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Michael Martin took his seat in the Lords today following his resignation as Commons Speaker earlier this year.
He announced his intention to quit in May at the height of the expenses scandal that is still engulfing MPs.
Lord Martin of Springburn, the name of the Glasgow constituency he represented from 1979 to 2005, was supported while he made his oath by two Labour peers, the former Lord Chancellor Lord Falconer of Thoroton and Lord Foulkes of Cumnock, who was one of his most vocal supporters when he was Speaker.
The former Labour MP will join his predecessor as Speaker, Baroness Boothroyd, on the crossbenches.
Although by tradition Speakers are elevated to the Lords, the decision to grant Lord Martin's peerage proved controversial with some speculation the honour should be withheld.
When he was Speaker he was criticised for leading efforts to block the publication of MPs' expenses, since revealed by the Daily Telegraph, and for his handling of the affair once the revelations began.
He was the first Commons Speaker to be forced to resign in 300 years.
Reader views (9)
breaking news, batch of Peerages rejected by the Pound Shop because they are just too down-market.
- John, Llandudno, Wales, 13/10/2009 23:29
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They are supposed to clean up politics. Is this how they do it?.
If Mr Martin failed the country as a Speaker, then why would he do any better as a Lord?
- W.L., London, 13/10/2009 23:18
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Should that not be Ex-conman?
- Frank, Home Counties, England., 13/10/2009 22:42
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What a disgrace. Who else will Labour scrape up and dump in the Lords before we are rid of them ?
Better watch this guy and his expenses. I suppose he will charge for his house in Scotland while wasting time and our money in London.
- Michael, London, UK, 13/10/2009 21:27
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Abuse of the expense system does pay in the end...!
This country is an absolute, third-world cesspit...
- Scrappy-Doo, London, 13/10/2009 19:47
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In the finest of Parliamentary traditions, this failed Speaker takes his seat (and its attendant financial entitlements) thanks to the patronage of his former political masters.
At the same time, his former constituents remain without an MP, thanks to the same political masters.
Something is rotten in the state of Britain.
- John C, Leatherhead, UK, 13/10/2009 16:04
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Pass the sick bag please. Defies belief.
- Aylyn, 03189 Orihuela Costa, 13/10/2009 15:49
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...and Labour think the problem is hereditary peers!
- Mark, London, 13/10/2009 15:45
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He might well regret his decision to take his seat. The house of lords is the next parliamentary cesspit we tax payers want to see "flushed out".
- R.F.York, Yorks, UK, 13/10/2009 15:24
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