NEW ORDER

Chorley MP Lindsay Hoyle is leading Parliament through difficult times and uncharted territory

- Paul Mackenzie

Few people can ever have had a more tumultuous start to a new job. Within weeks of becoming the Speaker of the House of Commons, Chorley MP Lindsay Hoyle was overseeing a General Election, the UK’s departure from the EU and the lockdown caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

It hasn’t affected his enjoyment of the job, though. In spite of the strange circumstances, he is clearly revelling in the role.

After ten years as the deputy speaker, he became the 158th Speaker of the House of Commons last November, taking over from John Bercow – a divisive character in the House, by anyone’s account – and has set about imposing his own brand of Lancastrian calm and wait on the often fractious proceedings.

‘I’m very lucky, I’ve got a fantastic job,’ he says. ‘There’s great history before me and we all have a different style to bring to the job. I think the House knows they’ve got a Lancastrian in the chair.

‘There is lot to the job but I’m still as excited as when I got the job. It is hard work and the days are long but I do enjoy it.

‘I’ve had one of the longest apprenticeships in history but I didn’t think the job was going to be like this. We had a General Election almost as soon as I took to the chair and then we’ve had to turn 750 years of history and tradition on its head within 48 hours because of the Coronavirus.