With general election due on 12 Dec (once........>

UK: With general election due on 12 Dec (once House of Lords passes election

bill), parliament is set to be dissolved on Wednesday 6 Dec.

- Controversial Commons Speaker John Bercow is due to stand down on 31 Oct, with

Commons business on Monday 4 Nov given over to picking his successor. 

- The high-profile of the Speaker in recent years due to his central role in the

Brexit debate means there is major concern among all political parties as to who

will be Bercow's successor. 

- The two primary candidates are current Deputy Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle and

Mother of the House (the longest-sitting female MP) Harriet Harman, both Labour

MPs. Deputy Speaker Dame Eleanor Laing (Con) also in running, but unlikely to

win. 

- Hoyle is seen as the gov'ts preferred candidate, a more orthodox figure than

Bercow who is less willing to go against precedent. Harman believed to be

favoured by opposition as her stance is viewed as Bercow Mk. II. 

- Some are arguing that Bercow should stay on until the dissolution of

parliament to allow newly-elected MPs to select a new Speaker in December.