CHORLEY MP Sir Lindsay Hoyle says that it will be “business as usual” as far his constituents are concerned if he is elected as the next Speaker of the House of Commons.

The bookies’ favourite to replace John Bercow in the chair says it would be a boon for the borough if he got the top job – and denied that having to resign from the Labour Party and being unable to vote in the chamber would affect how he represented the area.

“I’ll be carrying out my role exactly as I do now – I want to put Chorley first and nothing will change on that,” said Sir Lindsay, speaking after a question and answer session with pupils at Trinity Church of England Primary in Buckshaw.

“As for party politics, most people think I just do what I want anyhow – if I thought the Labour government was wrong, I would be the person that said so.

“Chorley is my home and my constituency – and the people of Chorley matter. And it’s amazing how many people here have been stopping me and asking, ‘When are you going to take over?’   That’s what has inspired me.”

One of three current deputy speakers, Sir Lindsay believes that he would be the first person in the top job to herald from Lancashire – although he stresses that he is a “long way” from that point at this early stage in the campaign.

“[I would be] a Chorley lad who had made it all the way to the top – it would put Chorley on the map and hopefully open even more doors for the area.”

Sir Lindsay says that if the election for Speaker comes before the next general election, he “would have thought” that he would be unopposed in his seat by the main political parties when the nation goes to the polls, as is traditionally the case.

The Conservative Party recently made clear that it was going to break with that convention if John Bercow – a former Tory MP – were still in the chair at the time. He has said that he will stand down on October 31 or at the next general election – whichever is sooner.

Sir Lindsay, who has represented Chorley since 1997, was previously the youngest ever councillor to be elected in the borough, at the age of 22 back in 1980.

He claims that he has “a different style” to the outgoing Commons Speaker, who has attracted criticism in some quarters for his interventions, particularly in relation to Brexit.

“People have seen how I operate. My style will be about neutrality in the chair, reaching out to all parts of the chamber and making sure that all MPs have the same voice.

“I would show MPs the respect they deserve,” added Sir Lindsay, who says he will be spending the coming weeks “listening to the electorate” of 650 MPs who will ultimately decide whether this deputy becomes the top dog.