A NORTH-East MP has failed in her bid to be elected to a senior Parliamentary position.

Roberta Blackman-Woods MP was one of four candidates to go before a secret ballot of MPs for three posts of deputy speaker of the House of Commons.

The results, announced by Speaker John Bercow, saw the City of Durham MP defeated by Labour’s former chief whip Dame Rosie Winterton and party colleague Lindsay Hoyle, who has held the position since 2010.

Conservative Eleanor Laing was also returned to the deputy speaker role, which she has held since 2013, unopposed as the sole Tory candidate.

Mr Bercow said: “I congratulate all three colleagues who have been elected and I greatly look forward to working with them.”