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MPs plot to oust Speaker after ‘disgraceful’ attack
Nicholas Cecil12 May 2009
Commons Speaker Michael Martin faced unprecedented criticism today as a plot to unseat him was launched at Westminster.
Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg accused Mr Martin, pictured, of a “spectacular misjudgment” yesterday for criticising MPs who have campaigned for greater openness on expenses.
Mr Clegg told the BBC: “I'm not going to start declaring his fate on breakfast television but I think he needs to learn the lessons of yesterday.”
Mr Clegg is to discuss Mr Martin's position with his senior MPs this morning. Tory backbencher Douglas Carswell said he is canvassing colleagues from all parties to join him in tabling a motion of no confidence to oust the Speaker.
Tory frontbencher Ben Wallace said: “I think it's time, he's failed at the job, he's got to go.” Lib-Dem MP Norman Baker, who was criticised in the Commons yesterday by Mr Martin, added: “The Speaker broke the golden rule and stopped being an umpire and started being a player.”
He branded “disgraceful” an attack by Mr Martin on Labour MP for Vauxhall Kate Hoey who questioned the decision by Commons chiefs to call in police to find the source of the leaked expenses. Today Ms Hoey said: “The role of the Speaker is to speak for the public and the integrity of Parliament.”
One of Mr Martin's allies, Lord Foulkes, defended him, saying he is reforming the expenses system.
Reader views (17)
Where is Betty Boothroyd when we need her?
- Anil Chatterjee, Manchester, 13/05/2009 11:30
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I believe that the comments printed accurately reflect the "mood" of the country. I particularly liked the "typo", "pot" excellent!
- Frank, BONCATH, WALES, 13/05/2009 08:33
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I'm not normally a fan of Kate Hoey, but she had every right to make the point she did, (or rather tried to make).
The Speaker had NO right to cut her short and totally abused his position to belittle her - I'm disappointed more MP's, of all sides, didn't press the issue there and then.
I was going to add more, but I see Manny Goldstein has already covered the main bases.
Outrageous behaviour. He needs to go, and frankly, he should have gone a long time ago - he's a disgrace.
- John T, London, 12/05/2009 23:22
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A vulgar uneducated grasping man is still the same whatever robes he wears - "fine feathers don't make fine birds".
- Judith C, London, England, 12/05/2009 21:11
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Speaker Martin is a joke, always has been and always will be.
The mole should be commended. Let Martin bring this to court. There would not be a jury in the land who would find the mole guilty. Instead what he did was in the public interest. In fact, this is exactly the test the Criminal Protection Service (CPS) use to decide if a case should be prosecuted, i.e. is it in the public interest? Answer clearly is an emphatic 'NO'.
- John Smythe, London, 12/05/2009 16:46
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The person who leaked the details of MPs expenses and started the process of cleaning out the Augean stables of allowances abuse did the country a great service. The Speaker should step down as his conduct has been less than honourable in this whole affair.
The expenditure of public money should be transparent and subject to full and open scrutiny to the last detail. When will Members of Parliament realise that it is OUR money that they are spending with such profligacy?
I would vote for anyone prepared to make a public declaration of their expenditure under the allowances system and provide an apology and full restitution of any improper spending. Show some moral fibre and step up to the line!
- Edward Thompson, Bedfordshire, 12/05/2009 16:16
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Kate Hoey is a dedicated MP who serves a difficult London constituency admirably. Mr Speaker is on the other hand wholly unsuited to his job. In a sane world he would be sacked and in the present Parliamentary crisis, MPs cannot afford to stand on ritual or ceremony or outmoded reverence. The House needs leadership from the Speaker and is not getting it, just as the country needs leadership that only an immediate election can bring. As a nation we are descending into farce and are becoming the laughing stock of the world. Brown need not fret over his legacy: that story has already been written and we need to move on and pot him behind us.
- James Elliott, Eastbourne UK, 12/05/2009 16:09
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Nice to see his halfwit pal lord foulkes giving him his support, the man is not very well liked in Scotland and was never voted to sit in Hollyrood as he is a list member only, just about sums him up.
- Alex., brighton, 12/05/2009 15:13
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What ever happened to the Cash for Honours enquiry? I suppose this great parliamentarian, the Mumbler of The House, gave it a Glasgow kiss. Another complete waste of public funds, along with his salary, his taxi-travelling wife, and his, whoops, sorry, OUR lavishly decorated and furnished house.
- .Grownup, London / UK, 12/05/2009 14:53
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Speakers traditionally step down from the Commons and take a seat in the Lords.
Definitely a No-No in the case of Martin ..... or so one would hope, if not expect.
On the other hand, good company awaits..Uddins, Moonie, Taylor, Snape, et al.
- John, Dorset, UK, 12/05/2009 13:40
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Yet more misjudgement from Broon as he commits his support to the speaker...
- St, London, 12/05/2009 12:48
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Why can't the Queen do something useful and dissolve parliament?
- Louise, London, 12/05/2009 12:14
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This bloated apology for a Speaker needs to be urgently investigated by the appropriate authorities for misfeasance in public office.
- Reuben Camara, Morecambe UK, 12/05/2009 11:20
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He has failed to understand his role as Speaker and ignored all offers of advice and assistance. His personal greed and abuse of the expenses system have embarrassed his Labour Party colleagues, undermined his authority as Speaker and bought the House into disrepute.
Any belief in his competence vanished with regard to the involvement of Metropolitan Police Service 'anti-terror' officers in the Damian Green affair.
The use of over STG 100,000 of public money in legal fees to prevent disclosure of MP's expenses was outrageous, and he now has the gall to blame Hoey and Baker for their role in responding to the concerns of the public.
Corrupt, incompetent, ignorant, a disgrace to the House of Commons and still lacking the political skill to heed both Members of the House and the public, is it any wonder why a vote of no confidence is looming?
- Manny Goldstein, London, UK, 12/05/2009 10:19
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HIS REMARKS TO KATE HOEY WERE OUTRAGEOUS. HIS HANDLING OF THE WHOLE EXPENSES RACKET APPALLING , AS THEIR HAS BEEN SOME CRITICISM OF HIS OWN EXPENSES CLAIMS HE SHOULD NOT BE INVOLVED INTO ANY ENQUIRY.
- Alan Green, Woodford Green, 12/05/2009 09:43
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This is a great chance to get rid of the worst Speaker in Commons history.
- Dave Davies, Basingstoke, 12/05/2009 09:04
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Of course Martin is on the side of vested interests. He is a one man vested interest.
I don't remember him ever inviting the police into Westminster to interview his wife.
- Democrat, London, 12/05/2009 08:41
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