What's on

Sir Edward Leigh, the Father of the House (the Member with longest continuous service who is not a Minister), will take the Clerk’s chair at the Table before Black Rod arrives at about 2.40pm to summon Members to the House of Lords. Sir Edward will then walk to the House of Lords, accompanied by the Clerk and followed by frontbenchers from both sides and any other Members who wish to do so. In the House of Lords, a Royal Commission will be read directing Members to choose a Speaker. Members return to the Commons Chamber where Sir Edward will resume his place to preside over the election of a Speaker. If the former Speaker, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, indicates that he is willing to be chosen as Speaker, Sir Edward will call a Member to move a Motion that he take the Chair as Speaker. If the Motion is agreed to by the House, Sir Lindsay Hoyle will take the Chair as Speaker-elect, and, after expressing thanks and calling some senior Members for brief congratulatory speeches, he will suspend the sitting for a short time.

Members will begin to swear in: first the Speaker, then Sir Edward, members of the Cabinet and Shadow Cabinet, other privy counsellors and other Ministers, then other Members by length of service.