Who is the neutral presiding officer in the Commons?

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In the Commons, debates are run by someone who is expected to be entirely impartial, keeping order and applying the rules fairly to everyone. The Speaker fills this role. Elected by MPs, the Speaker typically renounces party membership and acts as an impartial referee, ruling on points of order, interpreting standing orders, and managing who can speak and when. This neutrality is what lets both government and opposition argue their cases without fear of bias influencing proceedings. The Speaker votes only to break ties, and even then the casting vote is used in a way that aims to maintain fairness and the House’s best interests rather than advance a party line. By contrast, the Clerk provides procedural and administrative support but does not chair debates; the Leader of the House is a government minister responsible for arranging business, and the Prime Minister is the head of government, not a presiding officer.