LONDON, Nov. 4 (Xinhua) -- British lawmakers are scheduled to elect a new speaker of the House of Commons later Monday to succeed John Bercow, who has been in the powerful post for 10 years.

Seven candidates are in the running, including ex-deputy Labour leader Harriet Harman and current deputy Speaker Lindsay Hoyle.

These candidates are expected to make short speeches at 1430 GMT on Monday before the position is put to a vote later in the day.

The speaker keeps order in the House of Commons debates and calls members of parliament to speak.

The vote took place at a time when major British political parties are preparing for the general election on Dec. 12.

Bercow, who began to run the daily business of the House of Commons in 2009 and kept lawmakers in line with robust cries of "Order", retired last week after a decade as the speaker.