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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| MPs rally round Commons Speaker | MPs rally round Commons Speaker |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Senior Labour figures have been rallying behind Commons Speaker Michael Martin, saying there has been a campaign to oust him. | Senior Labour figures have been rallying behind Commons Speaker Michael Martin, saying there has been a campaign to oust him. |
| Mr Martin is facing increasing pressure following newspaper articles criticising his allowance claims. | Mr Martin is facing increasing pressure following newspaper articles criticising his allowance claims. |
| It comes after his spokesman quit over giving wrong information on expenses. | It comes after his spokesman quit over giving wrong information on expenses. |
| Among Mr Martin's supporters is former Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett, who said someone was "out to get" him by telling "nasty little stories". | Among Mr Martin's supporters is former Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett, who said someone was "out to get" him by telling "nasty little stories". |
| 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." | 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." |
| 'Witch hunt' | 'Witch hunt' |
| Business Secretary John Hutton said: "I've known Michael Martin for a long time and I have a great deal of respect for him. | Business Secretary John Hutton said: "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." |
| Former Home Secretary David Blunkett said 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". | Former Home Secretary David Blunkett said 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". |
| SPEAKER'S DUTIES Keep order during debatesEnsure House rules obeyedAct impartiallyRepresents CommonsChooses MPs to speakCan suspend sittingsProtects interests of minorities | SPEAKER'S DUTIES Keep order during debatesEnsure House rules obeyedAct impartiallyRepresents CommonsChooses MPs to speakCan suspend sittingsProtects interests of minorities |
| 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. |
| 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 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. |
| Publicly declared | Publicly declared |
| These figures have been publicly declared already and there has been no suggestion Mr Martin had not used his allowance correctly. | |
| 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 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. |