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Encyclopedia > Father of the House of Commons
There is also the designation of Father of the House of Lords

The longest continuously serving member of certain national legislatures, most notably the House of Commons in the United Kingdom, is customarily designated Father of the House. If two or more MPs have equal lengths of service, then whoever was sworn in first is named Father.


The most important duty of the Father of the House is to preside over the election of a new Speaker, should that office be vacant at the beginning of a Parliament. However, a minister of the Crown is prohibited from presiding at the election of a speaker in the House of Commons; therefore, a minister is never considered the Father of the House, even if that minister is more senior than any other member.


The term Mother of the House is also found, although the usage varies between countries. Sometimes, it is used simply as the female alternative to Father of the House, being applied when the longest serving member of a legislature is a woman. Sometimes, however, it is treated as a separate designation, and is given to the longest serving female legislator, regardless of whether she is the longest serving legislator overall.


The current Father of the House in the United Kingdom is Tam Dalyell (Labour Party), who was first elected for the seat of West Lothian (since renamed Linlithgow) in a by-election on 14th June 1962. He has stated his intention to stand down at the next general election; the next in line to be Father is Alan Williams, MP for Swansea West.

Contents
1 Fathers of the House in the UK
2 Australia
3 Father of the House in New Zealand
4 See also
5 External link

Fathers of the House in the UK

Australia

Main article: List of longest-serving members of the Australian House of Representatives.


The term "Father of the House" is not used in Australia, where it is seen as a British usage, and is also objected to by women MPs as gender-biased. The longest-serving member of the Australian House of Representatives is Phillip Ruddock, who was first elected in 1973. The longest-serving member of the Australian Senate is Senator Brian Harradine, who was elected in 1975.


Father of the House in New Zealand

The current Father of the House is Jonathan Hunt, who was first elected in 1966.


See also

External link

  • House of Commons Information Office PDF document on Fathers of the House (http://www.parliament.uk/documents/upload/m03.pdf)

  Results from FactBites:
 
Father of the House - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (581 words)
In the House of Commons, the most important duty of the Father of the House is to preside over the election of a new Speaker, should that office be vacant at the beginning of a Parliament.
The current Father of the House of Commons is Alan Williams, Labour MP for Swansea West.
In Canada, the longest-serving member of the House of Commons (who is not a cabinet minister) is known as the Dean of the House.
British House of Commons - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (6777 words)
The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 646 members, who are known as "Members of Parliament" or "MPs." Members are elected by the first past the post system of election for limited terms, holding office until Parliament is dissolved (a maximum of five years).
The rule that precludes certain Crown officers from serving in the House of Commons is used to circumvent a resolution adopted by the House of Commons in 1623, under which Members are not permitted to resign their seats.
The supremacy of the Commons in legislative matters is assured by the Parliament Acts, under which certain types of bills may be presented for the Royal Assent without the consent of the House of Lords.
  More results at FactBites »


 
 

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