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Speaker must step aside - Clegg Speaker must step aside - Clegg
(10 minutes later)
Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg has called on Commons Speaker Michael Martin to stand down, saying he has become an obstacle to much-needed reform of Parliament.Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg has called on Commons Speaker Michael Martin to stand down, saying he has become an obstacle to much-needed reform of Parliament.
Mr Clegg said the Speaker should do the "decent thing" and step aside, saying he was not the "right man" for the job. Mr Clegg said the speaker should do the "decent thing" and step aside, saying he was not the "right man" for the job.
He criticised the Speaker for "dragging his feet" over the issue of MPs' expenses, causing such public anger. He criticised the speaker for "dragging his feet" over the issue of MPs' expenses, causing such public anger.
A Tory MP is to put down a motion of no confidence in the Speaker on Monday and says he has growing support for this. A Tory MP is to put down a motion of no confidence in the speaker on Monday and says he has growing support for this.
'Wrong man''Wrong man'
The speaker has come under growing pressure for his handling of the expenses crisis gripping Parliament and has faced criticism from all sides of the Commons.The speaker has come under growing pressure for his handling of the expenses crisis gripping Parliament and has faced criticism from all sides of the Commons.
In angry exchanges earlier this month, he criticised MPs who questioned Parliament's decision to ask the police to investigate the leaking of details of MP's expenses to the Daily Telegraph - with many MP's arguing he should be focusing on the need to reform the system.In angry exchanges earlier this month, he criticised MPs who questioned Parliament's decision to ask the police to investigate the leaking of details of MP's expenses to the Daily Telegraph - with many MP's arguing he should be focusing on the need to reform the system.
By becoming the most senior politician - and first party leader - to call for the Speaker's resignation, Mr Clegg will dramatically increase the momentum behind moves to unseat him. By becoming the most senior politician - and first party leader - to call for the speaker's resignation, Mr Clegg will dramatically increase the momentum behind moves to unseat him.
I don't think he is the right man for the job Nick Clegg on the speakerI don't think he is the right man for the job Nick Clegg on the speaker
Mr Clegg told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show that he was not seeking the speaker's resignation "lightly or with any relish" but that it was clear that it was a necessary step to rebuilding confidence in Parliament.Mr Clegg told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show that he was not seeking the speaker's resignation "lightly or with any relish" but that it was clear that it was a necessary step to rebuilding confidence in Parliament.
"I don't think he is the right man for the job of leading a renewal of Westminster," he said."I don't think he is the right man for the job of leading a renewal of Westminster," he said.
The speaker was a "dogged defender of the status quo", Mr Clegg added, when what Parliament now needed was a radical reformer.The speaker was a "dogged defender of the status quo", Mr Clegg added, when what Parliament now needed was a radical reformer.
Mr Clegg was particularly critical of the Speaker's handling of the expenses crisis, saying he had stood in the way of greater "transparency and accountability" in the allowances system. Mr Clegg was particularly critical of the speaker's handling of the expenses crisis, saying he had stood in the way of greater "transparency and accountability" in the allowances system.
Conservative MP Douglas Carswell is expected to put down an early day motion on Monday calling for the speaker to step down.Conservative MP Douglas Carswell is expected to put down an early day motion on Monday calling for the speaker to step down.
He says he has the backing of a number of MPs from all parties.He says he has the backing of a number of MPs from all parties.
Labour MP Kate Hoey told the BBC on Sunday that she would sign the motion as she believed Mr Martin had lost the confidence of Parliament.Labour MP Kate Hoey told the BBC on Sunday that she would sign the motion as she believed Mr Martin had lost the confidence of Parliament.
However, the Speaker retains the backing of Gordon Brown and the majority of the Labour Party. However, the speaker retains the backing of Gordon Brown and the majority of the Labour Party.
And he has been supported by shadow foreign secretary William Hague who said he was up to the job and MPs should think very carefully about using him as a "political football".And he has been supported by shadow foreign secretary William Hague who said he was up to the job and MPs should think very carefully about using him as a "political football".