John Bercow told Parliament his 10-year “tenure” was nearing its end, saying it had been his “greatest honour and privilege” to serve. If there is no early election in October, he said October 31 (the Brexit deadline) would be the “least disruptive and most democratic” date to stand down. Mr Bercow took the seat in 2009, succeeding the late Michael Martin.

Who will replace Bercow?

The Speaker is elected by MPs in a secret ballot.

Here is the list of seven candidates, with odds courtesy of Ladbrokes:

1. SIR LINDSAY HOYLE

• Odds: 4/5
• Party: Labour

Deputy Speaker, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, is widely expected to take over from Mr Bercow.

He announced he would be standing as a candidate on Monday night after Mr Bercow announced his intentions.

Sir Lindsay has been the Labour MP for Chorley in Lancashire since 1997.

He has received praise for his ability to handle MPS during debates, and was acclaimed for his handling of the 2017 Westminster terror attack, when he was in the Speaker’s chair.

2. HARRIET HARMAN

• Odds: 4/1
• Party: Labour

Ms Harman has been the Labour MP for Camberwell and Peckham since 1982.

She holds the record as the longest-ever continuously serving female MP in the House of Commons.

She has also served as Leader of the House of Commons and Chairman of the Labour Party and Shadow Deputy Prime Minister.

3. DAME ROSIE WINTERTON

• Odds: 8/1
• Party: Labour

Dame Rosie has been Labour MP for Doncaster since in 1997 and is the second Deputy Speaker.

She has served as Minister of State at the Department for Health, as well as a minister in the Department for Transport, Minister for Yorkshire and the Department for Work and Pensions minister.

She was caught up in the expenses row after being accused of using taxpayers money to soundproof the bedroom of her London flat.

4. CHRIS BRYANT

• Odds: 10/1
• Party: Labour

Mr Bryant has been the Labour MP for Rhondda since 2001 and is currently serving at the Chairman of the House Finance Committee.

He originally trained to be a vicar and, as a long-serving openly gay MP, was awarded Stonewall politician of the year in 2011.

5. DAME ELEANOR LAING

• Odds: 10/1
• Party: Conservative

Dame Eleanor has served as the Conservative MP for Epping Forest since in 1997, and is first Deputy Speaker.

She was also embroiled in the MP’s expenses scandal after it emerged she had avoided paying £180,000 capital gains tax on the sale of her second home.

6. SIR CHARLES WALKER

• Odds: 12/1
• Party: Conservative

Sir Charles has been the Conservative MP for Broxbourne in Hertfordshire since 2005, and is chairman of the procedure committee.

He is an ally of Bercow and a vice chairman of the powerful 1922 committee of Tory backbenchers.

7. FRANK FIELD

• Odds: 16/1
• Party: Independent, formerly Labour

Mr Field has been MP for Birkenhead since 1979, serving as Labour MP until August 2018, when he sided with the Government over Brexit and accused Labour of becoming increasingly “racist”.

He is the chairman of the Work and Pensions committee.

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