York Central MP Hugh Bayley’s temporary stint as Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons has ended with praise for his “great care and good sense”.

Speaker John Bercow told the Commons: “The honourable member for York Central (Hugh Bayley) has brought to the House his experience of chairing public bill committees, and he has done so with great care and good sense.”

Mr Bayley was temporarily appointed to support the Speaker in chairing debates and keeping order in the Commons on a daily basis while the election for three new Deputy Speakers took place.

Anne McIntosh, the MP for Malton and Thirsk, put herself forward for one of the Deputy Speaker posts, but was not appointed.

Mr Bayley said of his temporary role: “It was a great honour to be asked to do this job.

“I thoroughly enjoyed it, and will be a more effective MP now that I’ve seen how the Speaker’s Office works and how he decides which MPs to call to speak.”


MPs await committee verdicts

Thirsk and Malton MP Anne McIntosh and York Central MP Hugh Bayley will learn today if they have succeeded in bids to chair Parliamentary committees.

MPs were voting yesterday in the first-ever ballot to choose the men and women who will head the committees that scrutinise the work of Government departments. Previously, party whips decided the chairmanships. The results will be announced in the House of Commons today.

Mr Bayley is bidding to head the important public accounts select committee, and has backing from senior figures in all three main parties. Miss McIntosh is aiming to chair the environment, food and rural affairs select committee.

East Yorkshire MP Greg Knight was unopposed in his bid to win the chairmanship of the procedure selection committee and will take up the post shortly.