Speaker’s Statement

John Bercow Excerpts

Tuesday 5th January 2016 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

I am pleased to be able to announce to the House that, following fair and open competition, Her Majesty the Queen has graciously accepted my recommendation that Mr Mohammed Amal El-Hajji—usually known as Kamal El-Hajji—be appointed to the post of Serjeant at Arms with effect from 1 February. Mr El-Hajji has been Head of Front of House and VIP Relations at the Ministry of Justice since 2010 and has also held a number of administrative and security roles in the Department for Constitutional Affairs and the MOJ since 2001. In addition to being trained in the martial arts and a recipient of the British Empire Medal, Mr El-Hajji will be the first person of a black and minority ethnic background to hold the post of Serjeant at Arms.