This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/8054140.stm

The article has changed 17 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
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. Nick Clegg has become the first party leader to call for the Commons speaker to resign in the midst of the expenses crisis gripping 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 Michael Martin should do the "decent thing" and quit, 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 expenses which has caused 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. His comments came as the Sunday Telegraph published more details of what it said were questionable claims.
The MPs highlighted in the newspaper's report, including former Conservative chief whip David Maclean and Labour whip Fraser Kemp, have defended their actions.
'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. Conservative MP Douglas Carswell is expected to put down a motion of no confidence in the speaker on Monday and says he has growing cross-party support for this.
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. The speaker has come under increasing pressure for his handling of the expenses crisis and has faced criticism from all sides of the Commons.
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. 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 MPs arguing he should be focusing on the need to reform the system.
Sir Alastair Graham says a reform on expenses 'could have happened in 2007' By becoming the most senior politician 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 speaker Q&A: Speaker under pressure More MPs under expenses scrutiny
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 what MPs should receive.
Conservative MP Douglas Carswell is expected to put down an early day motion on Monday calling for the speaker to step down. The Commons authorities, of which the speaker is the figurehead, blocked several requests to have expenses details released under Freedom of Information laws.
He says he has the backing of a number of MPs from all parties. 'Controversial'
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. The BBC's political correspondent Iain Watson said Mr Clegg was breaking with convention by calling for the speaker's departure and that the move would be seen as highly controversial.
However, the speaker retains the backing of Gordon Brown and the majority of the Labour Party. But it comes amid a backdrop of dissent against Mr Martin, who took up the role in 2000.
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". Labour MP Kate Hoey told the BBC on Sunday that she would sign a motion of no confidence.
THE SPEAKER'S ROLE The speaker is the chief officer and figurehead of the House of Commons, who chairs debates and calls on MPs to speakIs elected by MPs in a Commons vote, traditionally remaining in the role until retirement or death and re-elected automatically after general electionsMichael Martin was elected following the retirement of Betty Boothroyd in 2000Like all other MPs, the speaker represents a constituency but stands unopposed and does not campaign
"I don't think there is confidence there that he can lead us into this new era where we need to begin to win back the confidence of the people," she said.
Ms Hoey, who has clashed with the speaker in Parliament in recent weeks, said there was much personal loyalty to the speaker within Labour ranks but that the speaker must be above party politics.
Labour backbencher Stephen Pound said he supported the speaker and did not believe a "blood sacrifice" was the right way of dealing with the situation.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown has given the speaker his personal backing in the past.
Speaking on Sunday, Cabinet minister John Denham said the speaker's role was a matter for Parliament: "We will respect the decisions and choice of the House of Commons," he said.
Any move to force the speaker from office would almost certainly have to be supported by the Conservatives.
Commentators have questioned whether the Tories want a new speaker in place with less than a year to go before the next election and with the party well ahead in the polls.