Speaker of the House of Commons (United Kingdom) Commons. Their names are inscribed in gold leaf around the upper walls of Room C of the House of Commons Library. The three most recent Speakers have been notable for a series of firsts. Betty Boothroyd, elected in 1992, was the first woman Speaker. Michael Martin, elected in 2000, was the first Roman Catholic Speaker since the Reformation. John Bercow, elected in 2009, is the first Jewish Speaker. By convention, Speakers have traditionally been addressed in Parliament as "Mr Speaker", and their deputies as "Mr Deputy Speaker", regardless of their gender or their usual title. Betty Boothroyd was, at her
Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives two-way run-off) until one candidate has a majority. Members may vote only if they are present in person: no proxy votes are permitted. It is traditional for the Speaker to 'pretend' he or she did not want to accept the position. Upon election the Speaker is customarily 'dragged' to the front of the House. A symbolic piece of rope was kept beside the Chair as a reminder that an English House of Commons Speaker was physically held in the Chair by members so that the House could continue debating a matter which members wished to consider. After being elected by