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Lindsay Hoyle, deputy speaker and budget star: 'Once a year, it's my day' Lindsay Hoyle, deputy speaker and budget star: 'Once a year, it's my day'
(6 months later)
When Lindsay Hoyle woke up on Wednesday he was still the Labour MP for the prosperous Lancashire town of Chorley and chairman of ways and means, an ancient but obscure office at the House of Commons that also makes him deputy speaker. When he opened the newspapers on Thursday he found that his robust handling of a boisterous budget day had made him a parliamentary superstar in pinstripes. On Twitter, too.When Lindsay Hoyle woke up on Wednesday he was still the Labour MP for the prosperous Lancashire town of Chorley and chairman of ways and means, an ancient but obscure office at the House of Commons that also makes him deputy speaker. When he opened the newspapers on Thursday he found that his robust handling of a boisterous budget day had made him a parliamentary superstar in pinstripes. On Twitter, too.
Hands on hips, arms akimbo, his Lancastrian boom quite distinct from speaker John Bercow's south-easterly tone, Hoyle reined in Ed Balls for waving the Evening Standard's bootleg version of the budget from the front bench. "You should observe the courtesies of the House and should know BETTERRR," he remonstrated with a pointing finger. "I DO NOT WISH TO SEE IT."Hands on hips, arms akimbo, his Lancastrian boom quite distinct from speaker John Bercow's south-easterly tone, Hoyle reined in Ed Balls for waving the Evening Standard's bootleg version of the budget from the front bench. "You should observe the courtesies of the House and should know BETTERRR," he remonstrated with a pointing finger. "I DO NOT WISH TO SEE IT."
There was plenty more like this. "Let this not become the circus of the day," he remarked at another point and, "the panto season is not for another nine months." To an over-excited Tory loyalist he said, "If you don't want to hear your own chancellor, I am SURE your constituents would understand if you were to leave the chamber."There was plenty more like this. "Let this not become the circus of the day," he remarked at another point and, "the panto season is not for another nine months." To an over-excited Tory loyalist he said, "If you don't want to hear your own chancellor, I am SURE your constituents would understand if you were to leave the chamber."
What voters with more pressing worries than parliamentary procedure may not have understood was that Hoyle is not some new, end-of-season signing from Chorley FC (known as the Magpies) but a permanent fixture in presiding over the Commons, the most senior of Bercow's three deputies. But a tradition that emerged in the high-tax, high-treason reign of Charles I means that when MPs hear a budget, then debate its instant new taxes – like that 1p off beer – they do so by ways and means resolutions, under chairman Lindsay.What voters with more pressing worries than parliamentary procedure may not have understood was that Hoyle is not some new, end-of-season signing from Chorley FC (known as the Magpies) but a permanent fixture in presiding over the Commons, the most senior of Bercow's three deputies. But a tradition that emerged in the high-tax, high-treason reign of Charles I means that when MPs hear a budget, then debate its instant new taxes – like that 1p off beer – they do so by ways and means resolutions, under chairman Lindsay.
"So once a year it's my day. I'm in charge and I look forward to it. It's a highlight, the biggest day of the parliamentary year. The mood in the chamber is electric, you can feel the tension," he explained on Thursday night after day two of this year's budget debate had ended, as he enjoyed a strong cuppa in his modest office (a contrast to Speaker's House, which is palatial)."So once a year it's my day. I'm in charge and I look forward to it. It's a highlight, the biggest day of the parliamentary year. The mood in the chamber is electric, you can feel the tension," he explained on Thursday night after day two of this year's budget debate had ended, as he enjoyed a strong cuppa in his modest office (a contrast to Speaker's House, which is palatial).
On Wednesday he had watched the morning's proceedings – cabinet office question time followed by PMQs from noon to 12.30pm – on his office TV before strolling round the corner with the ways and means clerk, Sara Howe, to be ready in the shadows "behind the Speaker's chair" – a space which has witnessed centuries of urgent intrigue – when his voice was called to take over.On Wednesday he had watched the morning's proceedings – cabinet office question time followed by PMQs from noon to 12.30pm – on his office TV before strolling round the corner with the ways and means clerk, Sara Howe, to be ready in the shadows "behind the Speaker's chair" – a space which has witnessed centuries of urgent intrigue – when his voice was called to take over.
Hoyle is particularly concerned that the Guardian spell Ms Howe's first name correctly. When you have been named Lindsay, these things matter. "Most people who meet me expect a woman – you can see the shock on their faces. But my father was cricket-mad," he says. It has been a lifelong cross but, as with the country song about a boy named Sue, it may have put some steel into an otherwise amiable man.Hoyle is particularly concerned that the Guardian spell Ms Howe's first name correctly. When you have been named Lindsay, these things matter. "Most people who meet me expect a woman – you can see the shock on their faces. But my father was cricket-mad," he says. It has been a lifelong cross but, as with the country song about a boy named Sue, it may have put some steel into an otherwise amiable man.
The cricket-mad father was Doug Hoyle, also a Labour MP, best remembered for the distinctly frosty night when he beat Roy Jenkins, the breakaway SDP's insurgent candidate, at the 1981 Warrington byelection, a seat he held until retirement in 1997. That night in 1981, Jenkins said not a word, but when Hoyle senior (now 82) became Lord Hoyle, Lord Jenkins sidled up and said, "It's time we had a drink."The cricket-mad father was Doug Hoyle, also a Labour MP, best remembered for the distinctly frosty night when he beat Roy Jenkins, the breakaway SDP's insurgent candidate, at the 1981 Warrington byelection, a seat he held until retirement in 1997. That night in 1981, Jenkins said not a word, but when Hoyle senior (now 82) became Lord Hoyle, Lord Jenkins sidled up and said, "It's time we had a drink."
As for the cricketer called Lindsay, fans of the game may guess that Hoyle Senior was mightily impressed by Lindsay Hassett, right-handed middle-order batsman and vice-captain of the 1948 Australian touring team that went undefeated in all 34 matches it played in England that summer.As for the cricketer called Lindsay, fans of the game may guess that Hoyle Senior was mightily impressed by Lindsay Hassett, right-handed middle-order batsman and vice-captain of the 1948 Australian touring team that went undefeated in all 34 matches it played in England that summer.
Nine years after that tour, Lindsay Harvey Hoyle was born in the villagey town of Adlington (pop 5,270), northwest of Bolton in the swing seat – Tory, then Labour, then back again – that he has represented since 1997, when he turned out Den Dover, MP since Margaret Thatcher's ascendancy in 1979. With a majority down from its 2001 peak of 17.6% to 2,593 votes (5.2%) in 2010, Hoyle knows it took luck, local reputation and good organisation to survive.Nine years after that tour, Lindsay Harvey Hoyle was born in the villagey town of Adlington (pop 5,270), northwest of Bolton in the swing seat – Tory, then Labour, then back again – that he has represented since 1997, when he turned out Den Dover, MP since Margaret Thatcher's ascendancy in 1979. With a majority down from its 2001 peak of 17.6% to 2,593 votes (5.2%) in 2010, Hoyle knows it took luck, local reputation and good organisation to survive.
"We broke the trend, thankfully, and held the seat," he admits. But organisational skills and likability have always shaped Hoyle's career. Raised in a political family, he "drifted off" for a time, but found at 22 that Labour needed a token candidate in Aldington's Tory ward ("he'll not beat chairman of housing'') and won. He stayed on the council until 1997 – as deputy leader and mayor – and still talks passionately about local drives to involve young people in politics. "We can't afford to lose our youth, Labour or Tory – the country needs them.""We broke the trend, thankfully, and held the seat," he admits. But organisational skills and likability have always shaped Hoyle's career. Raised in a political family, he "drifted off" for a time, but found at 22 that Labour needed a token candidate in Aldington's Tory ward ("he'll not beat chairman of housing'') and won. He stayed on the council until 1997 – as deputy leader and mayor – and still talks passionately about local drives to involve young people in politics. "We can't afford to lose our youth, Labour or Tory – the country needs them."
The need to nurse a marginal seat where Labour's majority depends on votes from Tories and Lib Dems is partly responsible for shaping Hoyle's career as a backbencher. He is famous for doing a Christmas Day broadcast and tour from the local hospital, and rattles off the industrial makeup of modern Chorley, no longer cotton-dominated but still with a healthy share of high-end manufacturing – BAE Systems and its like. Local unemployment is around 3.7% and Chorley, with its 300 farms and old families, is quietly prosperous.The need to nurse a marginal seat where Labour's majority depends on votes from Tories and Lib Dems is partly responsible for shaping Hoyle's career as a backbencher. He is famous for doing a Christmas Day broadcast and tour from the local hospital, and rattles off the industrial makeup of modern Chorley, no longer cotton-dominated but still with a healthy share of high-end manufacturing – BAE Systems and its like. Local unemployment is around 3.7% and Chorley, with its 300 farms and old families, is quietly prosperous.
But constituency needs pushed Hoyle (he ran his own textile printing business before becoming an MP) towards a hands-on interest in the Commons trade and industry committee. When he was urged to become its chairman in 2010, he told friends that no, he'd realised that now three deputy speakers were to be elected (part of post-expenses scandal reforms), he had a chance. "With his avuncular air, he's well liked," confides a fellow MP. "He works hard, easily underestimated. He got all the candidates for Labour leader (in 2010) to endorse him," says a Lancashire reporter.But constituency needs pushed Hoyle (he ran his own textile printing business before becoming an MP) towards a hands-on interest in the Commons trade and industry committee. When he was urged to become its chairman in 2010, he told friends that no, he'd realised that now three deputy speakers were to be elected (part of post-expenses scandal reforms), he had a chance. "With his avuncular air, he's well liked," confides a fellow MP. "He works hard, easily underestimated. He got all the candidates for Labour leader (in 2010) to endorse him," says a Lancashire reporter.
The Speaker and his deputies are supposed to be champions of parliament and MPs, against the ever-bullying executive arm of government. Some do better than others. It helped that Tory MPs knew too that Hoyle's hopes of a ministerial career crashed early when he stood up to Tony Blair's ambition to cut a two-flags deal with Spain over Gibraltar, and won. There were other clashes, including student tuition fees. "I'm not anti-Tony; he made us electable and won three times. But there are principles and promises you don't break," he says now.The Speaker and his deputies are supposed to be champions of parliament and MPs, against the ever-bullying executive arm of government. Some do better than others. It helped that Tory MPs knew too that Hoyle's hopes of a ministerial career crashed early when he stood up to Tony Blair's ambition to cut a two-flags deal with Spain over Gibraltar, and won. There were other clashes, including student tuition fees. "I'm not anti-Tony; he made us electable and won three times. But there are principles and promises you don't break," he says now.
Twice married and father of two adult children, Hoyle calls himself a realist who enjoyed this week's press praise, but knows "it could be a bad day tomorrow". Though Bercow usually takes daily question time, his deputies rotate in and out of the Speaker's chair for most of the working day, for two or three hours at a time, when few voters are watching. He also chairs the chairman's panel of 38 backbenchers who chair bill committees and Westminster Hall debates. "I love my job," is all he says about the future.Twice married and father of two adult children, Hoyle calls himself a realist who enjoyed this week's press praise, but knows "it could be a bad day tomorrow". Though Bercow usually takes daily question time, his deputies rotate in and out of the Speaker's chair for most of the working day, for two or three hours at a time, when few voters are watching. He also chairs the chairman's panel of 38 backbenchers who chair bill committees and Westminster Hall debates. "I love my job," is all he says about the future.
But everyone knows that Bercow, a much more abrasive Commons chair than either Hoyle or his equally emollient Tory colleague, Nigel Evans, is not popular among Tory MPs. He will probably have to stand down during the next parliament. Westminster gossip says Hoyle and Evans, also a Lancashire MP, born five months after Hoyle in November 1957, are both manoeuvring to throw their hats in the ring.But everyone knows that Bercow, a much more abrasive Commons chair than either Hoyle or his equally emollient Tory colleague, Nigel Evans, is not popular among Tory MPs. He will probably have to stand down during the next parliament. Westminster gossip says Hoyle and Evans, also a Lancashire MP, born five months after Hoyle in November 1957, are both manoeuvring to throw their hats in the ring.
That may be why, while Bercow loves to bawl out an over-excited MP, or even the PM, Hoyle and Evans are more likely to have a quiet word with the MP's whip. Except on budget day, which requires showmanship. Obviously.That may be why, while Bercow loves to bawl out an over-excited MP, or even the PM, Hoyle and Evans are more likely to have a quiet word with the MP's whip. Except on budget day, which requires showmanship. Obviously.
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