Speakers through the ages

1742: In the House of Lords, George II (centre, back) receives the Speaker and other members of the House of Commons Photograph: Rischgitz/Hulton Archive

February 1881: Charles Stewart Parnell, the Irish nationalist politician, is removed from the Commons for obstruction, by order of the Speaker Photograph: Rischgitz/Hulton Archive/Getty

1955: William Shepherd Morrison, who was Speaker from 1951 to 1959, and went on to become governor general of Australia Photograph: Hulton Archive/Getty

1983: Bernard Weatherill, who was Speaker from 1983 to 1992 Photograph: PA

1995: Betty Boothroyd, Speaker from 1992 and 2000. She was the first female Speaker Photograph: Johansen Krause/Hulton Archive/Getty

July 2000: Boothroyd marking her retirement as Speaker with a valedictory speech to MPs Photograph: PA

February 2002: Michael Martin, the first Catholic Speaker. He was Speaker from 2000 until 2009 Photograph: PA

October 2007: Martin talks with Gordon Brown before the unveiling of a statue in Parliament Square. Martin became the first Speaker to be forced out of office for 300 years when he stepped down over his handling of the MPs' expenses crisis yesterday Photograph: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images

December 2008: Martin walks through the members' lobby towards the House of Commons before the state opening of parliament Photograph: Martin Argles

June 2009: The new Speaker of the Commons, John Bercow, who was elected by MPs yesterday. It was the first time MPs used a secret ballot Photograph: Getty Images

Bercow addressing MPs from the Speaker's chair for the first time yesterday. He is the first Jewish Speaker Photograph: PA Wire/PA