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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Embattled Speaker to meet leaders | Embattled Speaker to meet leaders |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The Commons Speaker will convene an urgent meeting of party leaders later to discuss reforming MPs' expenses, as he battles to hold onto his position. | The Commons Speaker will convene an urgent meeting of party leaders later to discuss reforming MPs' expenses, as he battles to hold onto his position. |
| Michael Martin has been fiercely criticised by some MPs and faces calls to quit over his handling of the row. | Michael Martin has been fiercely criticised by some MPs and faces calls to quit over his handling of the row. |
| He told MPs on Monday he was "profoundly sorry" for his role. | He told MPs on Monday he was "profoundly sorry" for his role. |
| Meanwhile, Labour's ruling National Executive Committee will meet to discuss what should be done about any Labour MPs who have broken the rules. | Meanwhile, Labour's ruling National Executive Committee will meet to discuss what should be done about any Labour MPs who have broken the rules. |
| The meeting of the NEC will discuss claims of allowance abuses by its MPs. | The meeting of the NEC will discuss claims of allowance abuses by its MPs. |
| It is understood that it will focus on two MPs suspended from the party - former minister Elliot Morley and David Chaytor - for claiming for mortgage interest payments when their mortgages had been paid off. | It is understood that it will focus on two MPs suspended from the party - former minister Elliot Morley and David Chaytor - for claiming for mortgage interest payments when their mortgages had been paid off. |
| 'Square one' | |
| Meanwhile a motion of no confidence in the Speaker has been formally placed on Tuesday's Commons order paper. | |
| Twenty-three MPs have now signed the motion, which calls on Mr Martin to step down over his handling of the expenses affair. | |
| The motion has been tabled by Conservative backbencher Douglas Carswell, but former Tory minister Peter Bottomley has tabled an amendment, saying that the Speaker himself is "best placed to decide when to retire from office". | |
| BBC political correspondent Reeta Chakrabarti said that the meeting organised by Mr Martin for all party leaders was intended to thrash out immediate proposals to reform the allowances system. | |
| If they cannot agree - and they did not the last time they met a few weeks ago - Mr Martin is back to square one, our correspondent added. | If they cannot agree - and they did not the last time they met a few weeks ago - Mr Martin is back to square one, our correspondent added. |
| THE SPEAKER'S ROLE The Speaker controls the proceedings of the House of Commons, chairing debates, keeping order and calling on MPs to speakThe Speaker is also responsible for the running of much of Parliament - including the Fees OfficeThe Speaker represents the House of Commons' independence in dealing with the monarchySpeakers are 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 2000 Q&A: Speaker under pressure What future for MPs' expenses? Cameron starts election petition In full: Speaker's statement | THE SPEAKER'S ROLE The Speaker controls the proceedings of the House of Commons, chairing debates, keeping order and calling on MPs to speakThe Speaker is also responsible for the running of much of Parliament - including the Fees OfficeThe Speaker represents the House of Commons' independence in dealing with the monarchySpeakers are 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 2000 Q&A: Speaker under pressure What future for MPs' expenses? Cameron starts election petition In full: Speaker's statement |
| Mr Martin did not mention his future in a statement to the Commons on Monday on the expenses furore - instead he set out proposed action to reform the system. | Mr Martin did not mention his future in a statement to the Commons on Monday on the expenses furore - instead he set out proposed action to reform the system. |
| A succession of MPs challenged him openly, saying they wanted a debate and no confidence vote. | |
| The calls follow more than a week of damaging newspaper revelations about MPs' expenses and criticism of the way Mr Martin has handled the affair. | The calls follow more than a week of damaging newspaper revelations about MPs' expenses and criticism of the way Mr Martin has handled the affair. |
| In his statement, Mr Martin apologised for the expenses scandal and outlined steps he would be taking ahead of the findings of an independent inquiry into the allowances system, expected in the autumn. | In his statement, Mr Martin apologised for the expenses scandal and outlined steps he would be taking ahead of the findings of an independent inquiry into the allowances system, expected in the autumn. |
| In the meantime the Glasgow North East MP urged members not to submit expenses claims for approval. | In the meantime the Glasgow North East MP urged members not to submit expenses claims for approval. |
| He said: "We all bear a heavy responsibility for the terrible damage to the reputation of this House. We must do everything we possibly can to regain the trust and confidence of the people." | He said: "We all bear a heavy responsibility for the terrible damage to the reputation of this House. We must do everything we possibly can to regain the trust and confidence of the people." |
| The Speaker's critics blame him for various attempts to block requests in recent years to have expenses details released under Freedom of Information laws. | The Speaker's critics blame him for various attempts to block requests in recent years to have expenses details released under Freedom of Information laws. |
| And he angered many by attacking MPs who had pressed for more transparency or criticised his decision to ask the police to investigate the leaking of expenses details to the Daily Telegraph. | And he angered many by attacking MPs who had pressed for more transparency or criticised his decision to ask the police to investigate the leaking of expenses details to the Daily Telegraph. |
| For MPs to openly criticise the Speaker breaks a long-standing Commons convention and the last time a Speaker was forced from office was in 1695 - when Sir John Trevor was found guilty by the House of "a high crime and misdemeanour". | For MPs to openly criticise the Speaker breaks a long-standing Commons convention and the last time a Speaker was forced from office was in 1695 - when Sir John Trevor was found guilty by the House of "a high crime and misdemeanour". |
| Under-fire Speaker addresses MPs | Under-fire Speaker addresses MPs |
| Mr Martin has been urged to stand down by Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg, who has said he was minded to sign the motion of no confidence, although is yet to do so. | |
| Mr Clegg told the BBC after the debate that it was now up to the government to decide whether Mr Martin's future was debated but added: "If the government won't do that I'm already looking at ways I can call that debate and the vote." | Mr Clegg told the BBC after the debate that it was now up to the government to decide whether Mr Martin's future was debated but added: "If the government won't do that I'm already looking at ways I can call that debate and the vote." |
| Prime Minister Gordon Brown declined to give Mr Martin his backing, saying that "the decision about who is Speaker is a matter for the House of Commons - it could never be a matter for the government". | Prime Minister Gordon Brown declined to give Mr Martin his backing, saying that "the decision about who is Speaker is a matter for the House of Commons - it could never be a matter for the government". |