2009 Speaker of the British House of Commons election 2009 Speaker of the British House of Commons election The 2009 election of the Speaker of the House of Commons occurred on 22 June 2009 following the resignation of Michael Martin as Speaker during the parliamentary expenses scandal. Martin was the first Speaker since Sir John Trevor in 1695 to be forced out of office. It was the first Speaker election since 11 May 2005, and the first contested election of a Speaker since 23 October 2000. Conservative MP John Bercow was elected as the new speaker, after three rounds of voting. Under the new rules for the election of
Speaker of the House of Commons (United Kingdom) as Speaker when the House sat at the start of the new parliaments on 18 May 2015 and 13 June 2017. The Speaker presides over the House's debates, determining which members may speak. The Speaker is also responsible for maintaining order during debate, and may punish members who break the rules of the House. Unlike presiding officers of legislatures in many other countries, the Speaker remains strictly non-partisan, and renounces all affiliation with his or her former political party when taking office as well as when leaving the office. The Speaker does not take part in debate or vote (except