Sir Roger Gale
Member of Parliament for Herne Bay and Sandwich (including West Thanet)
 

Roger, as the senior member of the Speaker`s Panel of Chairman, was appointed by Mr. Speaker Bercow at the start of this parliament, to act as one of the team of three (the Speaker himself and the veteran Labour Member George Howarth) to preside over the debates on the Queen`s Speech while the elections (in which acting Deputies are barred from participating) took place.

 

“Sitting in the big chair for five sessions has been both an honour and a daunting experience” says Sir Roger. “I am delighted to have been asked to serve the House in this way but with nearly two hundred new names and faces to try to get to know in short order, and with very many – and on both sides of the House excellent – Maiden Speeches to be made it has been demanding.

 

In the longer term I prefer the flexibility afforded to a backbencher able to table parliamentary questions, speak in the Chamber and engage in other activities inside and outside the House but the last few days have offered me a fascinating and enjoyable further insight into the work of The House.

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I shall now return to the Chairman`s role that I occupy in legislative Committees – but expect to be back in the Chamber in a couple of weeks to participate in the chairmanship of the Referendum Bill which will be held before a Committee of the Whole House”.