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Profile: Michael Martin Profile: Michael Martin
(about 4 hours later)
Michael Martin was elevated to the Speaker's chair in 2000 Mr Martin has faced widespread criticism during his years as Speaker
Michael Martin is a man under pressure. Michael Martin has come under enormous pressure in recent days.
Since the Metropolitan Police were allowed to search Tory MP Damian Green's House of Commons office, many MPs have questioned whether the Speaker is doing enough to protect their rights and guard Parliament's ability to hold the government to account.Since the Metropolitan Police were allowed to search Tory MP Damian Green's House of Commons office, many MPs have questioned whether the Speaker is doing enough to protect their rights and guard Parliament's ability to hold the government to account.
Some MPs have taken the rare step of criticising his abilities in public. So, it was to gasps that Mr Martin revealed that that anti-terror squad officers had not had a warrant to carry out the raids.
It is not the first time Mr Martin has had to deal with controversy, having been attacked over expenses, a supposed lack of impartiality and - by some - for not being up to the job. Instead, the Serjeant at Arms, one of his officials, had signed a consent form, he told MPs.
Mr Martin said he had been told the raid was going to happen, but not that no warrant had been issued.
Whether this explanation of the search will placate MPs is debatable.
One thing for sure is that is not Mr Martin's first experience of controversy.
Snobbery claims
He has been attacked over expenses, a supposed lack of impartiality and - by his enemies - for not being up to the job.
But he and his supporters argue that the Speaker has faced an unprecedented campaign of snobbery and slurs since taking on the job in 2000.But he and his supporters argue that the Speaker has faced an unprecedented campaign of snobbery and slurs since taking on the job in 2000.
With his Glaswegian brogue, Mr Martin was an atypical choice for the role. With his Glaswegian brogue and background as a sheet metal worker and trade union official, he was quickly dubbed "Gorbals Mick" by some Tories and members of the press.
Some in the press and on the Tory benches dubbed the former sheet metal worker and trade union official "Gorbals Mick". Mr Martin is MP for Glasgow North East but, as Speaker, he ceases to represent any party and is expected to be neutral - but there have been mutterings that he favours former Labour colleagues.
Mr Martin is MP for Glasgow North East but, as Speaker, he ceases to represent any party and is expected to be neutral. First elected in 1979 as MP for Glasgow Springburn, the teetotaller was seen as on the right of his party and a social conservative on matters such as abortion and homosexuality.
First elected as a Labour MP in 1979 for Glasgow Springburn, the teetotaller was seen as on the right of his party and a social conservative on matters such as abortion and homosexuality.
What the man is trying to do is do the job of Speaker properly Tam Dalyell, former Labour MPWhat the man is trying to do is do the job of Speaker properly Tam Dalyell, former Labour MP
There have been mutterings among the Conservatives that Mr Martin favours his old Labour colleagues. After his elevation to the post of Speaker in 2000, he began with a press conference - provoking critics to say he had broken the convention of keeping a distance from the media.
After his elevation to the post of Speaker in 2000, he began his job with a press conference - provoking critics to say he had broken the convention of keeping a distance from the media.
The first Roman Catholic to serve in the role since the Reformation, Mr Martin - who underwent heart surgery in 2005 - has not been shy to dispose of other centuries-old traditions.The first Roman Catholic to serve in the role since the Reformation, Mr Martin - who underwent heart surgery in 2005 - has not been shy to dispose of other centuries-old traditions.
He did away with the tights worn by speakers in favour of dark flannel trousers and continued the precedent set by his predecessor as speaker, Betty Boothroyd, by dispensing with the traditional wig. He also appointed the first PR adviser to the House of Commons Commission.He did away with the tights worn by speakers in favour of dark flannel trousers and continued the precedent set by his predecessor as speaker, Betty Boothroyd, by dispensing with the traditional wig. He also appointed the first PR adviser to the House of Commons Commission.
ComplaintsComplaints
Mr Martin is paid a salary roughly equivalent to that of a cabinet minister and is expected to keep order and call MPs to speak during debates. Mr Martin is paid a salary roughly equivalent to that of a cabinet minister and is expected to keep order, ensure balanced debates and call MPs to speak.
To help this process, none of the other main UK-wide parties stand at general elections against whichever MP is Speaker. But the first comments alleging bias came just one month in the role.
Just one month in the role, he expelled pro-Israeli Tory MP John Butterfill from the Commons, after he complained he had not been called to speak during a debate, while six pro-Arab MPs had been. Mr Martin expelled pro-Israeli Tory MP John Butterfill from the Commons, after he complained he had not been called to speak during a debate, while six pro-Arab MPs had been.
In October 2001, he had to apologise after speaking up in favour of then Home Secretary David Blunkett's abolition of the voucher scheme for asylum seekers. In October 2001, he had to apologise after speaking up in favour of Home Secretary David Blunkett's abolition of the voucher scheme for asylum seekers.
But he has also faced attacks from the government benches. Mr Martin has also faced attacks from the government benches.
In February 2002, Mr Martin told off then-Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith, and Tony Blair, for raising what he described as party matters during prime minister's questions. In February 2002, he told off Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith, and Tony Blair, for raising what he described as party matters during prime minister's questions.
SPEAKER'S DUTIES Keep order during debatesEnsure House rules obeyedAct impartiallyRepresents CommonsChooses MPs to speakCan suspend sittingsProtects interests of minoritiesSPEAKER'S DUTIES Keep order during debatesEnsure House rules obeyedAct impartiallyRepresents CommonsChooses MPs to speakCan suspend sittingsProtects interests of minorities
In the ensuing row, it was reported that Mr Martin felt he was being undermined, because he is Scottish and working class. He said the attacks on him were "an attack on every working class person from Clydeside". In the ensuing row, it was reported that Mr Martin felt he was being undermined, because of his background, with each slur "an attack on every working class person from Clydeside".
Later Labour MP Tam Dalyell said criticism of the speaker was based on snobbery about Mr Martin's background. Later Labour MP Tam Dalyell said: "All this stuff I read about 'Gorbals Mick' is odious. What the man is trying to do is do the job of Speaker properly."
"All this stuff I read about 'Gorbals Mick' is odious. What the man is trying to do is do the job of Speaker properly," he said. Former cabinet minister Tony Benn added that the attacks on Mr Martin were a result of his "trying to assert the authority of the House of Commons".
Former cabinet minister Tony Benn added that the attacks on Mr Martin were as a result of his "trying to assert the authority of the House of Commons". However, Charles Clarke, then Labour Party chairman, was quoted in the Times newspaper in 2002 as saying Mr Martin had "become an embarrassment" - but he later denied saying this.
Charles Clarke, then Labour Party chairman, was quoted in the Times newspaper in 2002 as saying Mr Martin had "become an embarrassment" - but he later denied saying this.
'Bizarre''Bizarre'
In 2006 Mr Martin provoked uproar in the Commons by stopping Tory leader David Cameron asking then Prime Minister Tony Blair whom he wanted as "his successor". In 2006 Mr Martin provoked uproar in the Commons by stopping Tory leader David Cameron asking Tony Blair whom he wanted as "his successor".
Mr Martin insisted prime minister's questions was meant for discussing government business, not party matters. But Mr Cameron called the decision "bizarre and extraordinary". Mr Martin insisted prime minister's questions was meant for discussing government business, not party matters. Mr Cameron called the decision "bizarre and extraordinary".
In 2007, Mr Martin angered the government benches when he warned Gordon Brown to use "temperate" language after the prime minister had accused Mr Cameron of "misleading" people.In 2007, Mr Martin angered the government benches when he warned Gordon Brown to use "temperate" language after the prime minister had accused Mr Cameron of "misleading" people.
Earlier this year critics turned their focus to his allowances - including claims he had flown members of his family in business class from Glasgow to London for a New Year break, using air miles gained from official trips.Earlier this year critics turned their focus to his allowances - including claims he had flown members of his family in business class from Glasgow to London for a New Year break, using air miles gained from official trips.
ExpensesExpenses
Newspapers went on to report that Mr Martin had claimed £17,000 a year for his home in Scotland and £7,500 in costs for using the property as an office.Newspapers went on to report that Mr Martin had claimed £17,000 a year for his home in Scotland and £7,500 in costs for using the property as an office.
The figures had been publicly declared already and there was no suggestion he had not used his allowance correctly - his friends said there was a campaign to denigrate him. The figures had been publicly declared already and there was no suggestion he had used his allowance incorrectly.
On 23 February this year, Mr Martin's spokesman Mike Granatt announced he was resigning over his handling of a Mail on Sunday story about the Speaker's wife using taxis for shopping. On 23 February, Mr Martin's spokesman Mike Granatt announced he was resigning over his handling of a Mail on Sunday story about the Speaker's wife using taxis for shopping.
He said he had quit for "ethical reasons" after "unwittingly" giving out the wrong information to a journalist.He said he had quit for "ethical reasons" after "unwittingly" giving out the wrong information to a journalist.
However, it seems that Mr Martin, who is to make a statement on the Green arrest at 1430 GMT, is now facing his toughest test as Speaker. However, it seems Mr Martin is now facing his toughest test as Speaker.
He will have to convince doubters amongst senior MPs from all parties. Whether he will survive his latest challenge is anyone's guess. His remarks about the search of Mr Green's office will be seen by his enemies as weakness, even compliance with the authorities against the Commons - which he is meant to protect.
They will also question why he was told about the raid and did not himself ask whether the police had a warrant.
The Speaker's supporters will argue that police have a right to question politicians about alleged wrongdoings and that no-one is above the law.
Mr Martin has spoken, but the Damian Green affair seems far from over.