

:00:50. > :00:49.Parliament being prorogued, and Parliament being prorogued, and

:00:50. > :00:52.quite a lot has happened since then. We may not know the date that the

:00:53. > :00:57.Queen will open the Parliament, because talks are continuing with

:00:58. > :01:01.the DUP, as I speak. But the date that the new Parliament first meets

:01:02. > :01:06.was laid down by proclamation at the dissolution of the old one, in May.

:01:07. > :01:11.The main point of business today is for MPs to elect the Speaker, but

:01:12. > :01:17.nothing is ever simple round here, so a Royal commission sitting in the

:01:18. > :01:23.wards will summon MPs. There will be a lot of doffing and then MPs will

:01:24. > :01:29.return to the Commons to get on with that election. Over the next couple

:01:30. > :01:36.of days we're going to see a veritable doff fest, there will be a

:01:37. > :01:41.lot of doffing of caps and we hope it will be a bit better than it was

:01:42. > :01:45.at the prorogation. We are joined by the former Deputy Speaker at Natasha

:01:46. > :01:49.Engle and our Parliamentary Engle and our Parliamentary

:01:50. > :01:55.correspondent, Sean Curran. If you want to watch proceedings with no

:01:56. > :02:07.commentary, purulent unsullied, then just log on and on your computer to

:02:08. > :02:10.bbc.co.uk/parliament. Natasha, I notice commiserations, you lost your

:02:11. > :02:16.seat and that been a dreadful moment. We will come onto that a bit

:02:17. > :02:22.later. The Speaker, he's going to be re-elected? I think so. No

:02:23. > :02:27.indication that anyone is going to challenge him. The mood in

:02:28. > :02:31.Parliament at the moment is, nobody wants to have more upset. Things are

:02:32. > :02:37.so uncertain and so up in the air that having somebody who does sort

:02:38. > :02:44.of present continuity, I think, is going to be important for everybody.

:02:45. > :02:52.And Sean, talking about things being up in the air, what is the majority

:02:53. > :02:56.if the DUP do a deal? There are the Conservatives, given that Sinn Fein

:02:57. > :02:59.do not sit and the Speaker does not vote. On paper the Conservatives

:03:00. > :03:04.took 318 seats by the end of counting on Friday. Take one of

:03:05. > :03:11.those seats away because actually the Speaker, John Bercow, that means

:03:12. > :03:18.we have 317. The magic number when you have 650 MPs is 326. So 317, and

:03:19. > :03:25.ten DUP puts the nicely over the line at 328. Sinn Fein do not take

:03:26. > :03:33.their seats, so that means a working majority would in fact increase.

:03:34. > :03:41.What would the working majority be? Then, you take in the seven DUP out

:03:42. > :03:50.of the equation, you are basically talking about 643 MPs and you take

:03:51. > :03:59.away the Speaker and that the 642 so you need a majority of 321 and they

:04:00. > :04:02.have a majority of 226, quite a healthy majority, not a working

:04:03. > :04:05.majority of 17 that Theresa May had before the election, which also

:04:06. > :04:13.included the non-attending Sinn Fein. Let's just take a look at

:04:14. > :04:17.Jeremy Vine, when he was giving the election results, the final seat

:04:18. > :04:31.declarations on general election night.

:04:32. > :04:38.Here are the government benches and the Conservatives are still on them,

:04:39. > :04:43.still the largest party, with 319 seats, one constituency as we were

:04:44. > :04:47.mentioning, still to come. 318 is not an overall majority, you need to

:04:48. > :04:51.be hundred and 26, just over half the MPs, so that you can add about

:04:52. > :04:56.or the MPs on the other side put together. They have a problem, the

:04:57. > :04:58.Conservatives. Look at the opposition benches, Labour improved

:04:59. > :05:22.by 30 seats, the SNP down by more than one third

:05:23. > :05:24.of their MPs, on 35. A dozen Lib Dems. In Northern Ireland, the

:05:25. > :05:27.Democratic US have ten, Sinn Fein have seven. In Wales, Plaid Cymru

:05:28. > :05:29.have four, the Greens keep their one MP Caroline Lucas and that one

:05:30. > :05:31.independent MP is in Northern Ireland. There are no MPs in the

:05:32. > :05:34.House of Commons. More than 200 women MPs for the first time. At

:05:35. > :05:36.that point there was one seat to declare, Kensington, which George

:05:37. > :05:42.Osborne called the socialist public -- socialist republic of Kensington,

:05:43. > :05:46.with Labour winning by 20 votes! Theresa May and Arlene Foster, the

:05:47. > :05:52.DUP leader have had talks in Number Ten, Theresa May has left presumably

:05:53. > :05:56.to go to the House of Commons, we're being told that the DUP left by the

:05:57. > :06:03.back door. So is not being shouted at by reporters. Natasha, you were a

:06:04. > :06:08.former Deputy Speaker. Do deputy speakers ever vote other than in a

:06:09. > :06:14.tie? No, they have to resign the Chair if they want to vote. They are

:06:15. > :06:19.elected, the deputies, unlike the top dog, he is elected as Mr

:06:20. > :06:24.Speaker, seeking re-election, but you would have been elected as a

:06:25. > :06:29.Labour person and you opposite number as a Conservative. If the

:06:30. > :06:35.Speaker is a Conservative, as he is, then there will be one other

:06:36. > :06:42.conservative government deputy and the other two slots have to be taken

:06:43. > :06:47.by opposition MPs. At least one woman or at least one man, so it can

:06:48. > :06:50.be three women and a man. There is no certainty even in a vote of

:06:51. > :06:56.confidence with a deputy speakers would be called upon by the original

:06:57. > :06:59.parties to vote. I know that you have to stand down if you want to

:07:00. > :07:05.vote. You cannot do so as a Deputy Speaker. The casting vote issue is

:07:06. > :07:11.about maintaining the status quo. That has happened, but that is the

:07:12. > :07:17.only time, the only occasion when that would happen. You had a tough

:07:18. > :07:23.campaign in North East Derbyshire. You were first elected in 2005.

:07:24. > :07:26.Against the run of play, you lost this time. But there was a kind of

:07:27. > :07:30.felt in the North Midlands, Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent,

:07:31. > :07:36.Mansfield in Nottinghamshire, UN North East Derbyshire, was something

:07:37. > :07:40.different happening there? Yes, very different. If you look at all the

:07:41. > :07:46.election results, it is extraordinary, looking at Labour

:07:47. > :07:51.winning Kensington and Canterbury and losing North East Derbyshire,

:07:52. > :07:57.nearly losing Mansfield, and those former mining constituencies,

:07:58. > :08:02.Stoke-on-Trent, the potteries, they had huge swings to the

:08:03. > :08:05.Conservatives. We are seeing inside the House of Commons, this is the

:08:06. > :08:11.57th Parliament of the United Kingdom. It is all Hubble and

:08:12. > :08:16.bubble, because it is the first day of term. What is that like? It is

:08:17. > :08:22.great. It is good seen colleagues again. And it is sad realising that

:08:23. > :08:26.some colleagues are not there. But it is exciting, the election of the

:08:27. > :08:31.Speaker is one of the most exciting moments. That will be chaired by Ken

:08:32. > :08:36.Clarke, the new Father of the House. We don't have a Speaker at this

:08:37. > :08:41.stage. The House must be chaired by the father of the House. That's

:08:42. > :08:48.right. He normally sits by the table rather than in the Speaker's Chair.

:08:49. > :08:52.This is his one big moment of glory, where he gathers the voices. It is a

:08:53. > :08:58.straightforward, should he be re-elected, and if there is a very

:08:59. > :09:02.strong shout, there has to be a strong and consistent shout, then

:09:03. > :09:09.there is a division but, as I say, that is very unlikely. Sean, you see

:09:10. > :09:13.this as being a different term of Parliament because of the others

:09:14. > :09:16.they sit and surprise votes, possibly. It will depend upon the

:09:17. > :09:21.deal the Conservatives reach with the DUP. In the last couple of

:09:22. > :09:25.minutes we have heard sources saying that there are no outstanding issues

:09:26. > :09:28.left between the parties but there is still some paperwork that needs

:09:29. > :09:34.to be worked through. But, for Parliament itself, the government

:09:35. > :09:39.would then have a majority in the Commons. It would be able to rely

:09:40. > :09:43.upon the majority in TiVos. The big issue is what is going to be in the

:09:44. > :09:47.Queen's speech and left on the Conservative manifesto? I will

:09:48. > :09:52.interrupt you, Kerry King, the deputy clerk of the Crown and

:09:53. > :10:00.Chancery is bringing in the White book. It is in a box, it will later

:10:01. > :10:03.be bound in paper or leather. It contains all the names of the

:10:04. > :10:11.elected members and their constituencies. It is only mildly

:10:12. > :10:14.useful, however, because they are listed in a very strange order

:10:15. > :10:18.according to the original statutory instrument which set up the existing

:10:19. > :10:24.consistencies. It is not alphabetical. It sounds like one of

:10:25. > :10:35.those very Parliament kind of things. There is a room behind the

:10:36. > :10:40.Speaker 's Chair called the, for when we disagree with the words and

:10:41. > :10:45.we have to give the reasons why -- the Reasons Room. There is the White

:10:46. > :10:55.but being delivered. And there is Jeremy Corbyn. And a lot of

:10:56. > :11:01.applause. And I think Theresa May is also in the Chamber having left the

:11:02. > :11:06.talks at Downing Street. I think so. Standing applause. That was not

:11:07. > :11:17.something Jeremy Corbyn got in the run-up to the election, shall we

:11:18. > :11:23.say? The House is full, Natasha. What is it like on a full day like

:11:24. > :11:26.this? Really exciting. It has energy, it has a buzz that you

:11:27. > :11:33.cannot get the sense when you see it on the screen. And when it is empty

:11:34. > :11:38.it is real tumbleweed. But these occasions, this is the Queen's

:11:39. > :11:43.speech and Prime Minister's Questions, when it is really cool,

:11:44. > :11:47.and really exciting, it is a tremendous buzz, it is absolutely

:11:48. > :11:54.wonderful. When you are experiencing the campaign, you will not a fan of

:11:55. > :12:00.the manifesto I read, was that right, of the Labour manifesto?

:12:01. > :12:05.There was one issue that I disagreed with, I was not opposed to tracking

:12:06. > :12:13.which was a manifesto commitment by the Labour Party -- fracking. When

:12:14. > :12:20.the manifesto was published that was when we saw a sea change, actually.

:12:21. > :12:26.Let's look at John Bercow, whom we expect to be re-elected this

:12:27. > :12:31.afternoon. He has held the job for eight years. Simon Bond reports on

:12:32. > :12:35.the story so far. John Bercow became Speaker in 2009, taking over after

:12:36. > :12:40.Parliament was rocked by the expenses scandal. Thank you

:12:41. > :12:46.becoming. He says he has tried to make the Commons looked less stuffy

:12:47. > :12:49.and the bidding, ditching the Speaker's traditional favour of a

:12:50. > :12:57.business seat, and scrapping the wigs worn by the clerks. We are a

:12:58. > :13:02.very over excitable individual, you need to write at 1000 times, I will

:13:03. > :13:09.behave myself at Prime Minister's Questions! He has championed the

:13:10. > :13:13.rights of backbenchers, and let Prime Minister's Questions run on

:13:14. > :13:16.beyond its traditional 30 minute slot. I am trying to let

:13:17. > :13:21.backbenchers be heard, please help the Chair to help backbench members.

:13:22. > :13:27.He also has its critics. Some felt that he spoke out of turn in

:13:28. > :13:32.criticising Donald Trump. Before the imposition of the migrant ban, I

:13:33. > :13:37.would, myself, have been strongly opposed to an address by President

:13:38. > :13:42.Trump in Westminster Hall. After the imposition of the migrant ban, by

:13:43. > :13:52.President Trump, I am even more strongly opposed to an address by

:13:53. > :13:56.President Trump in Westminster Hall. But he has outlasted a number of

:13:57. > :14:05.prime ministers and party leaders and survived an attempt to oust him

:14:06. > :14:09.in 2015. Order, order! I should explain that, for the moment, we are

:14:10. > :14:12.not hearing sound from the Commons because they are not formally in

:14:13. > :14:17.session until the father of the House takes his seat. That is why we

:14:18. > :14:21.are not hearing any sound from the Commons. Something that would please

:14:22. > :14:32.John Bercow is it is a diverse House of Commons, 35 MPs have declared

:14:33. > :14:38.themselves lesbian, gay or transgender. 208 women have been

:14:39. > :14:43.elected, which is a new record and 51% of MPs in the Commons when two

:14:44. > :14:47.comrades of schools. Natasha, what is the style of the Speaker, what is

:14:48. > :14:52.his technique? Have observed him in action. In the Chair, he is

:14:53. > :14:58.absolutely brilliant and completely commanding. It is a really difficult

:14:59. > :15:04.role. The House of Lords is in session. The Yeoman Usher of the

:15:05. > :15:13.Black Rod is carrying the maze, not the Black Rod of the House of Lords.

:15:14. > :15:17.He is placing that on the Lord Speaker's Chair, but what we will

:15:18. > :15:32.shortly see will be the members of the Royal commission, who are...

:15:33. > :15:39.Claire-mac my Lords, a not been convenient for the Majesty to be

:15:40. > :15:45.present this day, she is pleased to... Lady Evans, the Leader of the

:15:46. > :15:51.House of Lords. She has informed the house that the Queen will not be

:15:52. > :15:55.present for this. For those who did what prorogation, I think the last

:15:56. > :16:01.prorogation carried out by the monarch was a long time ago. This is

:16:02. > :16:07.actually called opening the new parliament, the last time this is

:16:08. > :16:11.undertaken by the sovereign, was on 7090 by George III. So I don't think

:16:12. > :16:21.we were expecting the Queen. -- 7090. She is probably wondering

:16:22. > :16:24.whether the actual opening is going to fit with the Ascot diary. What is

:16:25. > :16:30.the technique for being a good speaker in the,? I think there are

:16:31. > :16:36.different ways of doing it, and it depends on what you see your

:16:37. > :16:40.personal style as being. Mr Speaker, John Bercow, is very hands-on. He

:16:41. > :16:46.does get very involved in some of the debates. But he is very

:16:47. > :16:51.commanding in the chair, you really know that he is there. Go slightly

:16:52. > :16:57.yet the Lord, the Lords are going to be pretty powerful in this

:16:58. > :16:59.Parliament? We do think the Salisbury Convention, the unwritten

:17:00. > :17:03.rule that says whatever is in a Government manifesto must get a

:17:04. > :17:07.second reading and a third reading in the House of Lords, necessarily

:17:08. > :17:13.applies when the Government doesn't have a majority. And so a lot of the

:17:14. > :17:16.arguments that we have had before the election where people were

:17:17. > :17:20.saying, the Lords were being obstructive, I think we are going to

:17:21. > :17:23.get all over again because the Government may find it quite

:17:24. > :17:26.difficult to get some of the legislation through. And the big

:17:27. > :17:31.question, the one that I think you were hinting at our there, saying

:17:32. > :17:37.what the shape of the day will be what might lead to unexpected late

:17:38. > :17:39.nights votes, this could be the so-called Great Repeal Bill,

:17:40. > :17:45.transferring all the European law from the last 40 years into British

:17:46. > :17:49.law so that it can later be repealed. That could give the House

:17:50. > :17:53.of Lords all sorts of opportunities debating caveats and changes and we

:17:54. > :17:57.could have some very long debates. The Royal Commission is entering the

:17:58. > :18:03.House of Lords. Lady Evans Bowes Park, I have more dimension. Lord

:18:04. > :18:07.Fowler, the Lord Speaker. Baroness Smith of Basildon, they's leader in

:18:08. > :18:12.the Lords. The leader of the Lib Dem peers, don't forget, there are over

:18:13. > :18:15.100 Lib Dem peers, and Lord Hope of Craighead, the convener of the

:18:16. > :18:21.crossbenchers, that special grouping in the House of Lords of people who

:18:22. > :18:29.have no party alignment. They will be... Looking forward to speaking to

:18:30. > :18:37.Black Rod in a moment, Black Rod is advancing towards the Royal

:18:38. > :18:40.Commission. Let the Commons know that the Lords Commissioners is

:18:41. > :18:50.either immediate attendance in this house to you decommission red. --

:18:51. > :18:56.Tahir decommission red. Black rod has got his orders. Dealers Clarke

:18:57. > :19:00.still wear their wicks, you can see. And the person we saw earlier, the

:19:01. > :19:04.deputy clerk of the Crown, the only clerk who can actually enter both

:19:05. > :19:12.Houses of Parliament. Uniquely in her position. Black rod is going to

:19:13. > :19:15.set off, and it's an interesting possession we will see. It will be

:19:16. > :19:23.the traditional one with the speaker and his gang because we have no

:19:24. > :19:27.speaker. On the left of your picture, we are seeing Central

:19:28. > :19:35.lobby. So shortly now, Black Rod will appear, with the principal

:19:36. > :19:44.doorkeeper of the House of Lords. And I think for new members, Nepali

:19:45. > :19:49.-- Natascha, they must think its ceremonial all day long. It's funny

:19:50. > :19:52.when you arrive, and you don't know all the proceedings, it does look

:19:53. > :19:58.like the sort of strangers, most ancient traditions. The principal

:19:59. > :20:03.doorkeeper of the House of Commons there, probably waiting to announce

:20:04. > :20:14.Black Rod's arrival, and he will let the House of Commons alone. -- let

:20:15. > :20:17.the House of Commons known. And I'm preserving that at the table, Ken

:20:18. > :20:20.Clarke, the Father of the House committees sitting there. He was

:20:21. > :20:26.re-elected for Rushcliffe in Nottinghamshire. He was a reduced

:20:27. > :20:38.majority for him, he was first elected in the 1970s. Black Rod.

:20:39. > :20:58.Announcing Black Rod there. Members of the House of Commons, the

:20:59. > :21:03.Lords who are authorised by virtue of Her Majesty's commission to

:21:04. > :21:10.declare the opening of Parliament, desire the presence of this

:21:11. > :21:17.honourable house. In the house of Peers to you decommission red. It

:21:18. > :21:21.sometimes seems that one of the big skills of a Black Rod is to keep a

:21:22. > :21:27.straight face when MPs are calling out. Now he is Ken Clarke, the

:21:28. > :21:32.Father of the House of Commons, and Black Rod will I company him to the

:21:33. > :21:35.House of Lords. The mother of the house is actually Harriet Harman,

:21:36. > :21:39.the longest serving woman MP. Behind them, the clerk of the Commons,

:21:40. > :21:44.actually wearing a wig because today is a semi-state occasion. And we

:21:45. > :21:51.will also see, passing through central lobby, to Reed and Jeremy

:21:52. > :21:57.Corbyn, -- to reason Mac and Jeremy Corbyn, the Prime Minister and

:21:58. > :22:04.Leader of the Opposition. On the left of your screen, they will

:22:05. > :22:07.shortly appear, but MPs, Sajid Javid there, the Northern Ireland

:22:08. > :22:14.Secretary, James Brokenshire, Chris Grayling, the Transport Secretary.

:22:15. > :22:24.There is the newly appointed Treasury Minister. Do you enjoy

:22:25. > :22:28.occasions like this, Natascha? Yes, absolutely love them. Because they

:22:29. > :22:35.are so odd, and things often happen. Unexpected things often happen.

:22:36. > :22:40.Jeremy Corbyn and Theresa May, Twenty20 is talking to it Jeremy

:22:41. > :22:44.Corbyn, perhaps they can -- Theresa May is talking to Jeremy Corbyn,

:22:45. > :22:51.perhaps they can compare campaigns. It might take longer than this walk

:22:52. > :22:53.to discuss that one. But you get a good collection of MPs at the

:22:54. > :22:57.meeting of parliament. Old friends meeting up, and I think it is fair

:22:58. > :23:01.to say, old friends doesn't necessarily mean the same party,

:23:02. > :23:04.does it? Absolutely not. And that is one of the important thing is you're

:23:05. > :23:07.seeing here, people do talk to each other. And I think one of the things

:23:08. > :23:13.to remember is that the SNP lost their reader as well, so... And in

:23:14. > :23:19.fact they're going to have a little election this week, at their? In

:23:20. > :23:26.fact, there are four candidates here, Joanne Cherry, Tommy

:23:27. > :23:38.Shepherd... None of the old guard. They are all new. , Look, bit of

:23:39. > :23:45.doffing. They are out of sync, they have had eight weeks to practice.

:23:46. > :23:49.They may practice. The Commons are definitely better at this. In

:23:50. > :23:52.previous years, though, I think the organisation has been better at

:23:53. > :23:59.doffing in sync. Lets see how the Commons will manage their brow. Not

:24:00. > :24:05.bad, not great. Now, I think we got a synchronised. Third time lucky. We

:24:06. > :24:09.are commanded by Her Majesty to let you know that, it don't being

:24:10. > :24:14.convenient for her to be present here this day, in her royal person,

:24:15. > :24:20.she hath forfeit by letters patent under the great Seal to empower

:24:21. > :24:27.several Lord Spero named to do all things and Her Majesty name, to be

:24:28. > :24:38.done on Her Majesty's part in this Parliament. As by the letters patent

:24:39. > :24:43.will more fully appear. Elizabeth II by the grace of God of the United

:24:44. > :24:46.Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and other other

:24:47. > :24:53.rounds and territories, Queen, head of the Commonwealth, defender of the

:24:54. > :25:01.faith, to whom these presents shall come, greeting. Whereas, by the

:25:02. > :25:06.advice of our council, for such an arduous and urgent affairs

:25:07. > :25:11.concerning us, the State and defence of the United Kingdom and the

:25:12. > :25:16.church, we have ordered a certain parliament to be Holden at our city

:25:17. > :25:23.of Westminster on Tuesday, the 13th day of June. And for as much as the

:25:24. > :25:29.diverse causes and considerations, we cannot conveniently be present in

:25:30. > :25:36.our royal person, in our said Parliament upon the said Tuesday the

:25:37. > :25:40.13th day of June, know ye that we, trusting in the fidelity and

:25:41. > :25:47.discretion and care of the most reverend father and God and our

:25:48. > :25:52.faithful counsellor, Archbishop of Canterbury, my mate of all England

:25:53. > :26:03.and Metropolitan, are well below that and faithful counsellor,

:26:04. > :26:10.Chancellor Great Britain, and others hereafter mentioned, by the adviser

:26:11. > :26:16.said council, do given grant unto the said Archbishop of Canterbury,

:26:17. > :26:28.David Roy Lidington, Chancellor Great Britain, Peter Norman, Lord

:26:29. > :26:40.Fowler, Lord Speaker, Baroness Evans Bowes Park, Lord Privy Seal, James

:26:41. > :26:52.Arthur David, Lord Hope of Craighead... Richard Mark, Lord and

:26:53. > :27:03.Lady... -- Lord Newby. Angela Evans, Baroness myth of Basildon. Or any

:27:04. > :27:08.three or more of them, full power in our name to begin and hold our said

:27:09. > :27:13.Parliament. And to open and declare and cause to be opened and declared

:27:14. > :27:17.the causes of holding the same. And to proceed upon the said affairs in

:27:18. > :27:23.our said Parliament and in all matters arising therein. And to do

:27:24. > :27:27.everything, which for us and by us and for the good Government of our

:27:28. > :27:33.said United Kingdom and our other dominions thereto belonging, shall

:27:34. > :27:40.be therein to be done. And also if necessary to continue, Jordan and

:27:41. > :27:45.parochial are said Parliament. Commanding also by the tenor of

:27:46. > :27:51.these presents, with the assent of our said council, as well all and

:27:52. > :27:57.every the archbishops, bishops, lords, baronets and nights, as all

:27:58. > :28:03.others whom it concerns, to meet in our said Parliament. That to the

:28:04. > :28:12.same Archbishop of Canterbury, Chancellor Great Britain and others,

:28:13. > :28:18.or any three or more of them, they diligently intending the presence of

:28:19. > :28:22.four said. Witness thereof we have caused these, letters, to be made

:28:23. > :28:27.patent. Witness herself at Westminster, the 13th day of June in

:28:28. > :28:35.the 66th year of our reign, by the Queen herself, signed by her own

:28:36. > :28:38.hand. That was the reading clerk. Members of the House of Commons, we

:28:39. > :28:43.have it in our own hand from Her Majesty, to let you know that, as

:28:44. > :28:46.soon is the members of both houses shall be sworn, the causes of Her

:28:47. > :28:50.Majesty calling this Parliament will be declared to you. And it being

:28:51. > :28:55.necessary that a Speaker of the House of Commons should be first

:28:56. > :29:00.chosen, it is Her Majesty's pleasure that you, members of the House of

:29:01. > :29:04.Commons, repair to the place where you are to sit and there proceed to

:29:05. > :29:12.the choice of some proper person to be your speaker. And that you

:29:13. > :29:22.present such a person, whom you shall so choose here today, for Her

:29:23. > :29:27.Majesty's royal approbation. What I meant was, MPs, can you go back

:29:28. > :29:36.again to your house and elect a Speaker? The Commons back. Lord

:29:37. > :29:42.Newby was rather diffident on his or individual door. That was pretty

:29:43. > :29:45.good, that was... Wasn't bad. They are doing OK in the Commons. Jeremy

:29:46. > :29:52.Corbyn does his own separate bow to the Royal Commission. It is

:29:53. > :29:56.interesting seeing that we live in a monarchy. It is the Queen that

:29:57. > :30:00.besides all this. As you say. As soon as members of both houses shall

:30:01. > :30:04.be sworn, the causes of Her Majesty calling this Parliament shall be

:30:05. > :30:09.declared to you. And then to the Commons am a repair to the place

:30:10. > :30:12.where you are to sit and there proceed to the choice of some proper

:30:13. > :30:16.person to stop there is an interesting point about real action

:30:17. > :30:21.of the speaker, isn't their? Because MPs have not taken the oath at this

:30:22. > :30:26.stage, have their? They haven't. It's an entirely, as it were, free

:30:27. > :30:33.vote. Absolutely. And it's really about, it only happens... The most

:30:34. > :30:42.likely thing to happen is that usually elected. But the near back

:30:43. > :30:45.of taking part today... It's the one thing that can be done by the

:30:46. > :30:52.Commons without taking the oath. And in theory, Sinn Fein members could

:30:53. > :30:55.come, but they don't. Now, the Black Rod has said farewell to the

:30:56. > :31:00.Commons, Jeremy Corbyn gives him a cheery wave, I think Theresa May

:31:01. > :31:06.gave him a cheery way. Is seeing them of the premises. Making sure

:31:07. > :31:10.they don't say. Mickey it to halfway across the Central lobby, I think

:31:11. > :31:14.that is the limit of his territory. Barry Gardner there, who seem to

:31:15. > :31:18.have moved from quiet, diffident backbencher to elder statement of

:31:19. > :31:25.the country. And sex but, surprisingly. Any particular group

:31:26. > :31:28.is appealing to? A lot of women. Welcomer he's the one who had a

:31:29. > :31:37.quiet life and is now everywhere. Oath absolutely. And in the Commons,

:31:38. > :31:44.lords and MPs didn't go, Hilary Benn on the left. You know these better

:31:45. > :31:48.than need, who can use the? The thing you have to do as deputy

:31:49. > :31:55.speakers learn everybody's names. Father of the House, Ken Park, they

:31:56. > :31:57.bow. And then Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn, they will bow. They have

:31:58. > :32:09.bowed. Jeremy Corbyn didn't There is no Serjeant at Arms, there

:32:10. > :32:14.is no macer the Commons, they are not constituted, this is an informal

:32:15. > :32:15.moment, until this moment where they start the process of electing the

:32:16. > :32:34.Speaker. Karen Brady, there, taking her seat.

:32:35. > :32:39.The new Lord Chancellor David Liddington. He was mentioned in the

:32:40. > :32:42.appointment of the Royal Commissioners as being the Lord

:32:43. > :32:47.Chancellor, the Secretary of State for Justice as well, of course.

:32:48. > :32:49.Lynne truss has become Chief Secretary to the Treasury. A

:32:50. > :33:11.somewhat more junior post. -- Lynne truss. Order, order,

:33:12. > :33:15.understanding order Dawan eh, I am required to ascertain whether John

:33:16. > :33:28.Bercow is willing to be chosen as Speaker. I call Mr John Bercow. Good

:33:29. > :33:35.reception for the Speaker. What a pleasure it is to welcome you back

:33:36. > :33:40.to This Place as we have the accolade of Father Of The House, to

:33:41. > :33:51.the many achievements of your long and distinguished career. Next

:33:52. > :33:56.Sunday, you will mark 47 years continuous service to your

:33:57. > :34:04.constituency Rushcliffe, to this Chamber and two are country as a

:34:05. > :34:13.whole. You are held in great affection and esteem. On both sides

:34:14. > :34:23.of the House! And I am sure that I speak for all colleagues in wishing

:34:24. > :34:28.you well in your new role. If the House so permits, I shall be

:34:29. > :34:38.honoured to serve as Speaker in this Parliament which, thankfully, across

:34:39. > :34:46.the parties, is more richly diverse and representative of modern Britain

:34:47. > :34:52.than any of its predecessors. I will strive to ensure that all parts of

:34:53. > :35:04.the House are heard fully and fairly and, as always, I will champion the

:35:05. > :35:10.rights of backbenchers to question, to probe, to scrutinise and to hold

:35:11. > :35:11.to account the government of the day.

:35:12. > :35:34.LAUGHTER Finally, Mr Clarke, I refer

:35:35. > :35:40.admiringly to your 47 year tenure. It may come as a relief to

:35:41. > :35:46.colleagues to know that I have no pretensions to seek to serve for

:35:47. > :35:59.anything like so long... LAUGHTER

:36:00. > :36:12.Either as a parliamentarian or indeed in the Chair as Speaker. That

:36:13. > :36:23.said, we appear to be destined for testing times. I offer myself to the

:36:24. > :36:27.House as a tested Speaker. My bank Mr John Bercow for those crying

:36:28. > :36:36.unflattering remarks, particularly referring to my longevity -- those

:36:37. > :36:41.kind and flattering remarks, which is the only fact you can assert

:36:42. > :36:56.about my Parliamentary career. I call upon Mrs Gerald Delyn to move

:36:57. > :37:02.the motion. -- Cheryl Gillan. Can I start by adding my belated

:37:03. > :37:06.congratulations to the Father Of The House, the right honourable member

:37:07. > :37:18.for Rushcliffe? Earlier this year we sadly lost another member of the

:37:19. > :37:21.1970 intake, the very well-respected Sir Gerald Kaufman, of whom the

:37:22. > :37:27.Leader of the Opposition said, he loved life and politics, and as John

:37:28. > :37:32.Bercow said, having served in all of the departments of State, virtually,

:37:33. > :37:35.and all of the great offices throughout your long, distinguished

:37:36. > :37:40.career, it is a tribute to your record of public service and your

:37:41. > :37:42.resilience that you preside over the opening proceedings of our

:37:43. > :37:48.Parliament today, and the election of a new Speaker. Whilst welcoming

:37:49. > :37:53.all my colleagues returning to the House who unnaturally familiar with

:37:54. > :37:58.the Speaker's role, we're all pleased to welcome new members

:37:59. > :38:04.across all sides of the House. However, they may not realise that

:38:05. > :38:11.the Speaker 's office, under this name goes back a mere 640 years. The

:38:12. > :38:17.Speaker was then the agent of the King, and was afforded little

:38:18. > :38:23.protection. If the agent of the King offered bad news, he suffered the

:38:24. > :38:25.monarch's craft, and no less than seven speakers will be headed

:38:26. > :38:45.between 1394 and 1351. -- 1551. LAUGHTER

:38:46. > :38:51.Fortunately the job description has changed since then. And our modern

:38:52. > :38:56.Speaker or text us, and our rights as backbenchers, without fear of

:38:57. > :39:03.losing his head. Except, I have to say, when members misbehave in this

:39:04. > :39:07.Chamber. Compare to the father of a House with 47 years experience, I am

:39:08. > :39:10.just a youngster in This Place, but over the 25 years I have served in

:39:11. > :39:19.Parliament, I have seen many changes. The wigs have gone except

:39:20. > :39:25.for today, a state occasion. The allies have changed -- the hours

:39:26. > :39:42.have changed... MPs are looking at Michael

:39:43. > :39:49.fabricant, who has an interesting hairstyle at the best of times! The

:39:50. > :39:54.hours have changed, the committees have increased, technology has

:39:55. > :40:01.advanced, the media never sleeps and the challenges of the job of Speaker

:40:02. > :40:09.continue to multiply. And since the 22nd of June 2009, I have seen the

:40:10. > :40:13.right honourable member rise to those challenges. He has shown

:40:14. > :40:17.himself to be utterly impartial and fearless in defending the House of

:40:18. > :40:21.Commons from all comers, whether it be over mighty ministers or a

:40:22. > :40:25.raucous media. He was determined champion of opening up our

:40:26. > :40:31.democracy, bringing in reforms that have made Parliament accessible to

:40:32. > :40:34.over 100,000 each year. He is an effective Speaker who has used his

:40:35. > :40:38.office to reach out to people across our country. He is an energetic

:40:39. > :40:43.ambassador for Parliament throughout the United Kingdom and around the

:40:44. > :40:48.world, but he is also a devoted and hard-working champion for his

:40:49. > :40:53.constituents in Buckinghamshire. These are not my words, but the

:40:54. > :40:56.endorsements from the right honourable members for Sutton

:40:57. > :40:59.Coldfield, moment in Pontefract and Coldfield, moment in Pontefract and

:41:00. > :41:02.Castleford, the Leader of the Opposition and the Prime Minister.

:41:03. > :41:09.But my favourite endorsement is from But my favourite endorsement is from

:41:10. > :41:13.the right honourable member for Camberwell in Peckham, who said upon

:41:14. > :41:17.his reappointment in 2013 that he may be small in stature but make no

:41:18. > :41:22.mistake, in the office of Speaker, he is a giant. Perhaps it is true

:41:23. > :41:33.that good things do come in small packages.

:41:34. > :41:43.For my own part, I have always found them to be scrupulously fair, never

:41:44. > :41:48.allowing his views to compromises and partiality, although I think on

:41:49. > :41:55.all sides of the House, we can agree that he is no stranger to

:41:56. > :41:59.controversy. I think he annoys members of all front benches from

:42:00. > :42:02.time to time which is probably testament to his evenhandedness. He

:42:03. > :42:06.fosters a sense of community amongst those who work in the precincts and

:42:07. > :42:12.applies himself with vigour to all the many and varied tasks that alter

:42:13. > :42:20.the role. But he also has priorities which many of us wonder at. His

:42:21. > :42:23.ability to recall obscure information on members, I warn you

:42:24. > :42:29.members, of course. His live graciousness and command of the

:42:30. > :42:36.English language and in particular his ability to remain in the Chair

:42:37. > :42:40.for an inordinate length of time, the record being an 11 hour 24

:42:41. > :42:52.minutes uninterrupted stent during the Syria debate, causing much

:42:53. > :42:56.admiring comment. His performance in the Chamber is much like his record

:42:57. > :43:01.outside. He has hosted over 1000 events for charities and the size of

:43:02. > :43:09.the administration of This Place with great patience and good humour,

:43:10. > :43:14.to which I can attest. This Parliament, like all that have gone

:43:15. > :43:20.before, will have its own character and present its own challenges. Over

:43:21. > :43:26.the next two years, our country will go through the great changes that

:43:27. > :43:29.people'saquatic votes have presented to us in this House, and, at the

:43:30. > :43:35.same time, we will face the very real threats to that freedom and

:43:36. > :43:39.democracy and our precious way of life which has been thrown so

:43:40. > :43:44.starkly into focus with the cyber attack on our NHS, the two

:43:45. > :43:53.unspeakable acts of violence during the election campaign, the death of

:43:54. > :44:03.PC Keith Palmer, and of course the loss of our colleague, Jo Cox, who

:44:04. > :44:09.was taken from us a year ago this week. As Speaker he has always acted

:44:10. > :44:12.swiftly to join others with words and actions are I was proud to see

:44:13. > :44:16.him in Manchester standing shoulder to shoulder with the community that

:44:17. > :44:23.had come under such lethal attack. In times like this, and in our

:44:24. > :44:28.deliberations in this House, we need the experience, maturity and

:44:29. > :44:32.commitment to our Parliament which I believe was shown by the right on

:44:33. > :44:37.the member for Buckingham. His devotion to this House and this

:44:38. > :44:42.country cannot be disputed. He has served this House, and us, as

:44:43. > :44:46.members, with strength and fortitude and I have great pleasure in

:44:47. > :44:54.commending him to the House, to serve as our next Speaker. The

:44:55. > :45:00.question is that Mr John Bercow do take the Chair of this House as

:45:01. > :45:09.Speaker. As many as a Rhondda opinion Soliai... To the contrary,

:45:10. > :45:17.no. I think the Ayes have it. The Ayes have it. Not a word of dissent,

:45:18. > :45:28.and the Speaker is now being dragged to the Chair. That is by his

:45:29. > :45:37.supporters. That is Alison McGovern, leading this little band. That is

:45:38. > :45:44.Helen grant. He dragged into the Chair last time, in 2015.

:45:45. > :45:49.John Bercow is a holder of records, as we heard, heals the record for a

:45:50. > :45:57.longest written question, over 10,000 words. Mr Speaker elect.

:45:58. > :46:02.Colleagues, before I take the care of Speaker elect, I was first to

:46:03. > :46:06.thank the house for the honour that is again bestowed upon me. I am

:46:07. > :46:17.aware that it is the greatest honour it can give to any of its members. I

:46:18. > :46:20.pray that I shall justify its continuing confidence and I propose

:46:21. > :46:27.to do all within my power to preserve and to cherish its best

:46:28. > :46:35.traditions. I want, if I may, just to say to other things. First, and

:46:36. > :46:41.it's a repetition, but I think it's justified, isn't it marvellous to

:46:42. > :46:48.see the Right Honourable and learned gentleman, a member from Ashford, as

:46:49. > :46:54.Father of the House and bacteria in rude health? -- the member for which

:46:55. > :47:01.list. Secondly, in welcoming the presence of all colleagues today,

:47:02. > :47:06.and congratulating all those in all parties who have been re-elected, I

:47:07. > :47:16.help experienced members will understand if I pay particular

:47:17. > :47:27.tribute to the, I believe, 87 members newly elected for the first

:47:28. > :47:35.time. Whatever else you have done or will do in the course of your

:47:36. > :47:38.careers, there will be no greater honour than that which you have just

:47:39. > :47:43.detained as an elected member of Parliament. And I am sure each and

:47:44. > :47:51.everyone of you will be very conscious of your responsibility to

:47:52. > :48:00.your constituents. Rest assured, the speaker will look out for you and be

:48:01. > :48:04.very keen, sooner rather than later, and more frequently rather than less

:48:05. > :48:20.frequently to hear from you. On behalf of the Government. Mr

:48:21. > :48:28.Speaker elect. LAUGHTER

:48:29. > :48:34.He must move the mace to its correct position on the table. 30 fewer

:48:35. > :48:45.Conservative MPs, no, sorry, 13 if you're Conservative MPs -- fewer

:48:46. > :48:51.Conservative MPs in this Parliament. I was going to say, to all those of

:48:52. > :48:55.our new members, you can be in this house for 20 years and still not

:48:56. > :49:00.know the protocol. Mr Speaker elect, on behalf of the whole house, May I

:49:01. > :49:02.congratulate you on your real action. At least someone got a

:49:03. > :49:10.landslide. LAUGHTER

:49:11. > :49:13.And may I also congratulate you on being the first speaker since the

:49:14. > :49:21.Second World War to be re-elected three times. In your Kenya so far,

:49:22. > :49:24.you have been a great champion of backbenchers, ensuring every member

:49:25. > :49:30.of this house has hurt the opportunity to speak and be heard in

:49:31. > :49:35.representing the people they serve. -- has had the opportunity. I know

:49:36. > :49:40.you will continue in this vital role in the future, just as you have in

:49:41. > :49:43.the past. But we also thank, my right honourable friend, the member

:49:44. > :49:49.for brushless first-inning hitter in the selection and his role as the

:49:50. > :49:54.Father of the House. He has, as you have said, had a long and distinct

:49:55. > :49:57.career in his service to his constituents and this country, and

:49:58. > :50:04.if I may say, it is very good to see him back here where he belongs. But

:50:05. > :50:10.it may not surprise him that I intend to be difficult today. And

:50:11. > :50:15.break with tradition. By not only welcoming him as the Father of the

:50:16. > :50:18.House but also welcome the returning Mother Of The House, the right

:50:19. > :50:24.Honourable member for Campbell and Peckham has been... Has been a great

:50:25. > :50:28.advocate for increasing the number of women in parliament and I am sure

:50:29. > :50:33.she will join me in celebrating the fact that there are now more women

:50:34. > :50:37.MPs than ever before. And as we welcome new members on all sides of

:50:38. > :50:42.the house, we should also celebrate the fact that we now have a record

:50:43. > :50:46.number of MPs from black and minority ethnic backgrounds,

:50:47. > :50:53.including the first ever female Sikh MP, the honourable MP for

:50:54. > :50:56.Birmingham. We also have more disabled MPs and more LGBT MPs, and

:50:57. > :51:01.I hope that together, we will continue to build on the progress we

:51:02. > :51:04.have made in previous parliaments to fight against discrimination in all

:51:05. > :51:08.its forms, and make our politics more representative of all the

:51:09. > :51:13.people we serve. For while there is further to go, if there is one

:51:14. > :51:19.outcome from this election we can all welcome, it is surely this. That

:51:20. > :51:24.today, we have the most diverse and most representative parliament in

:51:25. > :51:28.our history. Mr Speaker elect, I know that members across the house

:51:29. > :51:32.will also want to pay tribute to their predecessors. We will all miss

:51:33. > :51:38.former members not returned to this Khan house, but we will welcome our

:51:39. > :51:45.new colleagues. Being a member of this house is a great privilege that

:51:46. > :51:48.requires dedication and often personal sacrifice, and everyone in

:51:49. > :51:51.this chamber does it because they want to serve the public. Whatever

:51:52. > :51:58.the result, general elections are above all a exercise in democracy

:51:59. > :52:02.and our values. The very democracy and values that the recent terrorist

:52:03. > :52:06.attacks sought to undermine. Mr Speaker elect, this is the first

:52:07. > :52:10.opportunity Parliament has had to reflect upon the despicable attacks

:52:11. > :52:14.in Manchester and London Bridge, and I am sure members on all sides will

:52:15. > :52:17.want to join me in sending our deepest condolences to the families

:52:18. > :52:23.and loved ones of all those who lost their lives in the attacks. And I

:52:24. > :52:28.know the House will also want to express admiration for the work of

:52:29. > :52:33.what all our police and emergency services, whose courage and speed of

:52:34. > :52:36.response saved many lives. As we begin this new parliament, it is

:52:37. > :52:40.clear our country faces some of the greatest challenges of our time. The

:52:41. > :52:44.challenge of keeping our nation safe, including by defeating the

:52:45. > :52:48.perverted ideology of Islamist extremism. The challenge of securing

:52:49. > :52:51.the best possible Brexit deal and delivering the will of the British

:52:52. > :52:55.people and taking the United Kingdom out of the European Union. And the

:52:56. > :52:59.challenge of spreading opportunity and prosperity to every part of our

:53:00. > :53:03.United Kingdom is that no one and no community is left behind. In meeting

:53:04. > :53:06.these challenges, what we have seen from the election is that there are

:53:07. > :53:11.parts of our country that remain divided, between young and old, rich

:53:12. > :53:14.and poor, those for whom the future offers a sense of opportunity and

:53:15. > :53:21.those for whom it brings worry and concern. Some people blame politics

:53:22. > :53:25.for these divisions. Or say there is too much politics. But politics can

:53:26. > :53:27.be an incredible force for good, conducted in the right way, it can

:53:28. > :53:33.beat how we resolve our differences, how we deal with injustices and how

:53:34. > :53:37.we take, not shirk, the big decisions. It's not always glamorous

:53:38. > :53:41.or exciting, but at its best, the duty we share as politicians to

:53:42. > :53:46.serve others in confronting these challenges is a truly noble calling

:53:47. > :53:53.for us all. And the test for all of us is whether we choose to reflect

:53:54. > :53:58.for -- divisions or overcome them. So that us open this Parliament and

:53:59. > :54:04.conduct ourselves in a memorably stating, to debate, to disagree, but

:54:05. > :54:08.to recognise we all want to see a Britain that are safer, more secure

:54:09. > :54:11.and fairer fertile than an grandchildren. And that our shared

:54:12. > :54:17.values, interests and ambitions can bring us together as we face

:54:18. > :54:20.challenges ahead, let us come together in a spirit of national

:54:21. > :54:23.unity to keep our country safe and build a stronger, fairer and more

:54:24. > :54:29.prosperous future for everyone in every part of our United Kingdom.

:54:30. > :54:37.90, called the Leader of the Opposition. Leader of Her Majesty's

:54:38. > :54:41.loyal opposition, Jeremy Corbyn. Thank you very much, and I followed

:54:42. > :54:45.the Prime Minister in her remarks on the work we all have to do in this

:54:46. > :54:51.Prime Minister -- parliament, but I also want to thank the Honourable

:54:52. > :54:57.member for brushless in becoming Father of the House. I have never

:54:58. > :55:05.quite forgotten the image of the member for first place in the

:55:06. > :55:10.tearoom eating hush puppies, does not wearing hush puppies, eating a

:55:11. > :55:12.bacon sandwich and smoking a cigar while taking a break on a debate on

:55:13. > :55:20.healthy living. LAUGHTER

:55:21. > :55:27.And he has had a very long and distinguished career in this House,

:55:28. > :55:35.and punctuated this year by a speech in the Brexit debate in which he

:55:36. > :55:41.lamented that his party had become mildly anti-immigrant. How new that

:55:42. > :55:48.might be is offered a bit, but I would also like to note, that it is

:55:49. > :55:53.at best, mildly and to work, -- anti-worker, anti-pensioner, and to

:55:54. > :56:01.young people, and he disabled... It's all right, it's all right, Mr

:56:02. > :56:05.Speaker, it is custom error, to congratulate the returning prime

:56:06. > :56:09.ministers. -- it is custom error. I absolutely do so, don't sure she

:56:10. > :56:11.would agree with me that democracy is a wonderful thing and can drop

:56:12. > :56:18.some very unexpected results. LAUGHTER

:56:19. > :56:23.And I am sure... And I'm sure we all look forward to welcoming the

:56:24. > :56:30.Queen's speech, just as soon as the coalition of chaos has been

:56:31. > :56:35.negotiated. And Mr Speaker, I just let the House now and the rest of

:56:36. > :56:39.the nation note that if that is not possible, the Labour Party stands

:56:40. > :56:50.ready to offer a strong and stable leadership in the national interest.

:56:51. > :56:55.I want to warmly welcomed Mr Speaker, all the members of this

:56:56. > :56:58.House. There is, as you and others have said, no greater honour than

:56:59. > :57:03.being elected here. And it is an amazing day when you first come and

:57:04. > :57:05.take the seat here. The honour of representing your constituents and

:57:06. > :57:09.taking decisions that will help people's lives, that is why we are

:57:10. > :57:13.elected here, to represent those who have paid us here, to try and make

:57:14. > :57:20.their lives better. As you have quite rightly pointed out, we now

:57:21. > :57:24.have mocked over 200 -- we not have over 200 women MPs, more than before

:57:25. > :57:28.in the history of the Parliament, I think that is an excellent thing and

:57:29. > :57:31.I joined the Prime Minister in congratulating the member for

:57:32. > :57:37.Campbell and Peckham on all that she has done in this Parliament and for

:57:38. > :57:43.women in general. Mr Speaker, I would like to mark the anniversary

:57:44. > :57:48.of the election of four black MPs in this House 30 years ago, and in

:57:49. > :57:55.particular, I welcome my right honourable friend, the member for

:57:56. > :58:00.Hackney and for less trees, two of the four who were elected and are

:58:01. > :58:06.now members of the most diverse House of Commons ever. They paved

:58:07. > :58:12.the way and I have to say, picked up an awful lot, by being pioneers and

:58:13. > :58:16.taking their seats in 1987. It is vital for democracy that all voices

:58:17. > :58:21.are heard and represented. Mr Speaker, there can be no better

:58:22. > :58:24.speaker than you. In the 30 years that I have been here, you have

:58:25. > :58:30.always ensure that backbench voices are heard and the way that you

:58:31. > :58:35.presided over our chamber at all times, the good, the bad, the tragic

:58:36. > :58:39.and the difficult. Particularly, the weight which he had presided over

:58:40. > :58:41.this chamber after the horrors of what happened on Westminster Bridge,

:58:42. > :58:46.when those horrors came almost to the door of Parliament. And whilst

:58:47. > :58:50.Parliament has obviously not been in session for the past few weeks, we

:58:51. > :58:56.also commemorate the awfulness of what happened in Manchester and what

:58:57. > :58:59.happened on London Bridge. We have to stand together as communities,

:59:00. > :59:06.strong, united, against those that would seek to divide and destroy the

:59:07. > :59:10.democracy we have in our society. And I congratulate you on the way in

:59:11. > :59:13.which you have conducted yourself, the inclusive debates, you make sure

:59:14. > :59:17.backbenchers are fully involved with over the years you have been

:59:18. > :59:22.Speaker. We have two things in common, at least two things in

:59:23. > :59:27.common. First, which is very divisive, a love for Arsenal

:59:28. > :59:31.football club. I realise that would bring that sort of comment, but I

:59:32. > :59:36.can cope, it's all right. But secondly, we both came to this place

:59:37. > :59:38.having been local councillors and I think serving communities on local

:59:39. > :59:42.authorities is very important and I am delighted at the number of former

:59:43. > :59:45.councillors are serving councillors who were elected to this House on

:59:46. > :59:51.Thursday night because they also bring a very special expertise and

:59:52. > :59:54.knowledge to this House. We have to speak up for our constituents and

:59:55. > :59:59.that is why we are here, and I know, Mr Speaker, you will make sure these

:00:00. > :00:03.voices are heard. I want to thank you for your role as speaker in

:00:04. > :00:09.facilitating exhibitions and this House. I took part in one in

:00:10. > :00:12.commemorating the end of the slave trade, and the many receptions you

:00:13. > :00:17.have held for charities in the Speaker's House, and the way in

:00:18. > :00:21.which you have travelled around the country, reaching out and spreading

:00:22. > :00:24.the whole idea of democracy in schools and colleges, not

:00:25. > :00:27.necessarily famous, not necessarily well-known, but you have reached out

:00:28. > :00:29.to people in a way that had never been done before and I think we

:00:30. > :00:38.should all be very grateful to you for that.

:00:39. > :00:43.It is a great tradition of democracy, and you stand in that

:00:44. > :00:49.tradition of a Speaker standing up for democracy. And many other

:00:50. > :00:55.speakers, your job and his job was to protect Chrissy and rise above

:00:56. > :01:03.party debate. I just hope that now we can have that real debate in

:01:04. > :01:08.future -- to protect democracy. Mr Speaker, we'll look forward to this

:01:09. > :01:15.Parliament, however short it might be! That we can be the voice for

:01:16. > :01:19.change in our society because more people, particularly young people,

:01:20. > :01:23.than ever before, took part in this recent general election. They took

:01:24. > :01:27.part because they wanted to see things done differently in our

:01:28. > :01:32.society. They wanted our Parliament to represent them and deliver change

:01:33. > :01:37.for them. And I am looking forward to this Parliament like no other

:01:38. > :01:45.Parliament ever before, to challenge and hopefully bring about that

:01:46. > :01:50.change. Thank you, Mr Speaker. Thank you, Mr Stewart Hosie of the SNP.

:01:51. > :01:56.The SNP, who lost one third of their seats at Westminster. I'd like to

:01:57. > :01:59.offer condolences to those who lost their lives in Manchester and London

:02:00. > :02:04.and pay tribute to the emergency services. It is right that we do

:02:05. > :02:09.that as our democratic process was affected twice, in a short campaign.

:02:10. > :02:14.Can I also say that we will miss many of those who have lost their

:02:15. > :02:18.seats from all parts of the House, while we welcome all new members

:02:19. > :02:22.from all parties, there are some big beasts who have gone and I suspect

:02:23. > :02:25.that we will miss them all sooner rather than later. I agree with the

:02:26. > :02:32.Prime Minister in one other thing she said, that politics are not

:02:33. > :02:37.divisive. That is important, whether we take a different view on the

:02:38. > :02:43.constitution, on Brexit, on social policy, on tax-and-spend, these are

:02:44. > :02:47.simply the different opinions political opponents, not enemies,

:02:48. > :02:53.and if we can reflect a little more respect across all the parties, that

:02:54. > :02:58.would do this House and politics at regular good. Mr Speaker, may I

:02:59. > :03:02.congratulate you? We in the SNP have always seen you as a champion,

:03:03. > :03:09.ensuring that all of the voices across and indeed within the parties

:03:10. > :03:12.are properly heard. Indeed, I can also say having sat and work with

:03:13. > :03:16.you on the House of Commons Commission, you have shown yourself

:03:17. > :03:20.to be incredibly diligent, with attention to detail in the way that

:03:21. > :03:24.this building and House of Commons is run out with the Chamber, and I

:03:25. > :03:29.am sure that those who join you on that commission in this Parliament

:03:30. > :03:33.will find exactly the same thing. So, in congratulating you, and we

:03:34. > :03:38.do, I will make one final comment. The Leader of the Opposition has

:03:39. > :03:42.referred to a coalition that is as yet undefined and a programme for

:03:43. > :03:46.government which appears to be as yet unwritten, and giving there is

:03:47. > :03:51.no absolute majority in this House, we are in for interesting times so,

:03:52. > :03:59.with my congratulations, Mr Speaker, may I wish you all the very best of

:04:00. > :04:04.luck? Stewart Hosie of the SNP, they lost one third of their members at

:04:05. > :04:09.the general election. May I associate myself with the remarks

:04:10. > :04:12.made by the speakers so far, especially in light of the outrages

:04:13. > :04:17.that took place in both Manchester and London during the general

:04:18. > :04:21.election campaign? These were outrages that were meant to divide

:04:22. > :04:25.us, and our response is to be united, to show love and respect,

:04:26. > :04:31.immense gratitude to those who came to our aid, those who came to help

:04:32. > :04:35.those who are stricken, those who keep us safe, and as we were

:04:36. > :04:40.attacked in This Place a few months earlier and so the death of Keith

:04:41. > :04:46.Palmer, we are reminded in the most utterly blissful way how safe our

:04:47. > :04:54.police and security services to us, and do are immensely grateful. May I

:04:55. > :04:58.associate myself with the generous remarks made by the members for

:04:59. > :05:03.Camberwell and Beckham and for Rushcliffe and also with the remarks

:05:04. > :05:07.made by the right honourable member for Chesham and Amersham. She made

:05:08. > :05:15.one mistake, she said we had got rid of nearly all of the, and thereafter

:05:16. > :05:26.all of us now, that there's a 50% increase. Come on, I am all week! Mr

:05:27. > :05:29.Speaker... If you are quiet, about 90 seconds, Mr Speaker,

:05:30. > :05:34.congratulations on your re-election which is utterly well-deserved. You

:05:35. > :05:36.have the privilege of serving and deciding over one of the most

:05:37. > :05:43.interesting parliaments in recent years. You are the first Speaker in

:05:44. > :05:48.modern times to preside over not just one but two balance parliaments

:05:49. > :05:51.and between you and me we need to do something about the chaos and

:05:52. > :05:59.absolute instability caused by the first past the post electoral

:06:00. > :06:02.system. We have every right to expect, and every confidence, that

:06:03. > :06:05.you will continue with characteristic good grace and

:06:06. > :06:09.humour, too presided over This Place. You are known for your

:06:10. > :06:13.fairness and willingness to ensure that voice is right across This

:06:14. > :06:18.Place, from every corner of the United Kingdom and every party, are

:06:19. > :06:22.heard. I'm sure that my colleagues, returned here in greater numbers,

:06:23. > :06:26.will look forward to speaking clearly for their constituents, as

:06:27. > :06:32.we embark on these critical Brexit negotiations. After this recent,

:06:33. > :06:34.divisive period, it will be our intention to seek unity in the

:06:35. > :06:38.national interest and common purpose across this House, and where we

:06:39. > :06:47.disagree with other parties, to seek to disagree well, and with grace. We

:06:48. > :06:49.should also speak out in favour of restored investment in schools,

:06:50. > :06:54.health, social care and the police force, believing that a Parliament

:06:55. > :06:57.that does not invest in those public services as no servant of its

:06:58. > :07:09.people. Once again, congratulations from me and all of my colleagues. Mr

:07:10. > :07:12.Nigel Dodds. Fresh from the talks in Downing Street, of course.

:07:13. > :07:17.Congratulations on your re-election, and I wish you very, very well

:07:18. > :07:20.indeed in the post that you now reoccupied. You have always been

:07:21. > :07:25.assiduous in ensuring that those with smaller parties, regional

:07:26. > :07:31.parties and those with little influence in this House have heard

:07:32. > :07:37.-- have had their voice heard. And can I say that I wish that in

:07:38. > :07:41.future, while some things may have changed, it is good that you remain

:07:42. > :07:46.in place and that some things haven't changed. We look forward to

:07:47. > :07:51.this Parliament, and I want to commiserate with all those members

:07:52. > :07:55.on all sides of the House who have failed to be re-elected or who have

:07:56. > :08:00.left us, and congratulate all members of all parties who have

:08:01. > :08:04.joined. I want to pay tribute to those members from Northern Ireland,

:08:05. > :08:11.from other parties, who have not been re-elected and I hope to thank

:08:12. > :08:16.them for their service and we Berahino responsibility now in this

:08:17. > :08:20.House, along with the independent member as the only representatives

:08:21. > :08:24.from Northern Ireland, and we intend to carry out that responsibility

:08:25. > :08:28.very, very carefully indeed. We hope, of course, for the restoration

:08:29. > :08:32.as soon as is the will of our locally devolved Assembly and

:08:33. > :08:37.executive in Northern Ireland, where everybody can play a part in the

:08:38. > :08:41.government of Northern Ireland. So, Mr Speaker elect, we have

:08:42. > :08:44.interesting times ahead. I look forward to playing a full role in

:08:45. > :08:48.the proceedings of this Parliament over the course of the next five

:08:49. > :08:52.years, and I wish you well in office during that time. Mr hig Owen

:08:53. > :09:07.Williams. -- Hywel Williams. These sorts of

:09:08. > :09:12.horrible acts have no place in democracy and we all join together

:09:13. > :09:24.to condemn them. I will begin by just welcoming my new honourable

:09:25. > :09:26.friend for Ceredigion. It is good to have another Plaid Cymru member was

:09:27. > :09:31.again and we look forward to hearing his contributions. I would like to

:09:32. > :09:41.congratulate both you, Mr Speaker, and the Father Of The House and

:09:42. > :09:45.members on both sides of the House, we are looking forward to

:09:46. > :09:48.knowledgeable and confident interventions during what is likely

:09:49. > :09:52.to be one of the most lively and important parliaments of recent

:09:53. > :09:58.years, not least, of course, because of the matter mainly before us in

:09:59. > :10:03.This Place, the matter of the UK's place in Europe, which has been one

:10:04. > :10:07.of the central political issues for so long, and we look forward to

:10:08. > :10:11.contributions on that. I hope that he will continue in your positive

:10:12. > :10:17.attitudes towards the workings of This Place, to the modernisation of

:10:18. > :10:20.that working, for the rights of backbenchers and for the very fair

:10:21. > :10:29.treatment that you have always provided for the smaller parties.

:10:30. > :10:33.Caroline Lucas. The only Green MP. Can a associate myself with the

:10:34. > :10:37.remarks made by the primers and others about those atrocities at

:10:38. > :10:41.Manchester and in London Bridge and our hearts go out all those affected

:10:42. > :10:47.by them. I'm delighted to congratulate you, Mr Speaker elect,

:10:48. > :10:53.on your re-election. When you were last re-elected on May 2000 of said

:10:54. > :10:58.that you would like to be immortalised as the backbenchers'

:10:59. > :11:02.champion, and as the membranous House with the least chance of being

:11:03. > :11:06.a front bench I can say that you have that ambition safely in the

:11:07. > :11:10.bag. You are the champion of the smaller parties in this House and we

:11:11. > :11:14.are very grateful for that, as well as a pioneer, when it comes to the

:11:15. > :11:19.urgent issue of Parliamentary reform, and that, as well, is much

:11:20. > :11:22.appreciated. I would like to congratulate the honourable member

:11:23. > :11:30.for Rushcliffe for the coming Father Of The House and echo the words by

:11:31. > :11:34.the member for Camberwell and peck on being mother of the House and her

:11:35. > :11:39.role in getting more women elected. I would like to echo the comments of

:11:40. > :11:44.others about the pleasure we have in seeing, now, a record number of

:11:45. > :11:49.women being represented in This Place at the same time as noting

:11:50. > :11:56.that 32% still remains some way off 50%. Slow progress is better than no

:11:57. > :12:00.progress but we still think there is some way to go. And who knows?

:12:01. > :12:04.Perhaps we will not have to wait a full five years before having the

:12:05. > :12:12.chance to improve on that 32% of this House being women and a

:12:13. > :12:16.shameful rating of being 38 in the world, when it comes to the number

:12:17. > :12:21.of women in This Place, I look forward to improvements in diversity

:12:22. > :12:26.right across this House. We come now to the whip to move. I beg you that

:12:27. > :12:31.this House to now adjourn until tomorrow at 2:40pm. The question is

:12:32. > :12:38.that this House to now adjourn until tomorrow, at 2:40pm. As many as are

:12:39. > :12:45.of that opinion say aye, contrary no the Ayes have it, the Ayes have it.

:12:46. > :12:51.Order, order. That brings proceedings in the House of Commons

:12:52. > :12:58.to a close. The House of Commons with 99 new MPs. 87 are brand-new,

:12:59. > :13:03.and 12 of them are retreads. The most surprising retread is Tony

:13:04. > :13:09.Lloyd, who retired voluntarily from the House of Commons a few years ago

:13:10. > :13:21.now, and he has now taken the seat held by Simon Dunchurch, and Tony

:13:22. > :13:25.Lloyd has reappeared. 87 completely new MPs. Perhaps you should explain

:13:26. > :13:30.that a Parliamentary retread is jargon for someone who has been an

:13:31. > :13:36.MP, lost their seat, and returned to the Commons. Not just old stagers

:13:37. > :13:38.like us. Backbenchers are powerful people in this Parliament. They are

:13:39. > :13:43.going to wield a lot of influence, I think. However we cut up the

:13:44. > :13:48.government majority, it looks like you're going to be in a situation

:13:49. > :13:51.where if you can get ten or more Conservative MPs, at least, to

:13:52. > :13:54.rebel, then the government is going to be in trouble. We saw this in the

:13:55. > :13:55.last