29th August 2011 Ottawa, Canada

New Speaker of the House of Commons

Last week I met the new Speaker of the Canadian House of Commons, the Honourable Andrew Scheer. He’s the youngest Speaker in Canadian history, but as a former Deputy Speaker he brings experience to the job, and is set to acquire a great deal more.

It was fascinating to talk about the Commons in both our countries. Since we met, a great Canadian parliamentarian has died, but Jack Layton’s memory and achievement will live on, not just in the memory of people and parliamentarians who knew him personally, but in the collective memory of the great institution over which Mr Scheer now presides.