Mother of the House (United Kingdom): Difference between revisions
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{{short description|Honorary position in the British parliament}} |
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{{Infobox official post |
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| post = Mother of the House |
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| body = |
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| insignia = |
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| insigniasize = |
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| insigniacaption = |
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| image = Official portrait of Ms Diane Abbott crop 2.jpg |
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| incumbent = [[Diane Abbott]] |
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| incumbentsince = 5 July 2024 |
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| department = [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom]] |
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| style = |
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| type = |
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| status = |
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| abbreviation = |
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| member_of = [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]] |
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| seat = |
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| formation = |
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| first = [[Harriet Harman]] |
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| website = |
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}} |
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'''Mother of the House''' is an honorific title given by tradition to the female [[Member of Parliament]] of the [[British House of Commons|House of Commons]] in the [[United Kingdom]] with the longest uninterrupted service.<ref name="Inews1">{{cite web | last=Morris | first=Nigel | title=Why Diane Abbott has been named 'Mother of the House', and what it means | website=inews.co.uk | date=5 July 2024 | url=https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/labour/diane-abbott-mother-house-election-3155194 | access-date=9 July 2024}}</ref> |
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Since 5 July 2024 the Mother of the House is [[Diane Abbott]]. |
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==History== |
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Although the term had been used previously<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hansard, Volume 596 |title=debated on Monday 18 May 2015, Column 6 |url=https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2015-05-18/debates/1505181000001/ElectionOfSpeaker |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=7 July 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Hansard, Volume 596 |title=debated on Monday 27 May 2015, Column 43 |url=https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2015-05-27/debates/15052710000004/DebateOnTheAddress |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=15 October 2021}}</ref>, the first use of the term in a ceremonial capacity was by [[Theresa May]] during the first sitting of the House following the [[2017 United Kingdom general election| 2017 General Election]]. In setting out the new tradition, Theresa May announced she was "breaking with tradition" by congratulating [[Harriet Harman]] as Mother of the House.<ref name="Metro1">{{cite web | last=Nagesh | first=Ashitha | title=Harriet Harman has become first ever 'Mother of the House' | website=Metro | date=13 June 2017 | url=https://metro.co.uk/2017/06/13/harriet-harman-has-become-first-ever-mother-of-the-house-6706051/ | access-date=9 July 2024}}</ref><ref name="Telegraph1">{{cite web | last=Malnick | first=Edward | title=One eye on the Speaker's seat, Harriet Harman sets out reform agenda | website=The Telegraph | date=26 May 2018 | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2018/05/26/one-eye-speakers-seat-harriet-harman-sets-reform-agenda/ | access-date=9 July 2024}}</ref> |
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The term was used to refer to Harman for the remainder of her Parliamentary career at which time Abbot was conferred as Mother of the House. <ref name="Telegraph1"/><ref name="Independent1">{{cite web | last=Pickover | first=Ella | title=Abbott hailed as ‘trailblazer’ as she becomes Mother of the House | website=The Independent | date=5 July 2024 | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/diane-abbott-mother-edward-leigh-house-of-commons-jeremy-corbyn-b2574775.html | access-date=9 July 2024}}</ref> |
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==Role== |
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Simular the title of [[Father of the House]] and [[Baby of the House]], the Mother of the House is not established by [[Standing orders in the Parliament of the United Kingdom|Standing Order]] but rather by convention.<ref name="HoC1">{{cite journal| vauthors=((Kelly, R., Priddy, S.)) |journal=House of Commons Library| title=Father of the House | date=17 December 2019 | url=https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/SN06399/SN06399.pdf}}</ref><ref name="Hansard1">{{Cite Hansard|jurisdiction=[[United Kingdom]] |title=Election of Speaker |
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|url=https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2017-06-13/debates/EC97CC8B-CEAB-4D1D-8AEE-12D83E9E0253/ElectionOfSpeakerhighlight=%22mother+of+the+house%22#contribution-5AB573EF-4C2D-47F0-8D98-A692D09A88EC ||house=[[United Kingdom House of Commons]] |date=13 June 2017 |speaker=[[Theresa May]] |position=Prime Minister of the United Kingdom}}</ref> |
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The title is bestowed on the female parliamentarian with the longest uninterrupted service as MP calculated by the date of the election. When two MPs have served for the same duration, it is calculated depending on the date and time on which they took the [[Oath of Allegiance (United Kingdom)|Oath of Allegiance]].<ref name="Hansard1"/><ref name="Independent1"/> |
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There is yet to be a female Member of Parliament who has sat longer than her male counterpart making the the Father of the House more senior. By custom the Father of the House conducts the Business of the House prior to the election of speaker.<ref name="Metro1"/> It is unclear whether this role would be carried out by the most senior member— or ''"Elder of the House"''— or whether the duty would remain with the Father of the House, even if more not as senior. <ref name="HoC1"/> |
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By tradition, in the opening remarks at the start of a new Parliament, the Mother of the House is the fourth member to speak after the [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister]], [[Leader of the Opposition (United Kingdom)|Leader of the Opposition]] and the Father of the House. The Mother of the House also swears or affirms their allegiance at the start of a new Parliament after the [[Speaker of the House of Commons (United Kingdom)| Speaker of the House]] and the Father of the House but before the Prime Minister and any other MPs.<ref name="HoC2">{{cite web | last=Kelly | first=Richard | title=What happens in the Commons after the general election? | website=House of Commons Library | date=3 July 2024 | url=https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/what-happens-in-the-commons-after-the-general-election/ | access-date=9 July 2024}}</ref> |
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==List of Mothers of the House== |
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{|class="wikitable" |
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|- |
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!|Name |
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!|Portrait |
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!Entered Parliament |
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!width=100pt|Qualifying date as Mother of the House |
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!Left House |
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!colspan=2|Party |
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!Constituency |
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|- |
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|[[Diane Abbott]]||[[file:Official portrait of Ms Diane Abbott crop 2.jpg|100px]]||1987||2024||Incumbent |
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| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}||[[Hackney North and Stoke Newington (UK Parliament constituency)|Hackney North and Stoke Newington]] |
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|- |
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|[[Harriet Harman]]||[[file:Official portrait of Ms Harriet Harman crop 2.jpg|100px]]||1985||2010||Incumbent |
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| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}||[[Peckham (UK Parliament constituency)|Peckham]] {{small|(1985–1997)}}</br>[[Camberwell and Peckham (UK Parliament constituency)|Camberwell and Peckham ]]{{small|(1997–2024)}} |
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|- |
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|} |
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== References == |
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<references /> |
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[[Category:House of Commons of the United Kingdom]] |
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[[Category:Members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom]] |
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[[Category:Senior legislators]] |
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[[Category:Lists of people by time in office]] |
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Revision as of 16:52, 9 July 2024
| Mother of the House | |
|---|---|
 | |
| House of Commons of the United Kingdom | |
| Member of | House of Commons |
| First holder | Harriet Harman |
Mother of the House (United Kingdom)
Mother of the House is an honorific title given by tradition to the female Member of Parliament of the House of Commons in the United Kingdom with the longest uninterrupted service.[1]
Since 5 July 2024 the Mother of the House is Diane Abbott.
History
Although the term had been used previously[2][3], the first use of the term in a ceremonial capacity was by Theresa May during the first sitting of the House following the 2017 General Election. In setting out the new tradition, Theresa May announced she was "breaking with tradition" by congratulating Harriet Harman as Mother of the House.[4][5]
The term was used to refer to Harman for the remainder of her Parliamentary career at which time Abbot was conferred as Mother of the House. [5][6]
Role
Simular the title of Father of the House and Baby of the House, the Mother of the House is not established by Standing Order but rather by convention.[7][8]
The title is bestowed on the female parliamentarian with the longest uninterrupted service as MP calculated by the date of the election. When two MPs have served for the same duration, it is calculated depending on the date and time on which they took the Oath of Allegiance.[8][6]
There is yet to be a female Member of Parliament who has sat longer than her male counterpart making the the Father of the House more senior. By custom the Father of the House conducts the Business of the House prior to the election of speaker.[4] It is unclear whether this role would be carried out by the most senior member— or "Elder of the House"— or whether the duty would remain with the Father of the House, even if more not as senior. [7]
By tradition, in the opening remarks at the start of a new Parliament, the Mother of the House is the fourth member to speak after the Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition and the Father of the House. The Mother of the House also swears or affirms their allegiance at the start of a new Parliament after the Speaker of the House and the Father of the House but before the Prime Minister and any other MPs.[9]
List of Mothers of the House
| Name | Portrait | Entered Parliament | Qualifying date as Mother of the House | Left House | Party | Constituency | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diane Abbott | |
1987 | 2024 | Incumbent | Labour | Hackney North and Stoke Newington | |
| Harriet Harman |  |
1985 | 2010 | Incumbent | Labour | Peckham (1985–1997) Camberwell and Peckham (1997–2024) | |
References
- ^ Morris, Nigel (5 July 2024). "Why Diane Abbott has been named 'Mother of the House', and what it means". inews.co.uk. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
- ^ Hansard, Volume 596. "debated on Monday 18 May 2015, Column 6". UK Parliament. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Hansard, Volume 596. "debated on Monday 27 May 2015, Column 43". UK Parliament. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ a b Nagesh, Ashitha (13 June 2017). "Harriet Harman has become first ever 'Mother of the House'". Metro. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
- ^ a b Malnick, Edward (26 May 2018). "One eye on the Speaker's seat, Harriet Harman sets out reform agenda". The Telegraph. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
- ^ a b Pickover, Ella (5 July 2024). "Abbott hailed as 'trailblazer' as she becomes Mother of the House". The Independent. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
- ^ a b Kelly, R., Priddy, S. (17 December 2019). "Father of the House" (PDF). House of Commons Library.
- ^ a b Theresa May, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (13 June 2017). "Election of Speaker". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). United Kingdom: United Kingdom House of Commons.
- ^ Kelly, Richard (3 July 2024). "What happens in the Commons after the general election?". House of Commons Library. Retrieved 9 July 2024.