Tens of millions of people will exercise their right to vote as the general election on Thursday. Across the UK candidates from the main political parties, independents and other groups will stand in 650 constituencies in a bid to be voted in as MP.
However, there is one UK constituency where there will be no candidates standing from any of the major parties, including Labour, Conservative and Liberal Democrats. Ahead of the election Chorley, in Lancashire, was the constituency of Speaker of the House of Common Sir Lindsay Hoyle.
Sir Lindsay was elected to represent the area as a Labour MP in 1997 and in 2019 was elected Speaker, after the previous post holder John Bercow resigned.
READ MORE: All the Greater Manchester election candidates standing in the general election 2024
Following the convention that the Speaker’s post is strictly non-partisan, Sir Lindsay rescinded his Labour membership after being elected as Speaker.
It is considered essential they be seen as an impartial presiding officer and in the House of Commons, the speaker does not vote on any motion, except to resolve ties.
The speaker will customarily seek re-election at a general election not under a party label – being entitled to describe themselves on the ballot as ‘The Speaker seeking re-election’.
There is also an inconsistently followed convention, which is mostly kept by the major parties, not to oppose the Speaker at elections.
While the main political parties will not rival Sir Lindsay on the polling card, he is not standing unopposed – and there are other independent candidates and representatives from some of the UK political groups standing. Here are the current list of candidates standing in Chorley:
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Mark Tebbutt (Green)
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Ben Holden-Crowther (Chorley)
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Graham Moore (ECP)
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Sir Lindsay Hoyle (Speaker)
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Martin Powell-Davies (TUSC)
Chorley, which borders Greater Manchester, includes the wards of Adlington and Anderton; Buckshaw and Whittle; Chorley East; Chorley North and Astley; Chorley North East; Chorley North West; Chorley South East and Heath Charnock; Chorley South West; Clayton East, Brindle and Hoghton; Clayton West and Cuerden; Coppull and Euxton.
The shock summer general election was called by Rishi Sunak on May 22, with elections taking place in all 650 seats across the UK. Since the 2019 general election major boundary changes affecting 90% of Parliamentary constituencies have come into force.
Ahead of the election, a Conservative government had been in power in Parliament since 2010.
Polls will close in the general election 2024 at 10pm on Thursday, July 4, with counts taking place overnight. Results from across the UK are expected in the early hours of Friday morning.
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