Speaker Hoyle and the strange politics of human resources
A concern with MPs’ well-being scuppers a crucial debate
Speaker of the House of Commons is unlike any corporate job. Since its creation in 1377 several occupants have been beheaded by the monarch, not a fate likely to befall a Unilever executive. The benefits package includes the use of a small palace overlooking the Thames, a portrait and a set of frilly robes. The job itself is a strange hybrid. The speaker is a kind of general counsel, issuing rulings according to precedent from his chair at the head of the chamber. He is also a chief executive, in charge of a sprawling Commons administration.
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This article appeared in the Britain section of the print edition under the headline “Lindsay Hoyle, chief people officer”
From the March 2nd 2024 edition
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