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Speaker under increased pressure Speaker under increased pressure
(10 minutes later)
The Speaker of the House of Commons is facing increasing pressure after a newspaper published details of allowance claims for his Scottish home.The Speaker of the House of Commons is facing increasing pressure after a newspaper published details of allowance claims for his Scottish home.
The Sunday Times story comes a day after the resignation of Michael Martin's spokesman over the release of wrong information about expenses. The Sunday Times story comes as Michael Martin's spokesman quit after issuing wrong information about expenses.
Ex-foreign secretary Margaret Beckett said someone was "out to get" Mr Martin by releasing "nasty little stories". Ex-foreign secretary Margaret Beckett said someone was "out to get" him by releasing "nasty little stories".
Shadow home secretary David Davis said the speaker had "got problems". The former standards committee chairman said Mr Martin was not the right person to carry out an inquiry into expenses.
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 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. Mr Martin 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.
The former chairman of the Committee for Standards in Public Life, Sir Alistair Graham, said: "What the latest story in which he [Mr Martin] has become the story does suggest is that his review of MPs' expenses and allowances really cannot have any credibility now.The former chairman of the Committee for Standards in Public Life, Sir Alistair Graham, said: "What the latest story in which he [Mr Martin] has become the story does suggest is that his review of MPs' expenses and allowances really cannot have any credibility now.
"I was strongly opposed to Members of Parliament reviewing their own arrangements. I thought the only way it could have any credibility is to be done by an outside body, outside of Parliament.""I was strongly opposed to Members of Parliament reviewing their own arrangements. I thought the only way it could have any credibility is to be done by an outside body, outside of Parliament."
DeclaredDeclared
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 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 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 that Mr Martin has claimed £17,000 a year for his home in Scotland and £7,500 in home office costs.And the Sunday Times is among newspapers reporting that Mr Martin has claimed £17,000 a year for his home in Scotland and £7,500 in home office costs.
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.
The House of Commons has problems. It needs to be more transparent on these things David DavisShadow home secretaryThe House of Commons has problems. It needs to be more transparent on these things David DavisShadow home secretary
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."
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.
'Transparent''Transparent'
But Mr Granatt learned from the Mail on Sunday that the official was actually a housekeeper from the Speaker's household.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.
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."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 he said it was inappropriate for a member of a frontbench to comment on his future.But he said it was inappropriate for a member of a frontbench to comment on his future.
Labour's Ms Beckett said: "I will confess that I don't fully understand the story that has appeared...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.""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."