A new portrait of the Lord Speaker, Lord McFall of Alcluith, was unveiled in the Sovereign’s Robing Room in the House of Lords and then moved to the Royal Gallery in June 2025. 

The portrait by noted Scottish painter Stephen Conroy was commissioned by the House of Lords in 2024 and completed earlier in 2025. It depicts Lord McFall in his Chamber dress carrying his gown, representing both his role as Lord Speaker and his work as a teacher prior to joining Parliament. He stands in front of a painting, ‘View of the Clyde’, by John Knox (painted around 1820). This shows the Scottish constituencies which John McFall served as an MP between 1987 and 2010. ‘Alcluith’ – Lord McFall’s chosen title – means ‘Rock on the Clyde’.  

Lord McFall 

Lord McFall of Alcluith was elected Lord Speaker of the House of Lords in 2021. In this role, he oversees proceedings in the Chamber, chairs the House of Lords Commission and promotes the work of the House of Lords. He entered the House of Lords in 2010 and served as Senior Deputy Speaker from 2016-2021.  

McFall first entered Parliament in 1987 as the Labour MP for Dumbarton, and later West Dunbartonshire. During his time as an MP (1987-2010), he served as a Minister in the Northern Ireland Office, chair of the Commons Treasury Select Committee and as a Government Whip. 

In a speech at the unveiling, Lord McFall said: 

“It is humbling for me to consider that my likeness will shortly hang on the wall in this Palace. My hope is very simple – that when people see this portrait, they will stop and think. That they will reflect for a moment on what this man’s expression means – and where he came from, and what that means for the House of Lords.” 

The Artist 

Stephen Conroy is a Scottish painter who lives and works in Lord McFall’s former constituency. He is noted for his traditional drawing of elusive figures in formal poses, in both his paintings and his etchings and lithographs. 

His work is represented in many significant collections, including Aberdeen Art Gallery, Birmingham Art Gallery, the Scottish National Portrait Gallery, the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, the National Portrait Gallery, the British Museum, and the Victoria & Albert Museum. 

Find out more about the meaning of the portrait.

The portrait is on display in the Royal Gallery, House of Lords, until Autumn 2025, after which it will be displayed in a permanent location in the House of Lords. 

The House of Lords has commissioned a portrait of each Lord Speaker since the position was created in 2006, to mark their contribution to Parliament.