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Speaker's aide quits over story | Speaker's aide quits over story |
(about 2 hours later) | |
An aide for the Speaker of the House of Commons, Michael Martin, has resigned over the handling of a news story. | An aide for the Speaker of the House of Commons, Michael Martin, has resigned over the handling of a news story. |
Spokesman Mike Granatt says he was misled by Commons officials over a Mail on Sunday story about the Speaker's wife using taxis for shopping. | Spokesman Mike Granatt says he was misled by Commons officials over a Mail on Sunday story about the Speaker's wife using taxis for shopping. |
He said he quit for "ethical reasons" after "unwittingly" giving out the wrong information to a journalist. | |
It comes as Parliament's standards watchdog probes a complaint over Mr Martin's alleged use of air miles. | It comes as Parliament's standards watchdog probes a complaint over Mr Martin's alleged use of air miles. |
Mr Granatt is not saying he was misled by Mr Martin or the Speaker's wife Mary, it is understood. | |
"I have stepped down from my post for ethical reasons, because I misled a journalist unwittingly," he said. | |
'Embarrassing' | 'Embarrassing' |
At the end of last year, it was reported that Mr Martin's wife had claimed more than £4,000 in taxpayer-funded taxi expenses since May 2004. | |
At the time, Mr Granatt rebutted the story, saying the shopping trips had been for food for government-related functions, and Mrs Martin had been accompanied by an official at all times. | At the time, Mr Granatt rebutted the story, saying the shopping trips had been for food for government-related functions, and Mrs Martin had been accompanied by an official at all times. |
But Mr Granatt learned on Friday that the official was actually a housekeeper from the Speaker's household. | But Mr Granatt learned on Friday that the official was actually a housekeeper from the Speaker's household. |
"It's embarrassing and he's decided because he effectively misled a journalist over this, he's had to resign," said BBC political correspondent Ben Wright. | "It's embarrassing and he's decided because he effectively misled a journalist over this, he's had to resign," said BBC political correspondent Ben Wright. |
The resignation is the latest controversy to hit Mr Martin. | |
He has been accused of flying members of his family business-class from Glasgow to London for a New Year break, using air miles gained from official trips. | |
Mr Martin chairs the Commons Members Estimates Committee, which oversees MPs' expenses. | Mr Martin chairs the Commons Members Estimates Committee, which oversees MPs' expenses. |
He is heading a "root and branch" parliamentary inquiry into all aspects of MPs' expenses, in the wake of a furore over Tory MP Derek Conway's employment of his sons. | He is heading a "root and branch" parliamentary inquiry into all aspects of MPs' expenses, in the wake of a furore over Tory MP Derek Conway's employment of his sons. |