Brown puts his 'full confidence' in Martin

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The Prime Minister stepped in after two senior ministers refused to express confidence in Mr Martin.

"It's a very difficult job for the Speaker when these issues arise," Mr Brown said. "He's got to make a judgment based on his knowledge of what is happening."

In private, however, MPs said Mr Martin will be pressed to step down at the next election, denying him his wish of a further term. The Prime Minister's confidence will be some comfort to Mr Martin who last night was humiliated when Commons leader Harriet Harman repeatedly refused to endorse him.

Housing Minister and former foreign secretary Margaret Beckett also made clear he had made mistakes.

Ms Harman was asked repeatedly by Jeremy Paxman on Newsnight to say she had full confidence in Mr Martin and in the Serjeant at Arms, Jill Pay. But she replied: "I am not saying I have full confidence in anything or anybody."

Speaking this morning, Mrs Beckett said she did not blame Ms Harman for her cautious reply. "I don't blame Harriet for not wanting to be put in the position whereby she is somehow taking responsibility which is not hers."

However, Labour MP Stephen Pound - a friend of the Speaker - said of Ms Harman's attitude: "It's not collegiate or comradely but I'm sure she has her reasons."

Two Tory MPs, Richard Bacon and Douglas Carswell, have called on Mr Martin to quit because of the row over the raid on Tory MP Damian Green's Westminster office. Mr Bacon said the case showed Mr Martin had "failed in his fundamental duty".