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Speaker's aide 'very sad' to quit Speaker's aide 'very sad' to quit
(about 1 hour later)
The former aide of Commons Speaker Michael Martin has told MPs he feels "very sad" he had to quit last month, but said Mr Martin was not to blame.The former aide of Commons Speaker Michael Martin has told MPs he feels "very sad" he had to quit last month, but said Mr Martin was not to blame.
Mike Granatt quit after he unwittingly misled a journalist about reports Mr Martin's wife claimed £4,000 taxi expenses since May 2004.Mike Granatt quit after he unwittingly misled a journalist about reports Mr Martin's wife claimed £4,000 taxi expenses since May 2004.
He has said officials did not tell him the whole truth.He has said officials did not tell him the whole truth.
He told MPs on Thursday: "There are people who should not have let it happen. That is betrayal in a sense."He told MPs on Thursday: "There are people who should not have let it happen. That is betrayal in a sense."
But while he refused to name names, he told the Commons public administration committee he was not referring to Mr or Mrs Martin.But while he refused to name names, he told the Commons public administration committee he was not referring to Mr or Mrs Martin.
'One mistake''One mistake'
Mr Granatt, a former top Whitehall communications official, suggested that it had been a mistake to take up a job as Mr Martin's spokesman in May 2005. Mr Granatt, a former top Whitehall communications official who became Mr Martin's spokesman in May 2005 said he had felt he had undertaken "due diligence" with respect to the explanation about the taxi trips.
He said he had felt he had undertaken "due diligence" with respect to the contract but added: "The one mistake I made was in believing that the standards and behaviour of employees and staff in Whitehall over 25 years I would find elsewhere." But he added: "The one mistake I made was in believing that the standards and behaviour of employees and staff in Whitehall over 25 years I would find elsewhere."
Betrayal is a strong word and there are people who should have not let it happen and that is a betrayal in a sense Mike GranattBetrayal is a strong word and there are people who should have not let it happen and that is a betrayal in a sense Mike Granatt
Mr Granatt, who is a senior partner at Luther and Pendragon public relations company, said he was not criticising Mr or Mrs Martin.Mr Granatt, who is a senior partner at Luther and Pendragon public relations company, said he was not criticising Mr or Mrs Martin.
His resignation followed stories which appeared at the end of 2007, that Mrs Martin had claimed more than £4,000 in taxi expenses since May 2004.His resignation followed stories which appeared at the end of 2007, that Mrs Martin had claimed more than £4,000 in taxi expenses since May 2004.
He said the journeys had been shopping trips for official functions and that Mrs Martin had been accompanied by an official at all times, but he was later told by a journalist that the official was in fact a housekeeper working for the Speaker.He said the journeys had been shopping trips for official functions and that Mrs Martin had been accompanied by an official at all times, but he was later told by a journalist that the official was in fact a housekeeper working for the Speaker.
Expenses inquiryExpenses inquiry
Mr Granatt said he was resigning for ethical reasons, after unwittingly misleading the journalist, but blamed officials for not telling him the entire truth.Mr Granatt said he was resigning for ethical reasons, after unwittingly misleading the journalist, but blamed officials for not telling him the entire truth.
Asked by MPs on the Public Administration Committee to say who had misled him, Mr Granatt said he was, "not prepared to go into details of names or places... It wasn't the Speaker and it wasn't, as it was put to me, Mrs Martin."Asked by MPs on the Public Administration Committee to say who had misled him, Mr Granatt said he was, "not prepared to go into details of names or places... It wasn't the Speaker and it wasn't, as it was put to me, Mrs Martin."
Asked if he felt "very bitter or betrayed" he replied that he felt, "very sad" adding: "Betrayal is a strong word and there are people who should have not let it happen and that is a betrayal in a sense."Asked if he felt "very bitter or betrayed" he replied that he felt, "very sad" adding: "Betrayal is a strong word and there are people who should have not let it happen and that is a betrayal in a sense."
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.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.
Parliament's standards watchdog is currently investigating a complaint over Mr Martin's use of air miles gained from official trips to fly members of his family from Glasgow to London for a New Year break.Parliament's standards watchdog is currently investigating a complaint over Mr Martin's use of air miles gained from official trips to fly members of his family from Glasgow to London for a New Year break.
Mr Granatt, widely regarded as an expert in communications with a long career in the civil service, joined public relations consultancy Luther Pendragon in 2004.Mr Granatt, widely regarded as an expert in communications with a long career in the civil service, joined public relations consultancy Luther Pendragon in 2004.
The House of Commons Commission, the management committee which Mr Martin chairs, was one of his many clients.The House of Commons Commission, the management committee which Mr Martin chairs, was one of his many clients.