UK Commons Speaker: Parliament must hold government to account, not protect it

In an exclusive interview with the Star during his visit to Nairobi, Hoyle said Parliament must give MPs the space to hold ministers to account

Speaker of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom Lindsay Hoyle during an interview with The Star at British High commission residence, Nairobi on October 2, 2026/ LEAH MUKANGAI

Britain’s House of Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle has defended Parliament’s role as a check on government, saying legislators must scrutinise the Executive rather than protect it.

“I am not there to represent the government. I am not there to protect the government. I am there to scrutinise the government,” Hoyle told The Star..

The Speaker also spoke about the need to rebuild trust in democratic institutions, engage young people in politics, protect parliamentarians from physical and online attacks and encourage citizens to use their vote.

Source: The Star