John Bercow has announced he will end his tenure as Speaker of the House of Commons. Taking to his feet in the chamber just after 3.30pm on Monday, he revealed he had made a promise to his family that he intended to keep.

Addressing the Commons while his wife, Sally, looked on from the gallery, Mr Bercow said: "At the 2017 election, I promised my wife and children that it would be my last.

"This is a pledge that I intend to keep. If the House votes tonight for an early general election, my tenure as Speaker and MP will end when this Parliament ends.

"If the House does not so vote, I have concluded that the least disruptive and most democratic course of action would be for me to stand down at the close of business on Thursday, October 31."

Mr Bercow continued: "Least disruptive because that date will fall shortly after the votes on the Queen's Speech expected on October 21 and 22.

"The week or so after that may be quite lively, and it would be best to have an experienced figure in the chair for that short period.