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Long time close friend of Gibraltar named Commons’ Deputy Speaker

Labour’s Chorley MP Lindsay Hoyle and his father Lord Hoyle have long standing links to Gibraltar

Britain’ House of Commons Speaker John Bercow has unveiled his three deputies as Labour’s Chorley MP Lindsay Hoyle, Dawn Primarolo MP and, and Tory Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans. The deputy speakers were elected by MPs in a secret ballot for the first time.

MP Hoyle a long time close friend of Gibraltar told the ‘G. Chronicle’ he was really pleased to have had all party support for such an important role; “But I can guarantee I shall not forget my friends either in Chorley or Gibraltar”.

Mr Hoyle follows a tradition of Gibraltar support started by his father Lord Hoyle who in 2004 was granted Gibraltar’s highest honour, the Freedom of the City. Lindsay Hoyle is chairman of the All Party Gibraltar Group in the Commons.

On the grounds of political balance, two Labour MPs and one Conservative were chosen to fill the posts as Mr Bercow was a Tory MP before being chosen as Speaker last summer. No Liberal Democrats or members of smaller parties were nominated.

Mr Hoyle and former ministers Ms Primarolo (Bristol S) and Mr Evans beat off competition from six other candidates, and will serve from Wednesday until the end of this Parliament.

They were elected under the single transferable vote system, a form of proportional representation. The three MPs will now withdraw from active political roles as they preside over Commons debates when the Speaker is not present.

Mr Hoyle was elected as the principal deputy speaker, the chairman of Ways and Means. Mr Evans is first deputy chairman of Ways and Means, while Ms Primarolo is second deputy chairman of Ways and Means.

In a short statement to MPs, Mr Bercow said: “I congratulate those elected and I look forward to working with them”. He paid tribute to former deputy speakers Sir Alan Haslehurst (Tory, Saffron Walden), and Sir Michael Lord and Sylvia Heal - who both stepped down as MPs at this year’s UK general election.