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Pressure grows on Commons Speaker Pressure grows on Commons Speaker
(about 1 hour 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 as Mr Martin's spokesman quit after issuing wrong information about expenses. The Sunday Times story comes after Mr Martin's spokesman quit over issuing wrong information about expenses.
Ex-foreign secretary Margaret Beckett said someone was "out to get" Mr Martin by releasing "nasty little stories". Former foreign secretary Margaret Beckett said someone was "out to get" him by telling "nasty little stories".
The former standards committee chairman said Mr Martin was not the right person to carry out an inquiry into expenses. Ex-sleaze watchdog Sir Alistair Graham urged Mr Martin to hand his review of MPs' expenses to an independent body.
The Speaker chairs the Commons Members Estimates Committee, which oversees MPs' expenses. 'Credibility'
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. The Speaker, as chairman of the Commons Members Estimates Committee, is heading a "root and branch" parliamentary inquiry into all aspects of MPs' expenses.
Sir Alistair Graham, former chairman of the Committee for Standards in Public Life, 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 rules are inappropriate and need radically reforming Sir Alistair Graham,Former chairman of Committee for Standards in Public Life
"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." 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 himself has become part of this story, although it's clear that he hasn't broken any rules.
Declared "But it does suggest the rules are inappropriate and need radically reforming."
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. 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 House of Commons has problems... It needs to be more transparent on these things David Davis,Shadow home secretary
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, 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, 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 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 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.
The House of Commons has problems... It needs to be more transparent on these things David Davis,Shadow home secretary
Mr Martin's friends say there is an attempt to denigrate 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.
'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 later learned 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. 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.
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, 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 his future. But he said it was inappropriate for a member of a frontbench to comment on the Speaker's future.
Labour's Ms Beckett said: "I will confess that I don't fully understand the story that has appeared... Labour's Mrs 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."
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".