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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Under-fire Speaker to step down | Under-fire Speaker to step down |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Michael Martin is understood to be preparing to announce he will stand down as Commons Speaker. | Michael Martin is understood to be preparing to announce he will stand down as Commons Speaker. |
| The announcement is set to be made in the House of Commons later. | The announcement is set to be made in the House of Commons later. |
| Mr Martin has been criticised over his handling of the furore over MPs' expenses and a motion of no confidence in him has been backed by 23 MPs. | Mr Martin has been criticised over his handling of the furore over MPs' expenses and a motion of no confidence in him has been backed by 23 MPs. |
| It is understood he plans to step down "soon" rather than immediately. It is the first time in 300 years a Speaker has been effectively forced out. | |
| On Monday Mr Martin said he was "profoundly sorry" for his part in events but did not give any indication - or timescale for any plans to stand down. | |
| No confidence | |
| He was challenged by a succession of MPs who stood up to ask when they could debate a motion of no confidence in him. | He was challenged by a succession of MPs who stood up to ask when they could debate a motion of no confidence in him. |
| Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg had openly called for him to go - calling him a "dogged defender of the status quo". | Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg had openly called for him to go - calling him a "dogged defender of the status quo". |
| Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Tory leader David Cameron had said it was a matter for the House of Commons - not the government or official opposition. | Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Tory leader David Cameron had said it was a matter for the House of Commons - not the government or official opposition. |
| Mr Martin, the MP for Glasgow North East and Speaker since 2000, is due to meet party leaders later to discuss interim reform proposals for MPs' expenses. | Mr Martin, the MP for Glasgow North East and Speaker since 2000, is due to meet party leaders later to discuss interim reform proposals for MPs' expenses. |
| Tory backbencher Douglas Carswell's motion of no confidence in Mr Martin was put on the order paper on Tuesday. | |
| But former Tory minister Peter Bottomley had tabled an amendment, saying that the Speaker himself is "best placed to decide when to retire from office". | |
| Mr Bottomley told the BBC it would have set an "undesirable precedent" if the issue had gone to a debate and it was right he should be able to announce his own retirement. | |
| He added that while Mr Martin appeared to be the issue - the main issues around expenses and wider issues affecting Britain would be obscured. | |
| Labour MP David Winnick, who was among those asking Mr Martin to take early retirement on Monday, said: "That is the right and honourable course to take. His resignation will be the first step in the House recovering its reputation." | |
| However fellow Labour MP Austin Mitchell said he had been the victim of a "witch hunt" and he hoped Mr Martin would not stand down until the next general election. "It's not his fault," he told the BBC. |