Ananova:

Labour former minister Baroness Hayman has been elected as the first Lord Speaker of the House of Lords.

Mother of four ex-MP Helene Hayman took her seat on the Woolsack after the result of the election was announced at the start of the day's business.

Labour backbenchers roared their approval as her name was announced by the clerk, but there were also shouts of disapproval and "order order" from the Tory benches as Lady Hayman's supporters clapped loudly as she marched up to the Woolsack.

A beaming Lord Chancellor, Lord Falconer of Thoroton, leapt off the large red seat below the steps to the Throne and handed over to the new Lord Speaker.

He then, with an almost audible sigh of relief, whipped off his gown and wig and handed them to an official before joining his colleagues on the Government front bench, in his capacity as Constitutional Affairs Secretary.

The ending of the centuries-old role as Lords Speaker for the Lord Chancellor came with remarkably little ceremony.

Although the Lords Chamber was packed and crowds filled the Lords lobby to watch the final Lord Chancellor's procession, the only difference to the usual formalities was the appearance of the Lord Chamberlain Lord Luce sitting on the Government front bench.

After confirmation that Lady Hayman - who now gets a salary and expenses package of around £140,000 per annum - is to be the new Lord Speaker, Lord Luce rose to tell peers that the Queen supported this move.

He told them: "My Lords I have the honour to notify your lordships that Her Majesty the Queen, having been informed that your lordships have elected the Baroness Hayman to be Lord Speaker, has pleasure in confirming your lordships choice of her as your Speaker."