Next Speaker of the British House of Commons election are any candidates who receive less than five per cent of the votes cast. The House then continues to vote until one member receives a majority of the vote. A motion is then put before the House asking if the candidate who won a majority in the secret ballot should take the Chair as Speaker. If the motion is past, the winning candidate is dragged by MPs to the Chair as Speaker-elect. The Speaker is then formally appointed by receiving the Queen's approbation through a Royal Commission in the House of Lords. Following reports that John Bercow plans to step
Speaker of the Irish House of Commons impartiality and fairness by all holders of the Speakership. The position was one of considerable power and prestige in Ireland, and the holder enjoyed high precedence as the first gentleman in Ireland. Speakers of the Commons were elected on the first day of the session of a new parliament, unless the sitting Speaker resigned his post. Before the reign of Queen Anne elections to the chair were uncontested. However, the House increasingly reflected the virulent political divisions between Whig and Tory factions, and Alan Brodrick's second candidacy was contested in 1713. Further contested elections occurred in 1771, 1776 and 1790.