Lord Speaker: A statement

The Lord Speaker, Lord McFall of Alcluith, made the following statement in the Chamber of the House of Lords on Thursday 16 October 2025:

“My Lords, before oral questions, I have a short statement to make.

“I have served as Lord Speaker since the House was kind enough to place its trust in me in 2021. As you may be aware, the election for my successor in the post is due to take place in July next year. However, for reasons I will explain, I wish to announce to you today that I will step down from my post a few months earlier than that.

“Some years ago, my wife Joan was diagnosed with Parkinson's. Since that time, I have combined my parliamentary work with my responsibilities at home. During this period – and indeed throughout my career –  the support of my wife has been essential to my service in Parliament. It was Joan who encouraged me to return to education and to become a teacher after I left school with no formal qualifications. She selflessly supported me in my work as MP for our hometown of Dumbarton as well as in this House. I have now taken the decision that I must in future spend the majority of my time at home supporting my wife.

“I have informed the Leader of the House that my final day in this post will be the First of February 2026. House officials will make the necessary preparations for an election to select my successor in time for an orderly handover.

“It has been the honour and privilege of my life to serve this House as its fourth Lord Speaker. In the remaining months of my tenure I will continue to do my utmost to fulfil my duties diligently.

“My Lords, my work has been made easier and more satisfying by the friendship and support I have enjoyed from so many of you across the whole House. I have been ably supported by the excellent and dedicated team of Deputy Speakers. I have benefited each and every day from the superb work of the staff of the House, in particular the exceptional team in my own office. I would like to express my deepest gratitude to all noble Lords and to the staff of the House for the unstinting support I have received.”

Notes to editors:

Following are details of Lord McFall's career and his work as Lord Speaker:

Political career:

• As John McFall, served as MP for Dumbarton (1987-2005) and West Dunbartonshire (2005-2010)
• Government whip (1997-98)
• Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1998-99)
• Chair of the House of Commons Treasury Select Committee (2001-10)
• Created a life peer as Lord McFall of Alcluith (2010). Served on the Parliamentary Commission on Banking Standards​, Economic Affairs Committee​ and EU Financial Affairs Sub-Committee
• Senior Deputy Speaker of the House of Lords (2016-21) – led a review of Committees; oversaw introduction of hybrid working during Covid-19 ; established a new Conduct Committee.
• Elected Lord Speaker (2021-present)

Lord McFall's priorities as Lord Speaker have included:

Communicating the work of the House

• Launched and hosted a regular video podcast series called Lord Speaker's Corner, which gave peers an opportunity to discuss in detail their careers, their experience and their work in the House. Recordings and clips of interviews have been viewed by hundreds of thousands of viewers.
• Delivered speeches to audiences including at the Hansard Society, London School of Economics, Institute for Government, RSA, University of Edinburgh Business School and University of Manchester to raise awareness of the work of the House and the expertise of its Members.
• Relaunched the Lord Speaker's Lecture series, hosting speakers including U.S. Surgeon General Dr Vivek Murthy, former Australian PM Julia Gillard and Supreme Court president Lord Reed of Allermuir.
• Engaged with the Learn With the Lords programme, including the reintroduction in-person school visits follow the Covid lockdowns, engaging thousands of pupils each year.
• Gave interviews to newspapers, broadcasters and podcasts to explain the contribution of the House of Lords to the UK's democratic system.
• Developed the social media presence of the Lord Speaker.

Improving relations between democratic institutions

• Became the first Lord Speaker to visit devolved parliaments and assemblies in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and the first Lord Speaker to address the Senate of the Republic of Ireland in Dublin.
• Established the Interparliamentary Forum as a mechanism for dialogue and co-operation between Members of the two Houses of the UK Parliament and the devolved legislatures of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
• Introduced familiarisation sessions for newly-elected MPs to help them inform themselves about the work of the Upper House.
• Undertook interparliamentary visits to Germany and France and welcomed Speakers of parliaments from around the world to Westminster, in order to foster mutual understanding and co-operation

 Progressing cultural and managerial change:

• As Chair of the House of Lords Commission, oversaw the implementation of recommendations of the 2021 External Management Review of the House of Lords and the provision of remote access to debates for peers with long-term disabilities, by extending arrangements first introduced for Covid lockdowns.
• Established the Lord Speaker's Members' Forum as a conduit for peers to discuss issues with the House Administration, as well as the Lord Speaker's Accessibility Forum focussing on accessibility issues.
• Established the Lord Speaker's Group on AI to consider issues relating to the use of artificial intelligence tools in the House of Lords.