Membership confirmed for Speaker's Conference on the Security of MPs, Candidates and Elections
19 December 2024
The membership of the Speaker’s Conference focusing on the threat levels against MPs and candidates, and the effectiveness of the response to such threats, has today been formally confirmed by the Speaker of the House of Commons.
- Speaker's Conference (2024)
- Inquiry: Speaker’s Conference on the security of candidates, MPs and elections
- Term of reference
- Submit evidence
Membership
- Chair: Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Speaker of the House of Commons
- Vice Chair: Jessica Morden (Labour, Newport East)
- Vice Chair: Sir Jeremy Wright (Con, Kenilworth and Southam)
- Clive Betts (Labour, Sheffield South East)
- Samantha Dixon (Labour, Chester North and Neston)
- Rupa Huq (Labour, Ealing Central and Acton)
- Leigh Ingham (Labour, Stafford)
- John Slinger (Labour, Rugby)
- Mark Tami (Labour, Alyn and Deeside)
- Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative, Huntington)
- Rebecca Paul (Conservative, Reigate)
- Zoe Franklin (Liberal Democrats, Guilford)
- Kirsty Blackman (SNP, Aberdeen North)
- Sammy Wilson (DUP, East Antrim)
- Lee Anderson (Reform, Ashfield)
About the Speaker’s Conference
The committee, which is to be known as the Speaker’s Conference, was established to help ensure that elections to the UK Parliament are conducted freely and fairly, without threats or violence; that candidates are able to campaign safely, with appropriate protection and support; and that elected representatives can do their job securely.
Specifically, the Conference will consider factors influencing the threat levels against MPs and candidates and the effectiveness of the response to these threats. It will make recommendations about the arrangements necessary to secure free and fair elections and the appropriate protection of candidates at future UK-wide parliamentary elections and of elected representatives thereafter.
The House of Commons approved the motion to establish the Conference on 14 October 2024. It has been established for the remainder of this Parliament.
Terms of reference and call for evidence
The terms of reference can be read here.
Hearing directly from MPs, MPs’ staff and candidates about their personal experiences will be central to the work of the Conference. It will publicise in due course how it plans to hear their views.
The Conference is inviting written evidence from external organisations on the following themes:
- Factors influencing threat levels against candidates and MPs
- Effectiveness of the response to such threats at the 2024 General Election
- Securing free and fair elections
- Threat reduction
Further details about the call for evidence are available on the Conference website.
How Speaker’s Conferences work
A Speaker's Conference is a cross-party group of MPs brought together by the Commons Speaker to consider a specific topic. The Speaker can call such a conference at any time, either independently or on the Prime Minister’s recommendation.
Speakers’ Conferences have similar powers to select committees and can request documents, call witnesses and take oral and written evidence. They are not bound to the procedures of select committees, however, and have the discretion to operate under the Speaker’s guidance.
Further information
Image: House of Commons