The Deputy Speaker was the only candidate named by a substantial number of MPs

With John Bercow announcing yesterday that he would be standing down as Speaker of the House of Commons on 31 October after 10 years in post, the election of his replacement is due at the first sitting of the House of Commons after either a general election or 31 October, whichever is sooner.

A YouGov poll of 100 MPs conducted in January reveals the favoured candidate at the time was Lindsay Hoyle, currently one of the Deputy Speakers. When asked in an open question who they thought the next Speaker should be, the Labour MP, who announced his intention to run for the office yesterday, was given as an answer by 35%.

He was the only potential successor nominated by a substantive number of MPs, with a further 41% saying they didn’t know who the next Speaker should be.

Hoyle’s fellow Deputy Speaker, the Conservative MP Eleanor Laing, came in a distant second on just 6%, with former Labour deputy leader Harriet Harman in third on 5%. Both have announced that they will run for the Speakership.

Other potential successors named included Peter Bone (2%) as well Chris Bryant, Graham Brady, Chris Williamson and Vernon Coaker, all on 1%.

Methodology: YouGov completed online interviews with 100 MPs from across the House of Commons as part of our monthly MP Omnibus survey.

Photo: BBC

See the full results here