My Lords, I beg to acquaint the House that a Commission has been issued under Her Majesty’s Great Seal to several Lords therein named authorising the said Lords to declare in the name and on behalf of Her Majesty Her Majesty’s approbation of the choice of the Commons of Mr John Bercow to be their Speaker Then, the Lords Commissioners (the Lord Privy Seal (Baroness Stowell of Beeston), the Lord Speaker (Baroness D’Souza), Baroness Royall of Blaisdon, Lord Laming and Lord Wallace of Tankerness) being robed and seated in front of the Throne, the Lord Privy Seal directed Black Rod as follows: Let the Commons know that the Lords Commissioners desire their immediate attendance in this House Then, the Commons being at the Bar, Mr Speaker-Elect (Mr John Bercow), addressing the Royal Commissioners, said: My Lords, I have to acquaint your Lordships that, in obedience to the Royal Command, Her Majesty’s faithful Commons have, in the exercise of their undoubted rights and privileges, proceeded to the election of a Speaker, and that their choice has fallen upon myself. I therefore present myself to your Lordships’ Bar and submit myself with all humility to Her Majesty’s gracious Approbation.
Mr John Bercow, we are commanded to assure you that Her Majesty is so fully sensible of your zeal in the public service, and of your ample sufficiency to execute the arduous duties which her faithful Commons have selected you to discharge, that Her Majesty does most readily approve and confirm you as their Speaker The Speaker of the House of Commons said: My Lords, I submit myself with all humility and gratitude to Her Majesty’s gracious Commands. It is now my duty, in the name of and on behalf of the Commons of the United Kingdom, to lay claim, by humble petition to Her Majesty, to all their ancient and undoubted rights and privileges, especially to freedom of speech in debate, to freedom from arrest, and to free access to Her Majesty whenever occasion shall arise, and that the most favourable construction shall be put upon all their proceedings. With regard to myself, I pray that, if in the discharge of my duties I shall inadvertently fall into any error, it may be imputed to myself alone, and not to Her Majesty’s most faithful Commons.
Mr Speaker, we have it further in Command to inform you that Her Majesty does most readily confirm all the rights and privileges which have ever been granted to or conferred upon the Commons by Her Majesty or any of her Royal predecessors. With respect to yourself, Sir, though Her Majesty is sensible that you stand in no need of such assurance, Her Majesty will ever place the most favourable construction upon your words and actions.
My Lords, I regret to inform the House of the deaths of the noble Lord, Lord Sheppard of Didgemere, on 25 March, the noble Lord, Lord Mason of Barnsley, on 19 April, the noble and learned Lord, Lord Mustill, on 24 April, and the noble Baroness, Lady Rendell of Babergh, on 2 May. On behalf of the House, I extend our deepest condolences to the noble Lords’ families and friends.
My Lords, I should also like to notify the House of the retirements with effect from 27 March of the noble and learned Lord, Lord Lloyd of Berwick, and the noble Lord, Lord Nickson; with effect from 30 March of the noble Lord, Lord Joffe; with effect from 31 March of the noble Lords, Lord Shaw of Northstead and Lord Tombs; with effect from 3 April of the noble Lord, Lord Ashcroft; with effect from 20 April of the noble Lord, Lord Evans of Parkside; with effect from 30 April of the noble and right reverend Lord, Lord Hope of Thornes, and the noble Lord, Lord Sharman; with effect from 1 May of the noble Viscount, Lord Tenby; with effect from 7 May of the noble Lord, Lord Phillips of Sudbury; with effect from 8 May of the noble Lord, Lord Sandberg; with effect from 15 May of the noble Lord, Lord Goodhart; with effect from 18 May of the noble Lord, Lord Sheldon; and with effect from 19 May of the noble and learned Lord, Lord Howe of Aberavon, pursuant to Section 1 of the House of Lords Reform Act 2014. On behalf of the House, I should like to thank all the noble Lords for their much-valued service to the House.