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| Speaker denies harming Parliament | |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| Commons Speaker Michael Martin has dismissed claims that his review of MPs' expenses is taking too long and causing damage to Parliament's image. | Commons Speaker Michael Martin has dismissed claims that his review of MPs' expenses is taking too long and causing damage to Parliament's image. |
| In the chamber, Labour MP David Winnick asked Mr Martin to show "greater urgency" in conducting his inquiries. | In the chamber, Labour MP David Winnick asked Mr Martin to show "greater urgency" in conducting his inquiries. |
| But the Speaker, who has faced pressure to resign over his own expenses, said he would continue as planned "until this House decides otherwise". | But the Speaker, who has faced pressure to resign over his own expenses, said he would continue as planned "until this House decides otherwise". |
| Mr Martin had earlier been cheered by MPs at the start of Commons business. | Mr Martin had earlier been cheered by MPs at the start of Commons business. |
| They replied "hear, hear" after Mr Martin, criticised over his use of taxi expenses and air miles, issued his traditional "order, order" call to start the day. | They replied "hear, hear" after Mr Martin, criticised over his use of taxi expenses and air miles, issued his traditional "order, order" call to start the day. |
| Conway affair' | Conway affair' |
| 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. |
| This follows 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 follows 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. |
| Raising a point of order in the Commons, Mr Winnick, MP for Walsall North, asked the Speaker: "Would it be possible for the review to have greater urgency and not wait until the autumn [for the findings]?" | Raising a point of order in the Commons, Mr Winnick, MP for Walsall North, asked the Speaker: "Would it be possible for the review to have greater urgency and not wait until the autumn [for the findings]?" |
| 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 |
| He added that recent expenses stories such as those involving Mr Conway had done "damage to the reputation of the House". | He added that recent expenses stories such as those involving Mr Conway had done "damage to the reputation of the House". |
| Mr Martin replied that he would remain in charge of a review of MPs' allowances "until this House decides otherwise". | Mr Martin replied that he would remain in charge of a review of MPs' allowances "until this House decides otherwise". |
| He insisted: "And that is a good thing for the reputation of this House." | He insisted: "And that is a good thing for the reputation of this House." |
| Labour's John Spellar paid tribute to him and criticised what he called an attempted "coup" from political reporters. | |
| Asked earlier about the Speaker's predicament, Prime Minister Gordon Brown said: "It's a matter for the House of Commons. Mr Martin has been a very, very good Speaker." | Asked earlier about the Speaker's predicament, Prime Minister Gordon Brown said: "It's a matter for the House of Commons. Mr Martin has been a very, very good Speaker." |
| But a number of MPs are said to want the Speaker to step down as Parliament's standards watchdog investigates a complaint against him. | But a number of MPs are said to want the Speaker to step down as Parliament's standards watchdog investigates a complaint against him. |
| 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. |
| Spokesman resigns | Spokesman resigns |
| The Sunday Times also reported that he had claimed £17,000 a year for his home in Scotland and £7,500 in costs for using that home as an office. | The Sunday Times also reported that he had claimed £17,000 a year for his home in Scotland and £7,500 in costs for using that home as an office. |
| These figures had been publicly declared already and there is no suggestion Mr Martin used his allowance incorrectly. | These figures had been publicly declared already and there is no suggestion Mr Martin used his allowance incorrectly. |
| The resignation of Mr Martin's spokesman, Mike Granatt, came after he wrongly rebutted a story that the Speaker's wife had claimed more than £4,000 in taxi expenses since May 2004. | The resignation of Mr Martin's spokesman, Mike Granatt, came after he wrongly rebutted a story that the Speaker's wife had claimed more than £4,000 in taxi expenses since May 2004. |
| Mr Granatt said Mr Martin had not been at fault over the misinformation, and instead blamed officials for not telling him the entire truth. | Mr Granatt said Mr Martin had not been at fault over the misinformation, and instead blamed officials for not telling him the entire truth. |
| When asked about Mr Martin's predicament, Mr Brown said: "It's a matter for the House of Commons. Mr Martin has been a very, very good Speaker." | When asked about Mr Martin's predicament, Mr Brown said: "It's a matter for the House of Commons. Mr Martin has been a very, very good Speaker." |
| 'Blow over' | |
| Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg told the BBC there seemed to be "a witch-hunt against Speaker Martin", adding that the Speaker was "fully committed" to overhauling Parliament's system of expenses. | Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg told the BBC there seemed to be "a witch-hunt against Speaker Martin", adding that the Speaker was "fully committed" to overhauling Parliament's system of expenses. |
| Health Secretary Alan Johnson said he thought the furore would "blow over". | Health Secretary Alan Johnson said he thought the furore would "blow over". |
| But former independent MP and anti-sleaze campaigner Martin Bell said Mr Martin was being protected from MPs' public criticism by the convention they do not openly criticise a Speaker. | But former independent MP and anti-sleaze campaigner Martin Bell said Mr Martin was being protected from MPs' public criticism by the convention they do not openly criticise a Speaker. |
| Conservative MP Peter Bottomley told BBC Radio 4's The World At One: "I think it would be totally inappropriate for him to be hounded out. Whether both health and happiness would mean that he ought to go on for a third term is frankly up to him. | Conservative MP Peter Bottomley told BBC Radio 4's The World At One: "I think it would be totally inappropriate for him to be hounded out. Whether both health and happiness would mean that he ought to go on for a third term is frankly up to him. |
| "But I do remember the words of his wife - and this is not in any way a nudge to him - who said that if she heard he was going to stop, she would regard that as the biggest present she could have." | "But I do remember the words of his wife - and this is not in any way a nudge to him - who said that if she heard he was going to stop, she would regard that as the biggest present she could have." |