Speaker of the House of Commons: A look back

On Monday, the Speaker of the House, Sir Lindsay Hoyle opened the Constituency Garden of Remembrance.

In the afternoon, the Speaker welcomed the Prime Minister of Grenada, Hon Dickon Mitchell, to Speaker's House.

On Tuesday, a new parliamentary session was marked by the State Opening of Parliament and the King’s Speech took place in the House of Lords. The Speaker led MPs and party leaders into the Lords Chamber after being summoned by Black Rod.

In the afternoon, the Speaker chaired the first debate on the King’s Speech.

On Wednesday, the Speaker laid a wreath at the Parliament War Memorials in Westminster Hall.

In the afternoon the Speaker joined the Industry and Parliament Trust for their Poppy Appeal Bike Ride in Portcullis House.

In the evening, the Speaker hosted the first ever Diwali reception in Speaker’s House, to celebrate the festival of light.

On Friday morning, the Speaker welcomed the Thai Ambassador to the UK, Thani Thongphakdi, to Speaker’s House.

In the afternoon, the Speaker also welcomed the High Commissioner for Pakistan, Dr Mohammad Faisal, and the Panama Ambassador to the UK, Natalia Royo de Hagerman at Speaker’s House.

In the evening, the Speaker joined Royal British Legion poppy sellers at Westminster Tube Station to sell remembrance poppies.

On Sunday morning, the Speaker took part in the National Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph, laying a wreath in on behalf of the House of Commons.

In the evening, the Speaker watched the illumination of the Elizabeth Tower in falling poppies for Remembrance Sunday.

During the week, the Speaker presided over the following business in the Chamber:

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

King’s Speech Debate: debate on the Address
King’s Speech Debate: breaking down barriers to opportunity
Urgent Question: to the Home Office
Urgent Question: to the Department for Business and Trade
King’s Speech Debate: making Britain a clean energy superpower
Urgent Question: to the Home Office
Urgent Question: to the Foreign, Common
Business of the House

Find out more about Chamber business which took place during the week . Find out more about the Speaker's role in the Chamber.

6 November

Opening the Constituency Garden of Remembrance

The Speaker opened the Constituency Garden of Remembrance on New Palace Yard with a service attended by the parliamentary community and representatives for the Commonwealth and British Overseas Territories. The Speaker planted a tribute to those in his constituency of Chorley and invited other to each tribute plant a tribute in the Constituency Garden of Remembrance to represent the sacrifice made across the UK, Commonwealth and British Overseas Territories.

Credit: ©UK Parliament/Jessica Taylor

©UK Parliament/Jessica Taylor

Welcoming the Prime Minister of Grenada

The Speaker welcomed Grenada’s Prime Minister Hon Dickon Mitchell to Speaker's House. During the meeting they discussed the UK and Grenada relationship and their plans to mark 50 years of Independence in 2024. Prime Minister Mitchell then visited our Garden of Remembrance to plant a tribute.

©UK Parliament/Maria Unger

7 November

State Opening of Parliament

The start of a new parliamentary session was marked with the State Opening of Parliament. Following Black Rod summoning the Commons Chamber to the House of Lords, the Speaker, alongside the Serjeant-at-Arms and Black Rod, led party leaders, MPs and officials into the Lords Chamber to hear the King’s Speech. In the afternoon, MPs began six days of debates on the King’s Speech and considered an 'Address in Reply to His Majesty's Gracious Speech'.

©UK Parliament/Jessica Taylor

©UK Parliament/Jessica Taylor, Maria Unger & Andy Bailey

© House of Lords 2023 / photography by Roger Harris

©UK Parliament/Jessica Taylor, Maria Unger & Andy Bailey

8 November

Remembrance wreath laying at the Parliamentary War Memorials

The Speaker and Lord Speaker laid wreath at Parliament’s war memorial in Westminster Hall in a joint service of remembrance. The ceremony remembered those from the parliamentary community who died during the First and Second World Wars.

©UK Parliament/Jessica Taylor

©UK Parliament/Jessica Taylor,

©UK Parliament/Jessica Taylor

Hosting a Diwali reception

The Speaker hosted an early Diwali reception at Speaker’s House, welcoming faith leaders and the parliamentary community to celebrate the festival of light and come together and enjoy the traditions of the festival that celebrates the victory of light over darkness. The Speaker wished guests, including the Indian High Commissioner to the UK, Vikram Doraiswami, a happy Diwali ahead of official celebrations on the weekend.

©UK Parliament/Maria Unger

Credit: ©UK Parliament/Maria Unger

10 November

Welcoming the Thai Ambassador, Thani Thongphakdi

The Speaker was pleased to welcome the Thai Ambassador, Thani Thongphakdi, to Speaker’s House and discuss the UK-Thailand relationship and deepening the UK Parliament and Thai National Assembly’s collaboration further.

©UK Parliament/Maria Unger

Welcoming the High Commissioner for Pakistan to the UK, Dr Mohammad Faisal

The Speaker was pleased to welcome to Speaker’s House Dr Mohammad Faisal, High Commissioner for Pakistan. They spoke about the strong links between the UK and Pakistan and discuss ways to strengthen the ties between the two nations parliaments.

Welcoming Panama Ambassador to the UK, Natalia Royo de Hagerman

The Speaker warmly welcomed with the Panama Ambassador to the UK, Natalia Royo de Hagerman at Speaker’s House. They discussed deepening the ties between the UK and Panama legislatures and the outcomes of the recent parliamentary visit from the British Group Inter-Parliamentary Union to Panama in September.

Joining Royal British Legion poppy sellers in Westminster Tube Station

The Speaker joined poppy sellers, Carl and Jenny Lewis, at Westminster Tube Station to speak with the public and help sell Royal British Legion poppies.

12 November

Attending the National Service of Remembrance

The Speaker attended the National Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph for Remembrance Sunday as the UK and Commonwealth came together to honour the sacrifice made by those who served in defence of the nation. The Speaker laid a wreath during the ceremony to pay respects on behalf of the House of Commons.

Illuminating the Elizabeth Tower for Remembrance Sunday

The Speaker observed the illumination of the Elizabeth Tower for Remembrance Sunday. The falling poppies illuminated the tower along with tributes to British and Commonwealth forces who fought in the Korean War as we mark the 70th anniversary of the armistice which ended the fighting. The service and sacrifice of all who undertook National Service was also remembered 60 years and the Windrush Generation's contribution to the war and the post-war rebuilding of Britain.