Speaker of the House of Commons: A look back at the past week

On Monday, the Speaker of the House of Commons, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, welcomed Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and her family to Parliament. The Speaker met with Nazanin, her husband Richard, and their daughter Gabriella in Speaker’s House with MP Tulip Siddiq, who led the campaign for the 43-year-old's release.

On Tuesday morning, together with the Lord Speaker, the Speaker laid a wreath to mark the fifth anniversary of the death of PC Keith Palmer, who was murdered during a terrorist attack in Westminster on 22 March 2017.

On Wednesday, the Speaker chaired Prime Minister's Questions, as well as the Chancellor of the Exchequer's Spring Statement.

Mr Speaker also welcomed the Trinidad & Tobago High Commissioner, His Excellency Mr Vishnu Dhanpaul to the House.

Mr Speaker also met with Cardinal Vincent Nichols, the 11th Archbishop of Westminster. The Speaker and the Cardinal discussed amongst other things pastoral support for the parliamentary community and the Catholic church's work with refugees.

During the week, the following business also took place in the Chamber:

Urgent Question: Metropolitan Police: Strip-search of Schoolgirl
Opposition Day: P&O Ferries and Employment Rights and Cost of Living Increases: Pensioners
Urgent Question: Sub-Postmasters: Compensation
Statement: Daniel Morgan Independent Panel Report
Business Questions

The Speaker also presided over further business in the Chamber. Find out more about Chamber business which took place during the week.

Find out more about the Speaker's role in the Chamber.

21 March

Mr Speaker welcomed Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and her family to Parliament

^{The Speaker of the House of Commons told Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe that "the whole nation rejoiced" when she was finally reunited with her family after six years in captivity.

He made the comments during a meeting with Nazanin, her husband Richard, and their daughter Gabriella in Speaker’s House with MP Tulip Siddiq, who led the campaign for the 43-year-old's release.

"The whole nation rejoiced when we saw you coming off that plane at RAF Brize Norton and finally being reunited with Richard and Gabriella," he said.

"You have achieved something that many others before you have not - in uniting the House in their efforts and hope to get you home."

Turning to Richard, who staged two hunger strikes to raise awareness of his wife’s plight, he added: "No-one can replicate what you did to bring Nazanin home, I can tell you."

Nazanin said her five-days of freedom were hard to take in. "It is too much to absorb," she said. "I sometimes ask myself: '“Is it real? Or is it part of the nightmare/ dreams I was having for such a long time?”’

Holding an encaustic tile presented to the family by Sir Lindsay, Richard said: "Six years ago we were just ordinary people - and here we are being given such a welcome by the Speaker.

"I think this piece of Parliament is a reminder to us of the work Parliament did for us.

"It takes a village in a case like ours. So many people have helped – some people we knew, some we didn’t know. It embodies all that care in Parliament and all those people who badgered their MPs to do something.

"We will always have this tile on our mantlepiece as a reminder that we were not left alone."

During the meeting, Sir Lindsay presented seven-year-old Gabriella with a Speaker Bear fluffy toy, which she duly declared would be called ‘Speechless.’}

22 March

Fifth anniversary of the death of PC Keith Palmer

On Tuesday 22 March the Speakers of both Houses laid wreaths in memory of PC Keith Palmer and all those who lost their lives following the 22 March terror attack in 2017.

The Speakers led a procession from the Chapel to New Palace Yard and laid wreaths at the memorial plaque to PC Keith Palmer.

Speaker lays a wreath

Serjeant at Arms and Black Rod lead procession

23 March

Prime Ministers Questions - Click here to catch up with Wednesday 23 March's PMQs

Prime Minister, Boris Johnson

Leader of the Opposition, Sir Keir Starmer

Speaker of the House

SNP Westminster Leader, Ian Blackford.

Spring Statement from the Chancellor of the Exchequer

Mr Speaker welcomed Trinidad & Tobago High Commissioner, His Excellency Mr Vishnu Dhanpaul

^{The Director General of the UK House of Commons was described as "an inspiration" to the people of Trinidad and Tobago by the country’s High Commissioner to the UK.

His Excellency Vishnu Dhanpaul told Marianne Cwynarski, whose parents hail from the dual-island nation in the Caribbean, that her achievement "was a source of great pride to him".

He made the comments during his debut meeting with Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Speaker of the House of Commons, who appointed Marianne as DG, following her success in keeping the House operational during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Her efforts were also recognised in the 2021 New Year’s Honours, when HRH the Prince of Wales awarded her the CBE.

Marianne said no-one was prouder of her success in becoming the operational leader for the House Service than her family.

"When I told my relatives over here at a party recently that I was DG, the place erupted," she said. "Someone from Trinidad is director general of the House of Commons?! They are incredibly proud.}

^{"It’s a lovely reminder that you can come from a very small island and have opportunities like this in your life.

"Never in my wildest dreams have I ever thought I might end up walking the corridors of power. It seems other worldly – but that is why my parents came here: for the opportunities."

Marianne’s parents Molly Mustapha and Joe Juanette moved from Port of Spain to Maida Vale, West London, in the late 1950s, on a scheme to attract workers from the Caribbean.

"My Dad was excited by the prospect of relocating to London in the 1950s and 60s. They absolutely loved London life," she said.

"But I remember the sadness that they felt, particularly my Mum, about the family that they left behind.

"Even though my Dad was a graphic artist and photographer who had photos published in the Trinidad Tribune - he was sponsored by the Post Office to become a postman," she said.

"But the job wasn’t for him, and he quickly went back to the creative world of art and graphics."

While she was born in Park Royal, Middlesex, Marianne says her upbringing was "warm, loving and with strong links to home."

"One of the biggest memories I had was the excitement of having a Trinidadian relative arriving with food in their suitcase," she said.

"It was at a time when you couldn’t get mangoes, tamarind balls, kurma, curry powder, super-hot pepper sauce and even coconut oil for our bodies and hair."

Marianne said her family-trips home to Trinidad were "mind-blowing".

"It really is like paradise, with places like Mayaro Beach, Pigeon Point and the mangroves – and such incredible wildlife, like Humming Birds, Scarlet Ibis and poisonous snakes," she said.

"As a child, I felt like I was related to the whole island, because my Mum’s family – the Mustaphas - were so well known. I can remember feeling like a celebrity everywhere I went – it was lovely."

Now Marianne, who with husband Paul has two children, is a well-known face at the House of Commons, where she has worked for more than 20 years and oversees 3,000 people.

His Excellency Mr Dhanpaul said: "Your story is an incredible one and is an inspiration to many people in Trinidad and Tobago, and the diaspora who have made their homes in the UK."}

Mr Speaker with His Excellency Vishnu Dhanpaul and Marianne Cwynarski

Mr Speaker met with Cardinal Vincent Nichols, 11th Archbishop of Westminster

The Speaker and the Cardinal discussed amongst other things pastoral support for the parliamentary community and the Catholic church's work with refugees.