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The House of Commons has chosen its 158th Speaker after bookies' favourite Lindsay Hoyle triumphed in the race to succeed John Bercow.

The 62-year-old Labour MP will now sit as an independent after he won a ballot of MPs to replace the highly controversial Speaker of ten years.

The Lancashire-born businessman - who has named his two dogs, parrot and tortoise after famous politicians - triumphed on the fourth round of voting by MPs.

It means he will take a job that has existed since 1377 policing and umpiring the rowdy debates in the Commons, and a grand grace-and-favour residence facing the River Thames.

In his pitch for the job, Mr Hoyle - a deputy speaker for nine years - vowed to push on with reforms for MPs' security, stop the "club" of calling senior MPs first in debates, and ensure backbenchers can hold the government to account.

He will not be guaranteed his place as Speaker when Parliament returns after the December 12 general election . But he's likely to stay, because he will be put forward as a single name for approval. Only if MPs vote that down will the election re-open with a fresh ballot.

The ritual of the Speaker's election ends with the successful candidate being theatrically "dragged" from his seat on the green benches by an MP from each of the main parties - symbolising the 'reluctance' of MPs to take the chair.

Sir Lindsay was dragged to the chair by Tory MP Nigel Evans and Labour's Caroline Flint.

His victory came after candidates to replace John Bercow savaged the outgoing Speaker's record in a string of attacks on his alleged bias and boisterous style.

(Image: BBC)

Scroll down for the full results

(Image: Lancashire Evening Post / SWNS)

The seven candidates to replace Mr Bercow, all of whom went to private school, spoke for five minutes each in a final pitch to MPs to back them.

Labour's Dame Rosie Winterton said urgent debates and Prime Minister's Questions "should not take hours" - a reference to Mr Bercow's tendency to drag on past closing time.

In an apparent reference to accusations of Brexit bias or bullying, which Bercow denies, she declared: "As Speaker I would douse the flames, not pour petrol on them”.

Labour MP Chris Bryant also launched a coded attack, saying he would be “an umpire not a player“, "have absolutely no favourites” and be “standing by the rules”.

Mr Bryant added "I want to stop the clapping!" - at which MPs clapped uproariously.

Tory Sir Edward Leigh added: "I'm with Chris and Rosie on this." He complained "insults have been hurled on us" and the Speaker should be a "servant of the House".

(Image: SWNS.com)

And Tory Dame Eleanor Laing said: "It's not the role of the Speaker to create division or rancour in this house, but to seek consensus."

She added: “It’s not the role of the Speaker to say any more than needs to be said... The Speaker is not the ruler of the House of Commons but its servant."

Meanwhile Labour 'mother of the House' Dame Harriet Harman vowed to create a fourth deputy speaker from smaller parties and help MPs be "the best they can be".

And she paid tribute to Betty Boothroyd, who watched proceedings from the public gallery, to say: "In 600 years there's only ever been one woman Speaker".

And Labour's Meg Hillier demanded action to crack down on bullying and harassment.

The comments came hours after Mr Bercow formally resigned as an MP.

(Image: PA)

Mr Hoyle, 62, went to private Lord's College in Bolton and ran his own screen-printing firm before becoming an MP in 1997.

He spent nine years as a Deputy Speaker where his no-nonsense manner led to clashes with MPs - including telling off the SNP for singing EU anthem Ode to Joy in 2017.

In the same week he had a fierce clash with ex-SNP leader Alex Salmond, with the pair shouting at each other across the chamber over time slots given to Brexit scrutiny.

Despite this Mr Hoyle is generally regarded as a popular figure.

There was an outpouring of tributes in 2017 when his 28-year-old daughter Natalie was found dead. An inquest recorded an open verdict.

He has named his parrot Boris, his Patterdale terrier Betty after the former Speaker Betty Boothroyd, his rottweiler Gordon after Gordon Brown, and his tortoise Maggie after Thatcher.

He said Maggie has a “hard shell and is not for turning”.

Mr Hoyle also posted a bizarre picture of himself watching the Rugby World Cup final in which he was facing away from the TV, beside a distant cup of tea no human could reach.

Mr Hoyle was one of just three Labour MPs who did not declare their voting intention in the 2016 EU referendum. His Lancashire district backed Brexit by 57% to 43%.

Speaker election: Full result

Voting eliminated at least one MP each round until one candidate attained 50% of the votes cast. In each round the candidate with the fewest votes, along with any who gained less than 5%, were eliminated.

Round 1

Sir Lindsay Hoyle - 211

Dame Eleanor Laing - 113

Chris Bryant - 98

Harriet Harman - 72

Dame Rosie Winterton - 46

Sir Edward Leigh - 12 - ELIMINATED

Meg Hillier - 10 - ELIMINATED

Round 2

Sir Lindsay Hoyle - 244

Dame Eleanor Laing - 122

Chris Bryant - 120

Harriet Harman - 59 - WITHDREW

Dame Rosie Winterton - 30 - ELIMINATED

Round 3

Sir Lindsay Hoyle -267

Dame Eleanor Laing - 127 - ELIMINATED

Chris Bryant - 169

Round 4

Sir Lindsay Hoyle - 325

Chris Bryant - 213