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Speaker must step aside - Clegg | Speaker must step aside - Clegg |
(30 minutes later) | |
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. | 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. |
The Lib Dem leader said Michael Martin should do the "decent thing" and step down as he was not the "right man" to lead much-needed reform of Parliament. | |
The Conservatives said the issue was at "crisis point" and must be settled now. | |
Their comments came as the Sunday Telegraph published yet 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. | 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' |
Conservative MP Douglas Carswell is expected to table a motion of no confidence in the speaker on Monday and says he has growing cross-party support. | |
The speaker has come under increasing pressure for his handling of the expenses crisis and has faced criticism from all sides of the Commons. | The speaker has come under increasing pressure for his handling of the expenses crisis 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 MPs 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 MPs arguing he should be focusing on the need to reform the system. |
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. | 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 | 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 the renewal of Westminster that we need," 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 said he had stood in the way of greater "transparency and accountability" in what MPs should receive. | |
The Commons authorities, of which the speaker is the figurehead, blocked several requests to have expenses details released under Freedom of Information laws. | The Commons authorities, of which the speaker is the figurehead, blocked several requests to have expenses details released under Freedom of Information laws. |
'Controversial' | 'Controversial' |
The BBC's political correspondent Iain Watson said Mr Clegg was breaking with convention by calling for the speaker's departure and the move would be seen as highly controversial. | |
Labour MP Kate Hoey told the BBC on Sunday that she would sign a motion of no confidence. | 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 | 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. | "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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. |
But shadow foreign secretary William Hague said the issue needed to be dealt with in the next few days. | |
"This has clearly reached crisis point and has to be resolved immediately if the House of Commons is to go about its business and is to have confidence in it," he told Sky News. | |
Mr Hague said the issue of who was speaker was a matter for Parliament and no government, or aspiring government, should try to second guess the . | |
Conservative MPs would be given a free vote in any debate on the issue, he said. | |
But our correspondent said it was not clear how a motion of no confidence in the speaker would be handled in Parliament and whether it would be debated at all. |