Speaker of the House of Commons (United Kingdom) and 2005. At the 2010 general election, Speaker John Bercow faced ten opponents, including Nigel Farage, former leader of UKIP, who obtained 17.4% of the vote, and John Stevens, from the Buckinghamshire Campaign for Democracy party, who obtained 21.4%. Bercow won with 47% of the vote. The Speaker's primary function is to preside over the House of Commons. Traditionally, the Speaker when presiding wore court dress—a black coat with white shirt and bands, beneath a black gown, with stockings and buckled shoes, and a full-bottomed wig. But in 1992 Betty Boothroyd, the first female Speaker, eschewed the wig. Her successor,
2009 Speaker of the British House of Commons election the House of Commons. The result of the second ballot was announced at approximately 18:55 (17:55 UTC). Following the result of the second ballot, Beckett, Haselhurst and Beith withdrew their candidacies after their support fell, leaving a straight runoff in the third round between Bercow and Young. The result of the third ballot was announced around 20:30 (19:30 UTC). Conservative MP John Bercow won, with 54% of the final vote. Following the final vote, a voice vote was taken on the formal motion to elect John Bercow Speaker of the House, which carried without any audible opposition. After this, Bercow