House of Lords

Tuesday 9th July 2024 Lords Chamber

Tuesday 9 July 2024

14:30

Parliament

Tuesday 9th July 2024 Lords Chamber

Opened by Commission, the Royal Commissioners being the Lord Privy Seal (Baroness Smith of Basildon), the Lord Speaker (Lord McFall of Alcluith), Lord True, Lord Newby and Lord Laming.

[The Lord Privy Seal (Baroness Smith of Basildon) (Lab)]

My Lords, it not being convenient for His Majesty personally to be present here this day, he has been pleased to cause a Commission under the Great Seal to be prepared in order to the holding of this Parliament.

Let the Commons know that the Lords Commissioners desire their immediate attendance in the House to hear the Commission read.

When the Commons arrived at the Bar:

My Lords and Members of the House of Commons, we are commanded by His Majesty to let you know that, it not being convenient for him to be present here this day in his Royal Person, he hath thought fit, by Letters Patent under the Great Seal, to empower several Lords therein named to do all things in His Majesty’s name, which are to be done on His Majesty’s part in this Parliament as, by the Letters Patent, will more fully appear.

When the Commission had been read at the Table:

My Lords and Members of the House of Commons, we have it in command from His Majesty to let you know that, as soon as the Members of both Houses shall be sworn, the causes of His Majesty calling this Parliament will be declared to you; and, it being necessary that a Speaker of the House of Commons should be first chosen, it is His Majesty’s pleasure that you, Members of the House of Commons, repair to the place where you are to sit, and there proceed to the choice of some proper person to be your Speaker, and that you present such person whom you shall so choose here for His Majesty’s Royal Approbation.

The Commons then withdrew.

14:49

Prayers—read by the Lord Bishop of St. Albans.

Oaths and Affirmations

Tuesday 9th July 2024 Lords Chamber

14:54

[Lord Kennedy of Southwark (Lab Co-op)]

My Lords, before the House proceeds to oath-taking, I thought it would be helpful to set out how the process will work. As is customary, after I have finished, the Lord Speaker, the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Senior Deputy Speaker and the main party leaders will proceed to take the oath of allegiance. After this, any Front-Bench Members in the Chamber will have priority. They should be followed by any Members with a disability or impaired mobility.

Members should start to queue below the Bar so that they can re-enter the Floor of the House on the temporal side, where a rope will guide the queue. Any Members with impaired mobility should alert the doorkeepers, who will ensure that they are given priority throughout the day. Members must start to queue to take their oaths only after any priority Members have done so. Noble Lords may find it convenient to remain in their place until this point. When wider oath-taking commences, I ask all Members to leave the Chamber to queue in Peers’ Lobby before entering to take their oath.

There will be a short adjournment of oath-taking at around 3.35 pm for the second Royal Commission. I thank all noble Lords in advance for their patience as the House staff support a large number of us to take our oaths of allegiance as quickly as possible.

The Lord Speaker, singly in the first place, took the oath.

Several noble Lords took the oath or made the solemn affirmation, and signed an undertaking to abide by the Code of Conduct.

Speaker of the House of Commons

Tuesday 9th July 2024 Lords Chamber

15:43

[The Lord Privy Seal (Baroness Smith of Basildon) (Lab)]

My Lords, I beg to acquaint the House that a Commission has been issued under His Majesty’s Great Seal to several Lords therein named authorising the said Lords to declare in the name and on behalf of His Majesty His Majesty’s approbation of the choice of the Commons of Sir Lindsay Hoyle to be their Speaker.

Then, the Lords Commissioners (the Lord Privy Seal (Baroness Smith of Basildon), the Lord Speaker (Lord McFall of Alcluith), Lord True, Lord Newby and Lord Laming) being robed and seated in front of the Throne, the Lord Privy Seal directed Black Rod as follows:

Let the Commons know that the Lords Commissioners desire their immediate attendance in this House.

Then, the Commons being at the Bar, Mr Speaker-Elect (Sir Lindsay Hoyle), addressing the Royal Commissioners, said:

My Lords, I have to acquaint your Lordships that His Majesty’s faithful Commons, in obedience to the Royal Command, have, in the exercise of their undoubted rights and privileges, proceeded to the election of a Speaker, and that their choice has fallen on me. I therefore present myself at your Lordships’ Bar and submit myself with all humility for His Majesty’s gracious Approbation.

[Baroness Smith of Basildon (Lab)]

Sir Lindsay Hoyle, we are commanded to assure you that His Majesty is so fully sensible of your zeal in the public service, and of your ample sufficiency to execute the arduous duties which his faithful Commons have selected you to discharge, that His Majesty does most readily approve and confirm you as their Speaker.

The Speaker of the House of Commons said:

My Lords, I submit myself with all humility and gratitude to His Majesty’s gracious Commands. It is now my duty, in the name of and on behalf of the Commons of the United Kingdom, to lay claim, by humble petition to His Majesty, to all their ancient and undoubted rights and privileges, especially to freedom of speech in debate, to freedom from arrest, and to free access to His Majesty whenever occasion shall arise, and that the most favourable construction shall be put upon all their proceedings. With regard to myself, I pray that, if in the discharge of my duties I shall inadvertently fall into any error, it may be imputed to myself alone, and not to His Majesty’s most faithful Commons.

[Baroness Smith of Basildon (Lab)]

Mr Speaker, we have it further in Command to inform you that His Majesty does most readily confirm all the rights and privileges which have ever been granted to or conferred upon the Commons by His Majesty or any of his Royal predecessors. With respect to yourself, Sir, though His Majesty is sensible that you stand in no need of such assurance, His Majesty will ever place the most favourable construction upon your words and your actions.

Mr Speaker and the Commons then retired.

Oaths and Affirmations

Tuesday 9th July 2024 Lords Chamber

16:01

Several noble Lords took the oath or made the solemn affirmation, and signed an undertaking to abide by the Code of Conduct.

House adjourned at 7.30 pm.