Senior Deputy Speaker of the House of Lords

The Senior Deputy Speaker is an officer of the House of Lords whose main role is to preside over the House when it is in committee (i.e., considering a bill at committee stage), either in the Lords Chamber or in Grand Committee, which is when committee stage is taken away from the floor to free up debating time in the main Chamber. The Senior Deputy Speaker deputises for the Lord Speaker, and like the Lord Speaker withdraws from political party membership. Additionally, the Senior Deputy Speaker chairs various select committees of the House, and has a role in the administration of the House.

The current incumbent, John Gardiner, Lord Gardiner of Kimble, took the office on 11 May 2021.[1] Up until September 2016 the position was known as Chairman of Committees.[2]

The Senior Deputy Speaker is assisted by the Principal Deputy Chairman of Committees and a panel of Deputy Chairmen of Committees. The Principal Deputy Chairman is Charles Hay, 16th Earl of Kinnoull. In addition to taking the chair in Committee of the Whole House and Grand Committee, Deputy Chairmen are appointed from time-to-time to serve with the Chairman of Committees on unopposed bill committees, which scrutinise private bills against which no petitions have been lodged.[3] Deputy Chairmen are, by practice, Deputy Speakers.[4]

On 19 March 2020, The Lord Speaker, Lord Fowler, announced that due to the coronavirus pandemic he would be withdrawing from Westminster and leaving woolsack duties to his deputies.[5] On Monday 23 March the house agreed to a motion that, until 21 July, any member could perform the deputy speakers' functions.[6]

Panel of deputy chairmen

As of 21 April 2020, the panel of Deputy Chairmen are:[7][8]

Member Party
John Alderdice, Lord Alderdice Liberal Democrats
Kay Andrews, Baroness Andrews Labour
Michael Bates, Lord Bates Conservative
Tim Boswell, Lord Boswell of Aynho Conservative
Michael Brougham, 5th Lord Brougham and Vaux Conservative
Geoffrey Dear, Lord Dear Crossbench
Ian Duncan, Lord Duncan of Springbank Conservative
Richard Faulkner, Lord Faulkner of Worcester Labour
Ilora Finlay, Baroness Finlay of Llandaff Crossbench
Janet Fookes, Baroness Fookes Conservative
Susan Garden, Baroness Garden of Frognal Liberal Democrats
Euan Geddes, 3rd Lord Geddes Conservative
Simon Haskel, Lord Haskel Labour
Ruth Henig, Baroness Henig Labour
Alistair Cooke, Lord Lexden Conservative
Tommy McAvoy, Lord McAvoy Labour
Genista McIntosh, Baroness McIntosh of Hudnall Labour
Iain McNicol, Lord McNicol of West Kilbride Labour
Patricia Morris, Baroness Morris of Bolton Conservative
Helen Newlove, Baroness Newlove Conservative
Monroe Palmer, Lord Palmer of Childs Hill Liberal Democrats
Jill Pitkeathley, Baroness Pitkeathley Labour
Dennis Rogan, Lord Rogan Ulster Unionist
Simon Russell, 3rd Lord Russell of Liverpool Crossbench
David Simon, 3rd Viscount Simon Labour
John Taylor, Lord Taylor of Holbeach Conservative
Nicholas Lowther, 2nd Viscount Ullswater Conservative

Chairmen of Committees

Senior Deputy Speakers

See also

References
  1. "House of Lords: Senior Deputy Speaker". UK Parliament. 11 May 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  2. "Senior Deputy Speaker". Hansard. 21 July 2016. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
  3. Private Standing Order 121.
  4. "Deputy Speakers".
  5. "Lord Speaker's Statement". Hansard. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
  6. "Appointment of Deputy Chairmen of Committees (panel)". UK Parliament. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
  7. "Deputy Speakers – Minutes of Proceedings of the House of Lords for 5 March 2018". House of Lords, UK Parliament.
  8. "Deputy Speakers – Minutes of Proceedings of the House of Lords for 21 April 2020". House of Lords, UK Parliament.
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