Tory turmoil has made UK 'laughing stock' in 2022, says chair Lindsay Hoyle

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The 'bizarre' turmoil that has seen three Tory prime ministers in a matter of months has made Britain's democracy an international laughing stock, the Speaker of the House of Commons has said.

Sir Lindsay Hoyle said the country was "still struggling to recover" from the damage caused by the collapse of two governments in 2022.

The Commons Speaker told the BBC Radio 4 PM reports that the "revolving door" of changing ministers made him feel like the only point of "continuity" in parliament.

Asked whether the upheaval had made the UK a laughing stock, Sir Lindsay said: "It's true", before adding that it left people wondering "what was happening to our democracy".

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The Speaker of the House of Commons added: 'I think we are still struggling to recover.

Referring to the arrival of Liz Truss at No 10 in September , Sir Lindsay said: "A new Prime Minister arrives with what was supposed to be a new hope, a new vision, everything has fallen apart... When it's gone wrong, it's certainly gone wrong. "

He added; “It was like a revolving door of ministers, you know. Some took a job and then quit. I've never seen anything like it - it was weird. We never knew who was going to be at the dispatch box."

"The only thing that was the continuity of parliament was myself. You know, we were short on ministers," the speaker said, adding, "Nobody's ever seen anything like this before." but insisted he would still face a vote on whether he had misled Parliament on Partygate at the end of the Privileges Committee inquiry which is expected to begin early next year. Absolutely. And I don't want to predict that vote. And I certainly wouldn't object to what the House decided to do. That's not what I decide. That's what the House wants."

Sir Lindsay admitted that the Lords were "far too big", but criticized Sir Keir Starmer's plan to replace the scrap of the unelected chamber. 'Reform the House of Lords by all means, but not through an elected second chamber,' he said.

He also said Brexit played a major role in the "division of families"...