RIBBLE Valley MP Nigel Evans is today bidding to return to a key role in Parliament.

The Conservative backbencher is standing to become one of three deputies to House of Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle.

Three such posts, which involve chairing Westminster debates, are up for election this afternoon.

Mr Evans was a Deputy Speaker from 2010 to 2103, when he stood down after being charged with sexual offences of which he was later acquitted by a jury.

One of the posts is guaranteed to Labour's Dame Rosie Winterton with five Tory MPs standing for the other two which include 'senior deputy speaker' and 'chairman of ways and means' who takes charge of the Chancellor's Budget statement and the following debate.

Mr Evans, a close friend of Chorley Labour MP Sir Lindsay, said: "I am standing as Deputy Speaker today.

"I am aiming to reunite the effective teamwork of Sir Lindsay Hoyle and myself and working to restore trust in our amazing Parliamentary democracy."