as possible. we need to reach consider. >> order, just before we move on to the main business, i want to make a brief statement of just three points. first, as i said on monday, when ministers have key policy statements to make, the house must be the first to hear them and they should not be released before hand. secondly, in statements, i asked the front benches to stick to their allotted times. ought ask also that the back bench members taking part each confine themselves to one brief question. in the same vein, i hope the minister's replies will be kept to a reasonable length. finally, i always expect that those speaking in this chamber will be heard so that an

atmosphere of calm, reasoned debate will be maintained. order. then again on sunday nights at sea spend. . c-span.org you can find a video archive of past prime ministers questions. and now, highlights from the newly elected british house speaker ceremony in the house of commons and the house of lords. he is the 157th speaker for the british house of commons. this one our program includes speeches by party leaders to rid

it begins with a pre louis. this is for that -- a prelude. it lasts about one hour. " i remember my own election like it was yesterday. there is no speaker to provide -- preside over prayers', but i am sure the almighty is blessing the proceedings. >> do you remember the time when you were elected speaker in 1992? >> i can imagine those 10 candidates with butterflies in their stomach and their knees knocking. and this is what happens. however experienced you are, on an occasion like this, this is

daunting. want to stand up, you give that all you have. what kind of quality is -- >> what kind of qualities do they need? >> you cannot say this in just one moment. the institution of the commons is a microcosm of the british nation. it is a very prestigious job. it is not simply a matter of shopping order, order under a medieval canopy. it has to know precedence and to change the business if there is an emergency debate. >> what about being a spokesman for the commons. there is no one who speaks on behalf of the house commons. >> i think there is a representative role for the

speaker. in this country, in this city, with our academic institutions, colleges, universities -- don >> does someone to speak up publicly >> >> not necessarily. the speaker is the servant of the house. he is the servant of the house. he carries out the wishes of the house. first, let's take a look at what is going to happen today. >> so, you want to be speaker of the house of commons and process up and down here every day. first, you have to get the support of between 12 and 15 prime ministers -- in peace. you have to get the paperwork in order and then the full list of

candidates will be published here. we do not get the chance to film in here very often. >> at about 230 or so, on the floor of the house of commons, an indiamp will rise ended but e candidates to speak. they will file in and put an x by the candidate's name and then put the ballot in the box. counting takes about one hour and the result is announced on the floor of the chamber. if no candidate gets more than half the votes, what happens is this, the candidate that got less drops out. then they have a smaller field

and another election until eventually someone gets more than 50% of the vote. so, you have been elected speaker of the house of commons and have been dragged it to your chair. first, you have to come all the way up here to the house of lords to get the queens blessing. you come up here as speaker elect and then the return as speaker. >> it is completely easy, isn't it. we will have a secret ballot and will never know how they voted. as james was saying, with no speaker, the father of the house will take the chair. before that, they will bring the

mason to the chamber. don't worry if it sounds complicated, betty will explain more. these are unhappy times. >> they are unhappy times. i have been very depressed in the past few months. >> why has it done to the reputation? >> it has ruined the reputation of the commons. and the vast majority of members have not abused the system. they have behaved and the most dishonorable and is credited way. the political parties have set measures and to place. that does not dismiss it, but that is what will take place. >> talked-about taking 10 years

to restore the reputation. >> i would not dispute that at all. i think it would take two or three general elections before it can be pulled back. people would say that they want a speaker who will do that. it is not the speaker who can do it, it is the commons itself. and they have to all work together to pull back that great reputation. >> the last speaker had people standing up in the commons saying that he must go. what did you think of that? >> i have to be totally honest, it was right that michael martin went when he did. of course, i feel sorry for him. he is a human being and he has nerves and feeling like we all have, but it had to be done those members that did stand up, i think they were quite courageous to do so. but that is what it is all about. this is a place where you speak

your mind. it had to be done and it was right that it was and it was right then he went. >> he has complained about snobbery in the house. you are a member of the aristocracy in the house of lords. >> rubbish. i am an aristocrat of the working class. when i was a child, my father was on unemployment and my mother worked as a textile worker and i left school what the age of 16. it did not give me that. it has nothing to do with snobbery. if you do the job, and i think michael martin did his best as i did. do not give me this business of an aristocrat. we're coming up to 2:30 p.m.. he resigned as speaker yesterday, but you can't resign unless there is another job to

go to. she has appointed michael martin to the post of steward and they love of the manner of north step. it is a method of using the comments. go to the very five voting like many will find yourself in the middle of the manner. >> that is what i did. >> you were representative of west branch. >> i had six elections before being elected. >> yes. >>we can go to the house of commons and we have our pictures of the house of commons. there we see it. >> order, order, prime minister.

>> her majesty, having been informed of the will resignation of the late speaker of the house, the gives leave to the house and makes way for the election of the new speaker. >> >> the house will now proceed to the election of a new speaker according to provisions a note and was published four weeks ago. in a moment, i will call the candidates to address the house in order in which i drew their names by lot earlier this morning the order of speaking was published earlier today. when all the candidates address the house, we will proceed to the first ballot. >> thank you, mr. williams. all hon. members are, by

definition, experienced campaigners. as some campaigns get off to a good start. others suffer setbacks. one of my first approaches was to a particularly distinguished colleague who would not dream of identifying. i asked if he would back me today. certainly not, he said. you're not just too young, but you are far too young. given that in my judgment, the speaker ought to be virtually senile. [laughter] if you were elected in, it would be disastrous for you, disastrous for the house and disastrous for the country. with that, he slammed down the phone.

it just in case this is a widely held view, i will merely observed that speakers elected in number than me at 46 were actually common in times gone by. in the 18th century, there was a speaker elected at age 29 and one at 32. indeed, both went on to become prime minister. [laughter] not a likely career move in my case. by contrast, speaker on slow was elected at 36 and 1728 and he stayed in the sea for more than 30 years. not a danger in my case given my commitment to serve no longer then nine years in total. even further back, sir thomas

more was virtually my age when he became speaker, bove, frankly, his rather sticky end does not fill me with encouragement. then again, he is the only member of this house ever to have been canonized. my own preference is, however, for success in this world rather than in the next. i want to do something. working with colleagues toch i want reform. or revitalization and for the reassertion of the core values of this great institution in the context of the 21st century. that this election is being held at this moment, testifies to the

turmoil that is engulfing this place. unless and until we can move the debate on to the future of this house, we shall remain in deep trouble. a legislature cannot be effective while suffering from public school corn. so, a strong command is far from adequate. i am confident that this has equipped me to cope without mysterious procedures. there are three reasons for offering myself to stay as speaker and i am pleased to be supported in this by parliamentary colleagues from no fewer than six political parties.

conservatives, labor, liberal democrats, scottish nationalists, wells nationalists as well as enjoying support from independence of both the right and left. first, i would implement the system of analysis but i would do so with respectful rarest. this house is either corrupt person, nor could. what was meant to be a straightforward system of compensation for members has become immensely complicated. clearly, the recommendations must be accepted unless they are manifestly inappropriate which, i do not expect to be the case. the next speaker must ensure that hon. members and taxpayers alike are not treated unfairly.

this is a difficult balance to strike but it is one that i can accomplish and communicate. the case for strengthening back benches to revive parliament as a whole is incontrovertible. the true story of the past 30-50 years is not one of petty claims on the one hand and extravagant claims on the other, but rather of the relentless erosion of this chamber's former strength. the prime minister recently asserted his desire to restore authority to parliament. if elected, i would seek to hold him and any successor to that pledge. this house must seize the back control of its own core functions.

urgent questions are more readily granted and enhanced scrutiny of budgets and legislation both domestic and european. once and for all, ministers must be obliged to make keep policy statements here. the speaker should always be neutral within this chamber but he or she should not be neutral about this chamber. if elected, i would be a tireless advocate for our political relevance. finally, i turn to the world beyond westminster. the speaker needs to become both an advocate and an ambassador for parliament. he must reconnect it with the society which it seeks to represent. i would be comfortable to be both a speaker and a listener. i make no apology for the views i have expressed and the boats i

have cast over the years. some may have been incompatible with others over a period as many colleagues have been quick to point out, but even these men can acquire wisdom as time goes by. that is all irrelevant to the role of the speaker whose own political preferences must be permanently cast aside. throughout my 12 years in this house, i have always been passionate about parliament. i believe that we can rebuild trust and restore our reputation, but only if we make a clean break with the past and demonstrate, once again, that it is an honor without equal to sit in this house. i and that clean break and it.

-- i am a clean break and it. -- i am that clean break and it. i can help to deliver it with you only if you give me the opportunity i know that it is a tall order but i am only a little chap, but i believe that i can rise to the occasion. >> order. this is the result of the third ballot. 593 ballots were cast. the number of votes cast for each candidate was as follows. the john, 322.

sir george young, 271. [applause] let's make sure there we sign off properly. he secured more than 50 percent

of the ballots cast, the question is, shall we take the chair as speaker. on the contrary, no, i think the ayes have it. [applause]

thank you. my first pleasant duty is to warmly thank, on behalf of assault, ellen williams for the magnificent and do shubert way in which she has conducted this election. it has been a very long day and those of you expecting a customarily a lengthy diatribe will be sorely and disappointed. i should like to thank and pay a

heartfelt tribute to a to all of the candidates who stood in this election. [applause] it has been a constructive debate that we have enjoyed over the last few weeks. i confess that i have the highest regard for all the other candidates. each brought something to the occasion. each had a contribution to make. i can honestly say that each made that contribution in the most sincere and constructive fashion. to the great and continuing benefit of this house.

colleagues, you will understand that my thoughts at this time our ball with my family my wife, sally, our three very young children, oliver, freddie, not to mention the youngest. not to mention my beloved mother who has been interested in the proceedings. colleagues, you have bestowed upon me the greatest honor that i have enjoyed in my professional life. i thank you from the bottom of my heart for the confidence that you have placed in may and i am

keenly aware of the obligations onto which i not enter. i want to say this. i said a few hours ago that if elected, the speaker has a responsibility, and immediately and permanently, to cast aside all of his or her previous political views. i said that -- i said it -- [laughter] i said it, and i meant it. my commitment to this house is

to be completely impartial as between members of one political party and another. that is what is about. i will do my best, faithfully and honorably and effectively to serve this house in the. i had. -- in the period ahead. it has been a grueling experience. many members feel very sore and vulnerable, but large sections of the public also feel angry and disappointed. we do have to reform, but i just want to say that i continue to believe that the vast majority of members of this house are out right, decent honorable people

who have come into politics, not to further their nests, but because they have heeded the call a public service. they want to serve their constituents to make a difference and to improve the life of their fellow citizens in this country. for such people, i will always have the highest respect. it is on that basis, with that conviction, and in that spirit that i sell seat to discharge my obligations in this office which i regard, as i said, as the greatest privilege of my professional life to occupy. [applause] the prime minister. >> speaker like, on behalf of the whole house, it gives me the greatest pleasure to offer you the warmest congratulations on

your election as the 100 2/7 speaker of the house of commons. you joined a line a prestigious speakers who enjoy this moment. but now, you away confirmation by the mark. the house will know that having received this are, the longest serving as speaker serve the 33 years and being short list might have been acceptable to his fellow members but it was not -- but he was not acceptable to the mark. let's hope that you follow in the tradition of the longest serving speaker. the house as carrying out one of its most important responsibilities. the public is looking to see whether we mean to change. i believe it was clear and all the speeches by all the candidates for the office of the new speaker that we have t