Morning:
8°c
Speaker faces being forced out after raid
Joe Murphy, Political Editor01.12.08
Commons Speaker Michael Martin may be pressed to take early retirement because of the Damian Green affair, the Standard has learned.
Senior MPs say he should announce soon that he will stand down at the next election after permitting police to raid the office of an MP and sift through confidential files.
One said: "I think that in the light of what happened last week, there will be more such talk."
It was claimed today that Commons officials were told on Wednesday night, a day before the raid, that police were on their way. Serjeant at Arms Jill Pay was apparently told the Director of Public Prosecutions backed the raids and she consulted chief clerk Malcolm Jack who agreed.
They told Mr Martin on Thursday morning but he did not forbid it from taking place.
Tory Douglas Carswell said: "It is no good blaming this on Commons officials. The Speaker had the power to stop this and he should have done so."
Former Labour minister Denis MacShane said: "What I want him to say is that on reflection what happened should not have happened."
Mr Martin has promised a statement on the events but MPs have threatened a protest after the State Opening of Parliament on Wednesday.
Tory MP Richard Ottaway said: "He (Mr Martin) has certainly got some explaining to do."
Reader views (7)
Michael Martin is no longer seen as an independent Speaker, but rather a Labour/Trade Union politican.
- Andrew, London
Maybe if Mr Speaker, Michael Martin is forced to, or takes early retirement, then Brown and Pals can be somehow forced into an early Election in the Spring of 2009. There are bound to be further 'Politcal Banana skins' for our NULab Zanu Government to slide on!!
Better they go still with what little dignity they have left, than with their 'politcal backsides' hanging out for all the world to see.
- Uncle Vanya, Chelmsford England
The turkeys are in charge and as we all know turkeys - be they senior police officers,incompetent social worker heads,the Speaker of the House of Commons and all the other publicly funded gravy train client appointees of New Labour - are never going to vote for Christmas but instead will award themselves(and of course each other)generous severence packages combined with inflation proofed pensions paid for by the ever dwindling number of us still toiling in the private sector who can afford no such thing. Lets hope that Christmas arrives soon!
- Simon, London,England
He should go immediately, without further discussion.
Michael Martin is serial offender unworthy of the office of Speaker. Does anyone remember;
a) Mike Granatt quits over Martins deception about his expenses (February 2008)
b) Charlotte Every, Sir Nicholas Bevin and Roger Daw resign as his aides
c) Committee on Standards in Public life admonish the Speaker
- Manny Goldstein, London, UK
Nu Labor has done something stupid again. The individuals should be fired (they will not resign as they have no respect for themselves) and an election should be given to the people. That bunch has been un-elected for too long.
- Georgie, Islington, London
Every new revelation about this disgraceful and disastrous operation reveals the utter incompetence and stupidity of those who decided to arrest Damian Green and ransack his home and offices. If, as is inferred, the officers gained entry to hic Commons office under false pretences, there should be serious disciplinary action against those concerned. Perhaps their conduct should be the subject of criminal investigations. It becomes harder by the hour to imagine how any of the key personnel involved will retain their jobs. this is a scandal of truly epic proportions, which will, ironically, ne of great benefit to the Conservatives. The Met may regain some face by returning to Mr. Green the tools of his trade as well as his constituents' correspondence withour delay. There should also be an independent audit of their records to ensure they have not opened files on these constituents or recorded any details of their confidential business with their MP.
- Peter, Pirot, Serbia
So I should think: he's a sorry excuse of a man, let alone as a key figure in the elected House established precisely to protect the freedom of the public. I know Betty Boothroyd was a hard act to follow (not least of all because she could do the can-can and wear sequins) but Martin hasn't even bothered to try . . .
- Roz, Chamonix, France
