John Bercow: I'm a tested Speaker for testing times
- Published
Re-elected Bercow dragged to Speaker's chair
John Bercow has been re-elected as Commons Speaker as MPs returned to Westminster after the general election.
Mr Bercow, who faced a no-confidence motion from MPs earlier this year, was elected unopposed and promised to be a "tested Speaker" in "testing times".
Congratulating him, Prime Minister Theresa May - who lost her Commons majority in the election - joked: "At least someone got a landslide."
Jeremy Corbyn got a standing ovation from Labour MPs as he took his seat.
Mr Corbyn - who defied the pollsters and gained 30 seats on Thursday - congratulated Mrs May on returning as prime minister, adding: "I am sure she will agree with me that democracy is a wonderful thing and can bring up some very unexpected results."
Labour MPs applauded Jeremy Corbyn as he took his seat
Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn chatted as they left the Commons
MPs were summoned to the House of Lords
Mr Corbyn poked fun at the Tories using two of their campaign catchphrases - predicting a "coalition of chaos" with the DUP and saying Labour was ready to offer "strong and stable leadership".
Each party took turns to speak, and they paid tribute to victims of the two terror attacks that took place during the election campaign as well as commiserating with MPs who lost their seats.
The DUP's Nigel Dodds - fresh from Downing Street talks with Theresa May about supporting her minority Tory government - predicted "interesting times ahead".
"I look forward to playing a full role in the proceedings of this Parliament over the course of the next five years," he said.
Mrs May welcomed "the most diverse and most representative Parliament in our history".
Before the Speaker election, the MPs were formally summoned to the House of Lords - with Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn walking side by side - before returning to the Commons.
Conservative MP Ken Clarke, the Father of the House, chaired proceedings as Mr Bercow spoke from the backbenches, saying he would be "honoured to serve" in the Speaker's chair again.
"I will strive to ensure that all parts of the House are heard fully and fairly," he said, promising to champion the right of backbenchers to hold the government to account.
He added: "We appear to be heading for testing times. I offer myself to the House as a tested speaker."
The election of the Speaker was the only business scheduled for the day, and there is uncertainty over the date of the Queen's Speech which will launch the next Parliamentary session.