July 9th 2024.
The exciting day had finally arrived - Parliament's first session after last week's General Election. As always, the atmosphere was filled with age-old traditions and formalities that added a touch of grandeur to the occasion. The House of Commons unanimously re-elected Sir Lindsay Hoyle as its speaker, a position he has held with grace and dignity since 2019. This was followed by speeches from the longest-serving male and female MPs, affectionately known as the Father and Mother of the House. The party leaders then took the stage, each with their own unique messages to share.
One of the most anticipated speakers was Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, who made his first parliamentary address. In a rather unconventional move, he used his time to take a jab at Hoyle's predecessor, John Bercow. As he criticized Bercow's leadership, some MPs groaned in disapproval. Farage's words were sharp as he claimed that Hoyle's behavior was a stark contrast to "the little man who came before you." He referred to Bercow's handling of Brexit debates, which had received criticism from some members in the past.
However, most of the other speeches that followed were free of any political undertones, as is customary in the first sitting of a parliament after a General Election. Both the new prime minister, Keir Starmer, and the new leader of the opposition, Rishi Sunak, paid tribute to Hoyle and Sir Edward Leigh, the newly elected Father of the House who has been a member of Parliament since 1983. Interestingly, ex-Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, who ran as an independent after being expelled from his party, was also elected in 1983. However, he was sworn in after Sir Edward.
The House was brimming with both new and old members, eager to participate in today's sitting. Starmer and Sunak also took a moment to acknowledge the Mother of the House, Diane Abbott, who has served in the Commons since 1987. The Conservative leader praised Abbott as a trailblazer, making her the first Black female MP in UK history. Both Sir Edward and Abbott then delivered brief speeches before the leaders of other parties, including Sir Ed Davey of the Liberal Democrats, the largest third party in the House for over a century, had their turn to speak.
Today marked a momentous occasion for the House of Commons, with a record-breaking 335 new MPs taking their seats for the first time. Among them was 22-year-old Sam Carling, the youngest member in the House, representing North West Cambridgeshire. He made history as the first person born in the 21st century to be elected to Westminster. The process of swearing in all 650 members is still ongoing and is expected to continue until Thursday. The House will then adjourn until July 17, when the new government will present its priorities in the King's Speech.
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