John Bercow MP has been elected Speaker of the House of Commons to succeed Michael Martin who resigned from the post in June as a result of a lack of parliamentary and public confidence arising from the expenses scandal.  He was the first Speaker to be forced out of office for over 300 years.

Bercow was elected on the third ballot of a secret ballot, the first time such a sytem has been used for the election of a Speaker.   The final round of the ballot was between Bercow and Sir George Young MP.  John Bercow led in all three rounds of the ballot.

The Speaker receives a salary of £72,862 per annum.

The final vote in the third ballot was

• John Bercow MP            322 votes
• Sir George Young MP   271 votes