Crocodile tears as MPs praise Speaker they hounded out

As a packed chamber trotted out tributes to Michael Martin, he could certainly be forgiven for looking vengeful.

MPs decided to opt for the true meaning of "fulsome" ("insincere" rather than "full") as they applauded a man whom many of them had painted as the symbol of the rottenness at the heart of Parliament.

With the Speaker's constitutional funeral having taken place last month, today was the memorial service and backbenchers forced themselves to celebrate his good works.

Mr Martin himself appeared a ghostly presence as he began with a weak joke about his signature being in demand for bottles of Speaker's whisky that go for £150 on eBay.

"I wanted to help the Chancellor in stimulating the economy," he said, but as a lifelong teetotaller he couldn't directly help with sales of the tipple.

He read out a list of his tributes to his staff. As he stumbled over the text, at the point where he praised the "concentration and accuracy" of Hansard writers, his failings were clear to see.

But it was when he moved on to the serious business of MPs' expenses that the Speaker moved to exact his revenge.

He said he was "sorry" Parliament had been brought "to its lowest ebb", but pointed the finger at Gordon Brown, David Cameron and Nick Clegg - and many other MPs - for failing to reform expenses more than a year ago.

The Speaker said he had personally backed a reform plan, but "the response from this house was deeply disappointing". Barely half of MPs voted and those who did rejected changes that were now being embraced by all.

The Speaker caused a sharp intake of breath saying: "I wish party leaders had shown then some of the leadership they have shown now."

After his 24-minute address, the chamber broke into applause.

The Prime Minister led the tributes. With wannabe Speakers lining the gangways, it was clear Mr Martin's end had not deterred them.

Mr Cameron was generous in his tribute, but it was Mr Clegg, one of the chief assassins, whose praise rang most hollow.

Earlier, Lib-Dem MP Paul Burstow reminded the House this was "Elderly Abuse Week". "Those who commit the assaults go unpunished," he said, without irony. Today, Mr Martin, aged 63, struck back.