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Martin 'loses 30 MPs' confidence' Martin 'loses 32 MPs' confidence'
(about 2 hours later)
More than 30 MPs have told the BBC they no longer have confidence in Commons Speaker Michael Martin in the wake of the Damian Green affair. Thirty-two MPs have told the BBC they no longer have confidence in Commons Speaker Michael Martin in the wake of the Damian Green affair.
Research for BBC Radio 4's The World This Weekend also found 50 MPs believed he was culpable over the arrest of the Tory MP and a search of his offices.Research for BBC Radio 4's The World This Weekend also found 50 MPs believed he was culpable over the arrest of the Tory MP and a search of his offices.
However 36 disagreed with this and 56 said they still had confidence in him.However 36 disagreed with this and 56 said they still had confidence in him.
The questionnaire of 130 MPs comes after two Conservative MPs and a Labour MP called for Mr Martin's resignation.The questionnaire of 130 MPs comes after two Conservative MPs and a Labour MP called for Mr Martin's resignation.
'Shocked and disturbed''Shocked and disturbed'
The row erupted after Mr Green, the Tory immigration spokesman, was arrested 10 days ago and held for nine hours by the Metropolitan Police, while his homes and parliamentary office were searched, as part of an inquiry into allegations of leaks from the Home Office.The row erupted after Mr Green, the Tory immigration spokesman, was arrested 10 days ago and held for nine hours by the Metropolitan Police, while his homes and parliamentary office were searched, as part of an inquiry into allegations of leaks from the Home Office.
The move has provoked outcry among MPs from all parties, who say the police action represented a fundamental breach of their right to hold the government to account.The move has provoked outcry among MPs from all parties, who say the police action represented a fundamental breach of their right to hold the government to account.
The World This Weekend attempted to contact all backbench MPs to ask them how they felt about Mr Martin in light of recent events.The World This Weekend attempted to contact all backbench MPs to ask them how they felt about Mr Martin in light of recent events.
The programme put two questions to them: Do you believe the Speaker was culpable in the arrest of Mr Green and the search of his Parliamentary office? And, do you still have confidence in him as Speaker?The programme put two questions to them: Do you believe the Speaker was culpable in the arrest of Mr Green and the search of his Parliamentary office? And, do you still have confidence in him as Speaker?
The programme said the answers showed many MPs were more unhappy as a result of a Commons statement Mr Martin made on Wednesday, than they were before.The programme said the answers showed many MPs were more unhappy as a result of a Commons statement Mr Martin made on Wednesday, than they were before.
In the statement, he said one of his officials had allowed the raid by signing a consent form without consulting him, and that he had known in advance about the search, but had not been told that the police did not have a warrant.In the statement, he said one of his officials had allowed the raid by signing a consent form without consulting him, and that he had known in advance about the search, but had not been told that the police did not have a warrant.
A number of MPs told the World This Weekend they had been "shocked" and "disturbed" by the Speaker's statement.A number of MPs told the World This Weekend they had been "shocked" and "disturbed" by the Speaker's statement.
'Significant minority''Significant minority'
BBC political correspondent Reeta Chakrabarti said disquiet at Mr Martin's handling of the Damian Green affair had been apparent at Westminster all week.BBC political correspondent Reeta Chakrabarti said disquiet at Mr Martin's handling of the Damian Green affair had been apparent at Westminster all week.
But she said the questionnaire suggested a significant minority of MPs no longer thought he was up to the job.But she said the questionnaire suggested a significant minority of MPs no longer thought he was up to the job.
On Friday, backbencher Bob Marshall-Andrews became the first Labour MP to publicly call for Mr Martin to resign.On Friday, backbencher Bob Marshall-Andrews became the first Labour MP to publicly call for Mr Martin to resign.
He said the Speaker had been guilty of "a deplorable breach of his duties to the house" and the office of an MP should be sacrosanct.He said the Speaker had been guilty of "a deplorable breach of his duties to the house" and the office of an MP should be sacrosanct.
Two Conservative MPs have also called for Mr Martin to stand down.Two Conservative MPs have also called for Mr Martin to stand down.
On Monday MPs will debate Parliament's response to the episode.On Monday MPs will debate Parliament's response to the episode.