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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| By-election due in Speaker's seat | By-election due in Speaker's seat |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Michael Martin's resignation as Speaker of the House of Commons will trigger a by-election in his Glasgow seat, it has emerged. | Michael Martin's resignation as Speaker of the House of Commons will trigger a by-election in his Glasgow seat, it has emerged. |
| Mr Martin, who has been criticised over the MPs' expenses scandal, will step down from the role on 21 June. | |
| Labour officials in his Glasgow North East constituency are thought to be preparing for a by-election. | Labour officials in his Glasgow North East constituency are thought to be preparing for a by-election. |
| Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond said an early general election was needed to restore public confidence. | Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond said an early general election was needed to restore public confidence. |
| The first minister said that Mr Martin - who was facing a motion of no confidence in him backed by more than 20 MPs - should have previously insisted on total disclosure of MPs' expenses. | The first minister said that Mr Martin - who was facing a motion of no confidence in him backed by more than 20 MPs - should have previously insisted on total disclosure of MPs' expenses. |
| The departure of Mr Martin - marking the first time in 300 years a Speaker has in effect been forced out - will allow his successor to be elected on 22 June. | The departure of Mr Martin - marking the first time in 300 years a Speaker has in effect been forced out - will allow his successor to be elected on 22 June. |
| Case 'overwhelming' | Case 'overwhelming' |
| Mr Salmond described Mr Martin as "a thoroughly decent man who made a mistake", adding that he had been "a bit of a fall guy for the system". | Mr Salmond described Mr Martin as "a thoroughly decent man who made a mistake", adding that he had been "a bit of a fall guy for the system". |
| The SNP leader said Westminster should adopt interim expenses rules based on the Scottish Parliament system of "total transparency" while an audit of MPs' claims over the last four years is carried out. | The SNP leader said Westminster should adopt interim expenses rules based on the Scottish Parliament system of "total transparency" while an audit of MPs' claims over the last four years is carried out. |
| Mr Salmond, who sits both as an MP and an MSP, said: "There should be a general election because it's not a question of people just having no confidence in the speaker - it's a question of people having no confidence in the Westminster system. | Mr Salmond, who sits both as an MP and an MSP, said: "There should be a general election because it's not a question of people just having no confidence in the speaker - it's a question of people having no confidence in the Westminster system. |
| "If anybody among the MPs believes they can just get rid of the speaker and everything else will be hunky-dory, I think they have another thing coming." | "If anybody among the MPs believes they can just get rid of the speaker and everything else will be hunky-dory, I think they have another thing coming." |
| The first minister added: "I'd have thought that once that audit is done of MPs' expenses over the last four years, then the case is overwhelming to have an early general election." | The first minister added: "I'd have thought that once that audit is done of MPs' expenses over the last four years, then the case is overwhelming to have an early general election." |
| "There can be no argument against the entire House of Commons submitting itself to a vote of confidence, or otherwise, of the people who elected them," he said. | "There can be no argument against the entire House of Commons submitting itself to a vote of confidence, or otherwise, of the people who elected them," he said. |