2009 Speaker of the British House of Commons election was dragged to the Chair (as per House custom) by Charles Walker and Sandra Gidley, and gave an inaugural speech. 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
Speaker of the House of Commons (Canada) in the House of Commons, ultimately becoming party leader and Leader of the Opposition. On March 9, 2016 Liberal MP Mauril Bélanger served as honorary Speaker for about an hour to honour his years of service. Speaker Regan resumed his duties for the remainder of the sitting of the House. Mauril Bélanger was initially the front runner for the current role, but declined due to his being diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Bélanger died on August 15, 2016, five months after being named honorary Speaker. The Speaker's counterpart in the upper house is the Speaker of the Senate of Canada.