Speaker of the House of Commons

The Speaker of the House of Commons is the presiding officer of the House of Commons, the lower house and primary chamber of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The Speaker presides over the House's debates, determining which members may speak and which amendments are selected for consideration. The speaker is also responsible for maintaining order during debate, and may punish members who break the rules of the House. By convention, the Speaker is strictly non-partisan; accordingly, a Speaker is expected to renounce all affiliation with their former political parties when taking office and afterwards.

The Speaker does not take part in debate or vote except to break ties. Aside from duties relating to presiding over the House, the Speaker also performs administrative and procedural functions. In addition, they remain a constituency Member of Parliament, are part of the Privy Council, and represent the Commons to the Monarch and the House of Lords. The official residence of the Speaker is the Speaker's House at the Palace of Westminster and his office is one of the few within the palace itself.

Known Speakers of the House of Commons