Who is Lindsay Hoyle? New Speaker of the House of Commons hopeful and odds on favourite
LABOUR MP and deputy speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle is the bookies’ firm favourite in today’s Speaker election. Here’s what we know about the seasoned politician and why he could be taking John Bercow’s empty seat. Who is Sir Lindsay? Sir Lindsay Hoyle is a Labour politician who has served as an MP for Chorley, Lancs, […]
LABOUR MP and deputy speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle is the bookies’ firm favourite in today’s Speaker election.
Here’s what we know about the seasoned politician and why he could be taking John Bercow’s empty seat.
Who is Sir Lindsay?
Sir Lindsay Hoyle is a Labour politician who has served as an MP for Chorley, Lancs, since 1997.
He was born on June 10, 1957, in Adlington, where he continues to live and work.
His father was Labour MP Doug Hoyle, who named him after Australian batsman Lindsay Hassett.
What are the odds on him being next speaker?
The current odds on him being the favourite are at 8/15 at William Hill.
What’s his background in Parliament?
Sir Lindsay is the most senior of departing speaker Bercow’s three deputies, and also works as Chairman of Ways and Means.
He was elected as Deputy Speaker of the House in a secret ballot on June 2010.
This means he has had some serious practice in the Speaker’s chair – deputising for two or three hours every day.
He is popular on both sides of the House and wants to position himself as the stable choice in unpredictable times.
Hoyle is known for clashing with former PM Tony Blair over Gibraltar and student tuition fees.
He has said of their differences: “I’m not anti-Tony; he made us electable and won three times. But there are principles and promises you don’t break.”
Hoyle is known to be softly spoken, in contrast to the belligerent Bercow.
He has vowed to “tame the bear pit” of a “toxic Parliament” if elected to the role, telling the Sunday Times he would crack down on aggressive language.
Hoyle has never declared his views on Brexit.
Is he married?
Hoyle has been married twice and had two daughters.
Sir Lindsay Hoyle married his first wife, Lynda Anne Fowler, in 1974.
They later divorced and Mr Hoyle went on to marry Catherine Swindley in 1993. They celebrated their silver wedding anniversary last year.
Catherine Hoyle is employed as his part-time constituency secretary.
One of his daughters, Natalie Lewis-Hoyle, tragically took her own life at the age of 28.
Her mother, Miriam Lewis, said Natalie had been in a “toxic” and “troubled” relationship before her death in 2017.