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Speaker under increased pressure Speaker under increased pressure
(about 1 hour later)
The Speaker of the House of Commons is facing increasing pressure after further details of his allowances were published in the Sunday newspapers. The Speaker of the House of Commons is facing increasing pressure after a newspaper published details of allowance claims for his Scottish home.
The media focus comes a day after the resignation of Mr Martin's spokesman. The Sunday Times story comes a day after the resignation of Michael Martin's spokesman over the release of wrong information about expenses.
Mike Granatt quit after releasing wrong information about expenses for taxi trips taken by Mr Martin's wife. Ex-foreign secretary Margaret Beckett said someone was "out to get" Mr Martin by releasing "nasty little stories".
Shadow home secretary David Davis said the speaker had "got problems".
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.
Declared
He 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.He 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.
'Unwittingly misled' And The Sunday Times is among newspapers reporting that Mr Martin he has claimed £17,000 a year for his home in Scotland and £7,500 in home office costs.
The speaker's expenses have come under the spotlight again in Sunday's newspapers.
The Sunday Times, on its front page, is among those to report he has claimed £17,000 a year for his home in Scotland and £7,500 in home office costs.
Somebody is out to get him Margaret BecketFormer foreign secretary
But BBC political correspondent Ben Wright said these figures had been publicly declared already and there was no suggestion he 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 he had not used his allowance correctly.
Mr Martin's friends say there is an attempt to denigrate him.Mr Martin's friends say there is an attempt to denigrate him.
Our correspondent said: "Mr Martin is under particular scrutiny because he chairs a committee in the House of Commons that is holding an inquiry into the whole issue of MPs' expenses and allowances."Our correspondent said: "Mr Martin is under particular scrutiny because he chairs a committee in the House of Commons that is holding an inquiry into the whole issue of MPs' expenses and allowances."
Appearing on BBC One's Andrew Marr Show, 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."
'Nasty little stories'
Former Labour foreign secretary Margaret Beckett said: "I will confess that I don't fully understand the story that has appeared...
"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."
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.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, who has worked as a top-level communications specialist for more than two decades, learned from the Mail on Sunday that the official was actually a housekeeper from the Speaker's household. 'Transparent'
But Mr Granatt learned from the Mail on Sunday that the official was actually a housekeeper from the Speaker's household.
Mr Granatt 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.Mr Granatt 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.
"It's embarrassing and he's decided because he effectively misled a journalist over this, he's had to resign," said Ben Wright. Appearing on BBC One's Andrew Marr Show, Mr 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 Labour's Ms Beckett said: "I will confess that I don't fully understand the story that has appeared...
"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."
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.