Caroline Nokes, MP for Romsey and Southampton North, has been elected as a deputy speaker in the House of Commons.

Together with Nusrat Ghani, the election marks the first occasion that Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle has a diverse, all-female line-up.

Ms Nokes and Ghani, alongside Judith Cummins, attained the posts of Chairman of Ways and Means, and First and Second Deputies, through a secret MP ballot.

Ms Nokes, having been in the Commons since 2010, chaired the Women and Equalities Committee in the recent Parliament and served as a Home Office Minister.

Sir Lindsay said: "This Parliament is breaking more glass ceilings than ever before, with the biggest number of women MPs ever – and now an all-female team of Deputies.

"All three MPs are incredible politicians who are well-respected by this House, and I am looking forward to working with them."

All Deputy Speakers help the Speaker with his duties and take over when needed.

The main Deputy Speaker is the Chairman of Ways and Means, chosen from the opposite party to the Speaker.

Traditionally, this Deputy Speaker leads the Budget debate, selects amendments during Committee of the whole House, and manages business in Westminster Hall, the parallel chamber of the House of Commons.

The Chairman of Ways and Means also leads the Panel of Chairs, which handles Public Bill Committees and other General Committees, as well as debates in Westminster Hall.

Once elected, Deputy Speakers serve until the next general election, unless they resign or stop being MPs, and they step back from active political roles.