This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/7261227.stm
The article has changed 17 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 11 | Version 12 |
|---|---|
| Pressure grows on Commons Speaker | Pressure grows on Commons Speaker |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Speaker of the House of Commons Michael Martin is facing increasing pressure after a newspaper published details of allowance claims for his Scottish home. | Speaker of the House of Commons Michael Martin is facing increasing pressure after a newspaper published details of allowance claims for his Scottish home. |
| The Sunday Times story comes after Mr Martin's spokesman quit over issuing wrong information about expenses. | The Sunday Times story comes after Mr Martin's spokesman quit over issuing wrong information about expenses. |
| Former foreign secretary Margaret Beckett said someone was "out to get" him by telling "nasty little stories". | Former foreign secretary Margaret Beckett said someone was "out to get" him by telling "nasty little stories". |
| Ex-sleaze watchdog Sir Alistair Graham urged Mr Martin to hand his review of MPs' expenses to an independent body. | Ex-sleaze watchdog Sir Alistair Graham urged Mr Martin to hand his review of MPs' expenses to an independent body. |
| 'Credibility undermined' | 'Credibility undermined' |
| The Speaker, as chairman of the Commons Members Estimates Committee, is heading a "root and branch" parliamentary inquiry into all aspects of MPs' expenses. | The Speaker, as chairman of the Commons Members Estimates Committee, is heading a "root and branch" parliamentary inquiry into all aspects of MPs' expenses. |
| The rules are inappropriate and need radically reforming Sir Alistair Graham,former chairman of Committee for Standards in Public Life Profile: Michael Martin | The rules are inappropriate and need radically reforming Sir Alistair Graham,former chairman of Committee for Standards in Public Life Profile: Michael Martin |
| This was set up after revelations that Tory MP Derek Conway had made payments worth £40,000 to his son for work as a parliamentary researcher while he was a student at Newcastle University. | This was set up after revelations that Tory MP Derek Conway had made payments worth £40,000 to his son for work as a parliamentary researcher while he was a student at Newcastle University. |
| Mr Conway has lost the Conservative Party whip and is to stand down as an MP at the next general election. | Mr Conway has lost the Conservative Party whip and is to stand down as an MP at the next general election. |
| But Sir Alistair, former chairman of the Committee for Standards in Public Life, told the BBC: "It's unfortunate and really does undermine the credibility of this review that he [Mr Martin] himself has become part of this story, although it's clear that he hasn't broken any rules. | But Sir Alistair, former chairman of the Committee for Standards in Public Life, told the BBC: "It's unfortunate and really does undermine the credibility of this review that he [Mr Martin] himself has become part of this story, although it's clear that he hasn't broken any rules. |
| "But it does suggest the rules are inappropriate and need radically reforming." | "But it does suggest the rules are inappropriate and need radically reforming." |
| He added: "The rules are wrong in my view. There clearly is scope for abuse on things like the housing allowance... | He added: "The rules are wrong in my view. There clearly is scope for abuse on things like the housing allowance... |
| "The scope for reform is pretty enormous, but unfortunately now the Speaker and the committee the Speaker chairs is not the body to carry out that reform." | "The scope for reform is pretty enormous, but unfortunately now the Speaker and the committee the Speaker chairs is not the body to carry out that reform." |
| I think he's being protected rather than hunted Martin Bell,Former independent MP | |
| A number of MPs are said to want Mr Martin to step down, as Parliament's standards watchdog probes a complaint over his alleged use of air miles. | A number of MPs are said to want Mr Martin to step down, as Parliament's standards watchdog probes a complaint over his alleged use of air miles. |
| Mr Martin, Labour MP for Glasgow North East, has been accused of flying members of his family in business class from Glasgow to London for a New Year break, using air miles gained from official trips. | Mr Martin, Labour MP for Glasgow North East, has been accused of flying members of his family in business class from Glasgow to London for a New Year break, using air miles gained from official trips. |
| And the Sunday Times is among newspapers reporting he has claimed £17,000 a year for his home in Scotland and £7,500 in costs for using that home as an office. | And the Sunday Times is among newspapers reporting he has claimed £17,000 a year for his home in Scotland and £7,500 in costs for using that home as an office. |
| But BBC political correspondent Ben Wright said these figures had been publicly declared already and there was no suggestion Mr Martin had not used his allowance correctly. | But BBC political correspondent Ben Wright said these figures had been publicly declared already and there was no suggestion Mr Martin had not used his allowance correctly. |
| 'Decent man' | 'Decent man' |
| The resignation of Mr Martin's spokesman, Mike Granatt, came after he rebutted a story that Mr Martin's wife had claimed more than £4,000 in taxpayer-funded taxi expenses since May 2004. | The resignation of Mr Martin's spokesman, Mike Granatt, came after he rebutted a story that Mr Martin's wife had claimed more than £4,000 in taxpayer-funded taxi expenses since May 2004. |
| He said any shopping trips she had undertaken had been for food for government-related functions, and Mrs Martin had been accompanied by an official at all times. | |
| But Mr Granatt later learned that the official was actually a housekeeper from the Speaker's household. | But Mr Granatt later learned that the official was actually a housekeeper from the Speaker's household. |
| He was adamant that Mr Martin was not at fault over the misinformation. Instead he blamed officials, claiming they had not told him the entire truth. | He was adamant that Mr Martin was not at fault over the misinformation. Instead he blamed officials, claiming they had not told him the entire truth. |
| Business Secretary John Hutton told BBC One's The Politics Show: "I've known Michael Martin for a long time and I have a great deal of respect for him. | Business Secretary John Hutton told BBC One's The Politics Show: "I've known Michael Martin for a long time and I have a great deal of respect for him. |
| "He is a decent man and a good Speaker of the House of Commons and I am sure that is a position he will want to defend over the next few weeks." | "He is a decent man and a good Speaker of the House of Commons and I am sure that is a position he will want to defend over the next few weeks." |
| 'Nasty little stories' | 'Nasty little stories' |
| Shadow home secretary David Davis said of Mr Martin: "Clearly he's got problems... The House of Commons has problems. It needs to be more transparent on these things." | |
| But he said it was inappropriate for a member of a frontbench to comment on the Speaker's future. | But he said it was inappropriate for a member of a frontbench to comment on the Speaker's future. |
| Labour's Mrs Beckett said: "What I don't understand is why there have been a whole string of nasty little stories about Mr Martin. Somebody is out to get him." | |
| Former home secretary David Blunkett told Sky News the Speaker had done a "pretty reasonable job" and described stories about him as a "witch-hunt". He called for MPs agitating for a resignation to "stand up and be counted". | |
| However, former independent MP Martin Bell said: "MPs can talk about anything they like, inside or outside the House, except their views on the Speaker. | |
| "They dare not speak out and we know that there is widespread disquiet on both sides of the House and no-one dares say a thing. | |
| "So it's not a witch-hunt at all. I think he's being protected rather than hunted, actually." |