BRADFORD South MP Judith Cummins was today appointed as temporary Deputy Speaker in the House of Commons.

She was appointed by the Speaker of the House, Lindsey Hoyle MP, and the last time a temporary deputy was appointed was in 1972.

Due to an absence through Covid-19, Ms Cummins will serve in the post for a week before returning to her normal parliamentary duties.

She said “I am honoured to be chosen as a Deputy Speaker today. This is a very rare event, happening only twice in the 20th century.

"As the first MP from Bradford to be appointed to this role, I’m proud to make my mark in the history books for our city."

There are three Deputy Speakers who have the responsibility of taking the chair when the Speaker cannot.

The role was created in the middle of the 19th century to come up with a permanent solution to cover any absences of the Speaker - a role that Ms Cummins will now undertake this week.

Ms Cummins, who is a member of the Panel of Chairs, responsible for chairing Westminster Hall debates; general oversight of private bills, and the work of general committees, will abstain from voting this week as a result and has been paired with a Conservative MP.