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Queen clears way for Michael Martin peerage as MPs applaud his 'eminence'
Nicholas Cecil, Chief Political Correspondent30.06.09
The Queen has paved the way for a peerage for Michael Martin despite him being the first Commons Speaker to be ousted for more than 300 years.
She has sent a message to Parliament that she wishes to confer on Mr Martin "some signal mark of her royal favour".
Her despatch came after MPs sent an address to Buckingham Palace praising Mr Martin for his "eminent services during the period in which he has, with such distinguished ability and dignity presided in the Chair of this House".
In fact, Mr Martin was humiliated and forced to fall on his own sword. He lost the confidence of many MPs after his handling of the expenses scandal and the police raid on the office of shadow immigration minister Damian Green.
He became the first Speaker to be ousted since Sir John Trevor was expelled from Parliament in March 1695 for accepting a bribe of 1,000 guineas from the Corporation of London. Former Tory chancellor Lord Lawson today criticised giving Mr Martin a peerage. "It's a great mistake. It's unfortunate," he said having previously accused the former Speaker of letting down the Commons and parliamentary democracy.
Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesman Lord Oakeshott warned Gordon Brown against elevating Mr Martin, especially after the controversy over bankers in crisis-hit institutions getting big bonuses. "This looks like automatic reward for failure," he said. However, some senior MPs believe Mr Martin, 63, has been "scapegoated" in the furore over MPs' expenses.
A senior Labour MP attacked those who had forced him out. "They could not abide the fact he was Scottish, working class and Catholic," he said.
Mr Martin argued that he sought to reform the Commons but was blocked in his efforts. By tradition, former Speakers are elevated to the Lords.
While the Palace correspondence does not specify Mr Martin will be ennobled, the same wording was used about a peerage for Betty Boothroyd.
Reader views (14)
LABLIBCON all need to hang their heads in shame - time to clean out the stables and start with a new parliament of Independant MPs
- Mike, london
It's about time this self serving bunch of crooks were cleaned out and this archaic system of government bought into the 21st century and made accountable to tax paying voters
- Gavin, Sydney Australia
Ludicrous! Makes a farce out of the political system in the UK. Rewarding an inept cretin like this. Disgusted.
- John K, Sunnyvale, CA
How can the man in the street ever take this bunch of gangsters seriously again? What an abomination! The same gang that drove him out now applaud him and then reward him. You couldn't make it up! What a tawdry and disgusting bunch they all are. It'll be a cold day in hell before I called him ‘Lord’ and I don’t think I’m alone. I'll call him alright but it won't be 'Lord'...
- Mel Barrows., Tenerife. Canary Islands.
Rewarding an uneducated 'dead beat drongo' from the Scottish Trade Union movement. This is a man who can barely read a written text. Only in the Labour Party would you have an MP less qualified than a ten year old child !!!!!
- Nick Holland, glasgow
Awards for failure...these idiots in Parliament need to get real jobs and understand how the real world works! If you fail in your job you are sacked - not rewarded, once again at the taxpayers expense. We need to get rid of the old boys club called the House of Lords.
- Mark, London
Martin may not have been the best Speaker, but when you look at others who have found their way into the Lords, he and his mediocrity will be in good company. I'm sure it won't be long until his mate Gordon will join him.
- Matt, London
Is it April 1st already?
- Nobby Clark, Perth, the Scottish one
Rewarded for failure - Not Ok for bankers but fine for an old labour lag who excelled in nothing but mediocrity
- John Lowe, london UK
It speaks volumes about the calibre of person awarded peerages. Michael Martin was completely inarticulate and clearly only semi-literate. His efforts at speaking were embarrassing and his attempts at reading printed matter abysmal. Furthermore, he was at the forefront of the attempts to deny publication of MPs fraudulent expenses. His elevation to the house of lords does nothing to inspire confidence in or respect for its members.
- R.F., Yorks, UK
He's already been given the order of the boot. That's more than enough.
- Ken, Brighton, East Sussex
Ah yes, those bloody hypocritical MPs, forcing Martin out and then having the gall to applaud him. No wonder MPs are derided and held in such deep contempt. Idiots - unlike the majority of the general public - just can't understand that Martin was forced out for a very good reason, so why should he be rewarded???
He should be living in shameful disgrace, WITHOUT the pension and WITHOUT being given a peerage.
Pity we the people can't have a referendum on it, but them we do live in a sham democracy, or rather demoNcracy.
- Fred, London
What a shame. A peerage for that non-entity.
- Dave Davies, Basingstoke, Hants
Her Maj is either completely out of touch with public opinion, or arrogantly disgarding it.
The enoblement of this incompetent shyster will be a gross insult to the public who campaigned for his removal.
- Keith Lonsdale, Doncaster
