This week, a historical influx of new members will be joining the House of Commons, marking an unprecedented entry with 335 individuals being introduced to parliament – surpassing the previous record set in 1945 and outnumbering even those who sought re-election after prior service.
In addition to these fresh faces, a total of 15 members will be returning to Parliament after an absence. The combined newcomers stand at 350 as recorded by the Commons library, dating back to records from 1922. This number significantly contrasts with the comparatively lower intake of 257 during the 1997 election.
The process leading up to the induction will see the appointment and subsequent oath-taking of a new Speaker by Tuesday, who is anticipated to be re-elected due to previous support from Labour's Lindsay Hoyle. Subsequently, MPs will begin their oath in accordance with seniority order, commencing with cabinet members before progressing through various levels within the parliamentary structure until Thursday concludes these proceedings.
Prior to induction, all incoming Members of Parliament were offered informative sessions on security protocols and operational procedures for office management, attended in large numbers by Labour's new MPs. The inaugural meeting of the newly formed Labour Party was addressed by Leader Keir Starmer who emphasized trust placed upon them while acknowledging their responsibility to fulfill this mandate.
Parliament is scheduled to formally commence on July 17th, with an initial address from the king laying out forthcoming government policies and legislative propositions for that session's agenda.
Amidst anticipation of a diverse parliamentary body, statistics reveal notable increases in representation across various demographics, including female MPs who now constitute 40.5% of seats in the Commons. This milestone also saw women occupying over half of all historical cabinet positions for the first time ever according to recent analysis by Fawcett Society and British Future thinktanks.
Within this new parliament, a record number of minority ethnic MPs have been elected, marking an increase from previous elections – another testament to its inclusive nature as observed through data provided by British Future.
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