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Speaker faces fresh calls to quit over raid
Joe Murphy, Political Editor17 Apr 2009
COMMONS Speaker Michael Martin faces renewed pressure from MPs to quit over the police raid on Damian Green's office.
MPs will move to open a formal Commons inquiry into why detectives were allowed to go through an MP's confidential files without being challenged.
The inquiry was postponed in December during the police investigation, which ended with the decision by the Director of Public Prosecutions to bring no charges.
A bitter fight over the political balance of the inquiry committee is also expected — with Conservatives and Liberal Democrats threatening a boycott because Commons leader Harriet Harman wants it to have a Labour majority.
Her intervention sought to over-rule the Speaker, who originally proposed a body of seven “senior and experienced'' MPs who would be seen as unlikely to be nobbled by the Government whips.
Mr Martin is admired by many but his failure to
challenge the police raid on Mr Green's office badly damaged his cross-party support.
Reader views (4)
'Mr Martin is admired by many'!
Not outside the the Westminster Bubble in the real world he ain't.
Supposedly 'representing' one of Britain's poorest seats, why do his constituents repeatedly tolerate his avarice and arrogantly opulent lifestyle?
Presumably the majority must be continually 'off their heeds'!
- Dave, Cumbria, 18/04/2009 10:28
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I thought that after Betty Boothroyd, the Speaker should have been a Tory. Another example of the Labour party rigging things to give brown an easy ride!
- Chris, Brighton, England., 17/04/2009 15:45
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Gorbals Mick is a disgrace to democracy. What? Gorbals to resign? Ha! Ha! His mouth will ensure he does not need to lose his sumptious grace-and-favour home in the Palace of Westminster.
MISS PIGGY SMIFF would not get a job in my local fish shop.
Gormless Brown is getting battered (sic!) from all quarters for his gross ineptitude and spin.
Jackboot Straw is a devious legally qualified idiot.
What a gaggle of hypocrites there are supposedly running the country. In reality, the only thing they are all concerned about is precisely how much they can grab from the trough of taxpayer's cash by way of their obscene expenses claims.
Roll on the General Election. Or the Revolution. Whichever comes first.
The UK is a stinking tip of slease, spin and waffle emanating from every Government department.
- Reuben Camara, Morecambe UK, 17/04/2009 15:29
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Does anyone in their wildest dreams think that any of these leeches in Parliament will be got rid of? Faint hope! They will all hang on for grim death until the last millisecond of Nu Liebore's term of office in the spring of next year, in the meantime, stuffing their pockets with as much cash as they can, while they can. We, in the meantime, will be hounded for every penny we have to pay for them.
- Judith C, London, UK, 17/04/2009 15:22
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