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Senior Deputy Speaker of the House of Lords

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Senior Deputy Speaker of the
House of Lords
Logo used to represent the
House of Lords
Flag of the House of Lords
Flag of the House of Lords
since 11 May 2021
House of Lords
Style
  • Senior Deputy Speaker
    (informal and within the house)
  • His or her own peerage title
StatusDeputy presiding officer
AppointerHouse of Lords
Approved and sworn in by the Sovereign
WebsiteOfficial website

The Senior Deputy Speaker is an officer of the House of Lords whose main role is to preside over the House when it is in committee (i.e., considering a bill at committee stage), either in the Lords Chamber or in Grand Committee, which is when committee stage is taken away from the floor to free up debating time in the main Chamber. The Senior Deputy Speaker deputises for the Lord Speaker, and like the Lord Speaker withdraws from political party membership. Additionally, the Senior Deputy Speaker chairs various select committees of the House, and has a role in the administration of the House.

The current incumbent, John Gardiner, Lord Gardiner of Kimble, took the office on 11 May 2021.[1] Up until September 2016 the position was known as Chairman of Committees.[2]

The Senior Deputy Speaker is assisted by a panel of Deputy Chairmen of Committees. In addition to taking the chair in Committee of the Whole House and Grand Committee, Deputy Chairmen are appointed from time-to-time to serve with the Chairman of Committees on unopposed bill committees, which scrutinise private bills against which no petitions have been lodged.[3] Deputy Chairmen are, by practice, Deputy Speakers.[4]

In March 2020, the Lord Speaker, Lord Fowler, announced that, due to the coronavirus pandemic, he would be withdrawing from Westminster and leaving woolsack duties to his deputies.[5] On Monday 23 March the house agreed to a motion that, until 21 July, any member could perform the deputy speakers' functions.[6]

Panel of deputy chairmen

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The following table lists the panel of Deputy Chairmen of Committees, along with their concurrent terms as Deputy Speaker, as of July 2024.[7]

Peer Party Deputy Chair start Deputy Speaker start
Lord Ashton of Hyde Conservative June 2023[a] April 2024
Baroness Barker Liberal Democrat July 2020 April 2024
Lord Beith Liberal Democrat May 2022 April 2024
Baroness Bull Crossbench May 2022 April 2024
Viscount Colville of Culross Crossbench June 2023 April 2024
Lord Duncan of Springbank Conservative April 2020 April 2024
Lord Faulkner of Worcester Labour November 2007 December 2008
Baroness Finlay of Llandaff Crossbench November 2017 March 2018
Baroness Fookes Conservative May 2002 December 2002
Baroness Garden of Frognal Liberal Democrat June 2015 March 2018
Lord Geddes Conservative April 2000 December 2002
Lord Haskel Labour May 2002 December 2002
Baroness Healy of Primrose Hill Labour July 2020 April 2024
Baroness Kennedy of Cradley Labour May 2022 April 2024
Lord Kennedy of Southwark Labour June 2021 April 2024
Earl of Kinnoull Crossbench January 2020 April 2024
Lord Lexden Conservative November 2017 March 2018
Baroness McIntosh of Hudnall Labour November 2007 December 2008
Baroness Morris of Bolton Conservative June 2010 November 2010
Baroness Newlove Conservative November 2017 March 2018
Baroness Pitkeathley Labour November 2002 December 2002
Lord Russell of Liverpool Crossbench April 2020 April 2024
Baroness Scott of Needham Market Liberal Democrat June 2023 April 2024
Viscount Stansgate Labour November 2023 April 2024
Lord Stoneham of Droxford Liberal Democrat May 2021 April 2024
Baroness Watkins of Tavistock Crossbench July 2020 April 2024
Baroness Williams of Trafford Conservative October 2022 April 2024
Lord Young of Cookham Conservative May 2022 April 2024
  1. ^ Lord Asthon of Hyde previously served as Deputy Chairman of Committees from October 2019 to October 2022[8]

Chairmen of Committees

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Senior Deputy Speakers

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "House of Lords: Senior Deputy Speaker". UK Parliament. 11 May 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  2. ^ "Senior Deputy Speaker". Hansard. 21 July 2016. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
  3. ^ Private Standing Order 121.
  4. ^ "Deputy Speakers".
  5. ^ "Lord Speaker's Statement". Hansard. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
  6. ^ "Appointment of Deputy Chairmen of Committees (panel)". UK Parliament. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
  7. ^ "Membership Motion – Deputy Chairmen of Committees". House of Lords Hansard − UK Parliament. 29 July 2024.
  8. ^ "Parliamentary career for Lord Ashton of Hyde". House of Lords − UK Parliament.
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