Speaker's Conference (2024)

CommonsSelectest. 14 Oct 2024Email ↗● Actively Monitored
Sessions analysed7
Commitments15
Positions25
Recommendations26

Latest Signals

26 Feb 2025Nomination checks may need statutory reformAssociation of Electoral AdministratorsLegislative
[Speaker: Peter Stanyon] One of the key elements to it is that there is case law that requires returning officers to take at face value what is presented to them. [Speaker: Chair] Actually, I agree with that.
26 Feb 2025Loophole for independent candidates' addressesAssociation of Electoral AdministratorsConcern
26 Feb 2025Need clearer law on disorderly election meetingsCity of London PoliceLegislative
26 Feb 2025Abuse also builds between electionsElectoral CommissionConcern
26 Feb 2025Monitoring of disqualification orders is weakQueen Mary University of London / Mile End InstituteConcern
26 Feb 2025Abuse and intimidation at unacceptable levelsElectoral CommissionConcern
26 Feb 2025Police response is inconsistent across forcesCity of London PoliceConcern

Recent Sessions

View all (7)
09 Sept 2025Online Safety Act, MPs and platform abuse
6 pos3 concern2 rec
03 Sept 2025Ofcom on online abuse, algorithms and MPs
6 commit4 pos5 concern1 rec
09 Jul 2025Candidates security: X, Meta and online abuse
6 commit4 pos2 concern1 rec1 leg
02 Jul 2025Security of MPs and elections: police, CPS and sentencing
1 commit6 pos1 concern4 rec
04 Jun 2025Speaker’s security: abuse, media and education
3 pos4 concern5 rec2 leg

Recent Commitments

View all (15)

Recent Recommendations

View all (26)

Frequent Witnesses

Home Office2× · 7 insights
Ofcom1× · 16 insights
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology1× · 11 insights
Electoral Commission1× · 8 insights
Crown Prosecution Service1× · 6 insights
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government1× · 5 insights

About this committee

Speaker's Conference examines matters of procedure, privilege, and the conduct of business in the House of Commons, drawing on evidence from parliamentary officials, external regulators, and affected parties. The Conference operates as a select committee of the Commons and conducts formal oral evidence sessions to inform its recommendations. In 2025 it has focused on the enforcement mechanisms within the Online Safety Act, hearing from the Social Issues Trust on how provisions are applied in practice. The committee also examined Ofcom's role in implementing the Act alongside its new remit to protect MPs' safety online, reflecting growing concerns about digital threats to parliamentary business. Recent sessions with representatives from X and Meta explored how social media platforms manage harmful content during elections, while a separate inquiry scrutinised proposals to centralise investigations into threats against MPs, seeking to strengthen parliamentary security infrastructure.