Today Programme
BBC Radio 4

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Lib Dem deputy leader Ed Davey says cancelling Brexit will give the country £50bn to spend on public services over the next five years because the UK will have a larger economy if it stays in the EU.

"Because we're in the customs union, the single market, the economy will grow," he tells BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

"And with economic growth comes extra tax revenue because people will be earning more so they will automatically pay more tax. Businesses will be doing better."

Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of the day’s politics.

The Lib Dems are launching their election campaign this morning, with leader Jo Swinson saying stopping Brexit will deliver a £50bn “Remain bonus” for public services over the next five years.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn will also make a speech, accusing the prime minister of trying to “hijack Brexit to sell out our NHS” and pledging to “get Brexit sorted” within six months if he is voted into No 10.

Meanwhile, in a letter on Monday night, external, Boris Johnson called on Mr Corbyn to "come clean" on his Brexit proposals, claiming Labour's current position was "to go back to square one".

SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon will also be focusing on Brexit, as she campaigns alongside the party's general election candidate in Midlothian.

Image source, Parliament TV

That brings an end to our live coverage of all things Westminster for today.

Sir Lindsay Hoyle has been voted in as John Bercow's successor as Speaker of the House of Commons after beating six other candidates in today's secret ballots held by MPs.

In the fourth and final round he beat his only remaining opponent, Chris Bryant, by 325 votes to 213.

Later tonight, Black Rod will come to collect MPs and they will head to the House of Lords, for the Queen's royal approbation.

Approbation involves royal commissioners accepting the Speaker-elect on behalf of the Queen.

At that moment, the Speaker-elect will become the Speaker.

Other political developments today include:

• A report on alleged Russian interference in UK democracy will not be published until after the election
• Facebook removes an advert from a tax campaign group for breaking its rules on political advertising
• A Labour candidate apologises for saying she would "celebrate" the deaths of world leaders, including Tony Blair
• Health bosses warn election candidates not to use the NHS as "a political weapon" in the election campaign

Thanks for joining us.

Image source, Parliament TV

Nigel Dodds, leader of the DUP in Westminster, wishes the new Speaker well - paying tribute to his strength of character in the wake of his daughter's death.

"You've come through it all the stronger and much admired," Mr Dodds says.

"You've been a good friend not just when you were seeking votes, but long before that as well," the DUP MP adds.

Image source, Parliament TV

MPs are taking it in turns to congratulate Sir Lindsay and lay out what they expect from him during his tenure.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and SNP MP Patrick Grady came after Mr Johnson, followed by Jo Swinson, Leader of the Liberal Democrats.

She says it's "hugely important" for the Speaker-elect to focus on the health and wellbeing of MPs and other members of staff - as he pledged in his election campaign.

"You take the chair at a time of great challenge for our democracy," she adds, referencing a need to "stamp out bullying" in Westminster.

Sir Lindsay Hoyle was elected by MPs after four rounds of voting.

Mark D'Arcy
Parliamentary Correspondent

Image source, UK PARLIAMENT/ JESSICA TAYLOR

"A kind of embodiment of the British constitution," one Westminster savant told me, the sort of politician who has been marinated in parliamentary practice so long they have an instinctive feel for its unwritten rules and unspoken conventions.

To him, Lindsay Hoyle is a classic example of the political operator turned constitutional fixture.

His father was an MP (and is now a Labour Peer) and he served as a councillor in his home seat of Chorley in Lancashire, becoming deputy leader, before moving to Parliament in 1997.

This is a man steeped in politics.

And that shows through in other ways.

Read the full story here.

Image source, Parliament TV

Mr Johnson congratulates Sir Lindsay in beating a "strong field" of candidates.

He says the new Speaker has "many good qualities" and will "stick up for backbenchers" while bringing his "signature kindness to proceedings".

"I will be neutral, I will be transparent," Sir Lindsay continues.

"This house will change, but it will change for the better," he says.

He enthusiastically calls Prime Minister Boris Johnson to the floor before sitting on his seat for the first time.

Image source, Lindsay Hoyle

A tearful Sir Lindsay tells the House he wishes his late daughter could have seen him elected.

"There's one difficult part I want to get over - there is one person who is not here," he tells MPs.

"My daughter Natalie, I wish you'd have been here. She was everything to all of us. She will always be missed but she will always be in our thoughts.

Natalie Lewis-Hoyle, 28, died in December 2017.

Sir Lindsay thanks all candidates who stood against him, saying any one of them would have made a good Speaker.

"I hope this House will be once [again] a great respected house - not just in here, but across the world," he adds.

"We've got to make sure that tarnish is polished away."

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, Parliament TV

Ken Clarke immediately tabled the motion to elect Sir Lindsay.

He didn't need to take a vote - there was a roar of ayes and a definitive silence when he called for any noes.

So Sir Lindsay is elected as Speaker.

He's been dragged to the chair (a Parliamentary tradition) and is now making an acceptance speech.

Image source, UK Parliament

The results of the fourth and final ballot in the Speaker election are in.

The front-runner, Labour MP Sir Lindsay Hoyle, has beaten his Labour colleague Chris Bryant and won the overall contest.

The votes are as follows:

Sir Lindsay Hoyle – 325

Chris Bryant – 213

There were 540 votes cast in total. Two ballots were spoiled.

Now that Sir Lindsay has been named, a motion will be put to the Commons proposing him as Speaker.

He will take the chair if this is agreed. If not, another vote will take place.

Image source, Parliament TV

The House of Commons will shortly be announcing who will be the 159th Speaker.

It's between two Labour MPs, Chris Bryant and Lindsay Hoyle.

Image source, UK Parliament

The role of the Speaker has come under increasing scrutiny over the past few years - and Mr Bercow has been both praised for boosting the influence of backbench MPs and criticised for stretching parliamentary rules.

The Speaker is responsible for choosing which amendments can be voted on - a power that has proved particularly significant in the Brexit process.

He is also in charge of upholding parliamentary rules, and Mr Bercow twice angered some MPs by refusing to allow the government to hold another vote on an already rejected Brexit deal.

The Speaker can also permit MPs to ask urgent questions whereby government ministers are summoned to the House of Commons over a time-sensitive or important matter.

During his years in the role, Mr Bercow dramatically increased the number of urgent questions asked.

Find out more about who the Speaker is and why they are important.

Rory Cellan-Jones
Technology correspondent

Image source, FACEBOOK/BBC

Facebook has removed an advert from a tax campaign group for breaking its rules on political advertising.

The Fair Tax Campaign has been running an ad with the message "could you afford an extra £214 each month?"

It claims that this is what Labour's tax plans would mean for everyone.

Shadow chancellor John McDonnell this weekend said that if it won the election, the party only planned to increase income tax for the top 5% of earners to help fund increased public spending.

"In terms of income tax, we've said very clearly the top 5% will pay a bit more, 95% of the earners will be protected," he told the BBC.

Read our full story here.

Image source, Parliament TV

To kick off the Speaker contest earlier this afternoon, all seven candidates made a short speech.

Here's what the two remaining candidates had to say:

Chris Bryant

The Labour MP said many people think Parliament in recent times has become a "bit of a bear pit".

He pledged to be a Speaker that will "return to the rule book" and not have "favourites". The role, he said, requires being an "umpire, not a player".

He said he wants to make sure Prime Minister's Questions takes no more than 30 mins - and to bring an end to the recent tradition of clapping in the chamber.

MPs should wave their order papers instead, he added.

Sir Lindsay Hoyle

The current deputy speaker said it is important to ensure MPs have the right to question ministers.

The Labour MP said this was what he hopes he has achieved in his nine years as a deputy, and can continue to do if he is elected Speaker.

He promised to be a Speaker who is "trusted", and will end the "pecking order" regarding which MPs are called to speak during debates.

He also said he wants to finish a job he has started, to improve safety for MPs and staff who work on the parliamentary estate.

House of Commons
Parliament

Ken Clarke has suspended the House of Commons as the votes are counted to determine who will succeed John Bercow as Speaker.

Mr Clarke says the winner will be announced at about 20:20 GMT... ish.