Yes.  Michael Martin, former discredited Speaker of the House of Commons.

Shameful!

The man who tried to cover up the expenses scandal.  The man who presided over a corrupt House and did nothing.

No moral justice in this world that he now gets rewarded with a Peerage and a seat in the House of Lords.

Most farewell speeches are a time to look back fondly and be positive about one’s achievements.  Not so yesterday for Speaker Martin, who re-emphasized why he was not fit for the Honourable Robes of the Speaker and left a bitter stench in the air as he left the Chamber.

The first Speaker to be ousted for more than 300 years said it was ‘deeply disappointing’ that MPs did not vote last year to reform their allowances, adding: ‘I wish party leaders would have shown then some of the leadership they have shown now.’   This was a big parting shot at Gordon Brown who did not attend a crunch vote on allowances last July.  This, cutting through the nice framing is ‘I was right, you were all wrong, you are making me the fall guy for all your failings. F*** the lot of you’!

Speaker Martin apologised for the expenses scandal.  ‘Let me say to the men and women of this country —I am sorry’.  ‘But also let me remind this House that it passed up an opportunity of dealing with this emotive issue less than a year ago.  I regretted that then.  I deeply regret it now’.

What makes this statement hypocritical is that Speaker Martin and Commons authorities spent £150,000 of taxpayers’ money fighting the release of details of MPs’ claims, only to be defeated in the High Court.  The Speaker fought to cover-up, (yes cover-up), all the expenses deception.  But failed.  And thank god he did.  The expenses published today—the official figures—are being reported as missing vital claims and have gaps in them.  This includes MP’s addresses, so we cannot see who claimed each home as their main home—hence see who was ‘flipping’.  No correspondence has been published between MP’s and the Commons fees office.  What difference does that make….well we cant see claims for expenses  but rejected by officials eg wreaths.  MP’s were given several weeks with the documents and were allowed to black out information they believed should be withheld.  Lastly, MP’s who have left the House have not been published eg Tony Blair, Boris Johnson, and the famous Lord Mandolsen.  Is that Democratic Renewal…is that transparency?  Is that open Government?

So hallelujah for the Daily telegraph.  They have done a great public service to this nation and helped clean up Politics in the long term.  They deserve our support and credit.  Something many MP’s wont give.  Shooting the messenger is poor show.  The messenger only brought to light what was happening behind the scenes.

Brown does of course have blood on his hands over this.  Whilst he shied away from the debate and the vote last year, he allowed his supporters to ensure the rejection of expenses reform.  33 of his Ministerial team voted to continue with the ‘John Lewis list’ system, which allowed MP’s to furnish their second homes at taxpayers expense.  The Conservatives backed the change and voted to do so….so Speaker Martin’s swipe was not at Cameron.  Cameron in his tribute to Speaker Martin even agreed with the Speaker that changes should have been made last year but their was not the will of the House as there is today.

Mr Speaker also stated that Parliament was ‘at it’s lowest ebb’.  What we did not hear from him was any humility….any failings….some regrets but no mistakes.  The Damien Green affair?  Great that an all party committee now reviewing with a member of the Opposition in the Chair.  Expenses….not my fault Guv….I would have sorted it last July.  Blame Brown and DC.

I am sorry to say that John Bercow went further down in my estimation.  Whilst he spoke of ‘a relentless snobbery and disdain from a section of the tabloid press who seemed to think that the elevation of the son of a merchant seamen represented some sort of constitutional outrage’.  My favourite Tabloid, The Sun, said today, ‘Brown nosing and hypocritical MP’s lined up yesterday to pay their respects to a man they all knew was a dud’….’The worst offender of all was one of the favourites to success him — oily John Bercow.  Rarely has an MP fawned so spectacularly and oozed false sincerity quite as much…’  I would not be able to quote that as eloquently as The Sun and agree with it entirely.

So we need change and MP’s still don’t get it.  We see the resignation of Kitty Ussher as a Treasury Minister.  Another accused of ‘flipping’ addresses to avoid a £17,000 capital gains tax.  She allegedly sidestepped the tax by saying that her constituency home was her main residence for ONE month of the year in 2007.  hence she did not have to pay tax when selling it—and get this—despite previously naming her London property as her main Home.  This is also the lady who moaned about bad taste Artex ceilings and seeking from Commons authorities a £20,000 refurbishment of her London Home.  But get this, her resignation letter.  ‘I do not want to cause you or the Government any embarrassment.  I did not do anything wrong’

That line again.  ‘I did not do anything wrong’.  The most used Parliamentary quote of the year. 

What MP’s are disconnected over is that this is a moral issue.  Would it pass a public sniff test of reasonable expenditure in line with their job?  I think we can answer that.  Again, why did she not resign at the start of the expenses scandal?  Are MP’s biding their time waiting to see if the Daily Telegraph will publish their misdemeanors?  Surely, waiting to see if a story is coming is deceit in itself.  By stating she did not want to embarrass the Government…she has.  The issue is back on the front page with another Ministerial resignation.  Just as Brown was looking to stabilise his Government.  As this mucky episode continues to drag on…lets see who jumps next.

So to conclude.  Did you notice how sparse the Chamber was for Speaker Martin’s Farewell statement?  The House of Commons has 647 sitting MP’s.  There were only 105 Labour MP’s in the Chamber and 70 Opposition.  That shows the mark of the man.  His legacy.  Presiding over the biggest collapse in trust in the Mother of all Parliament’s!  Enjoy your garden in Scotland Michael Martin.

Wow…what a day.  Full of drama.  Certainly a day that will be recorded in history and will long be remembered by those in and around the Palace of Westminster.

Yesterday Speaker Martin sealed his own fate.  His statement and Commons performance was so poor that he was left with no option but to resign today.  I will long remember the image of a Speaker, being heckled by MP’s, completely lost in his own job, having to consult with Clerks of the House over the rules, which by any means, he should have predicted such questions and have been fully prepared in advance.

This set over night the pack of savage dogs snapping at his heals.  Whispering in the corridors of power, chattering in the bars and the media feeding on the frenzy of a wounded Speaker, left bleeding to death by marauding MP’s.

Today, when the Speaker announced he was to make a statement later in the day, the chatter reached a football crowd chant.  I for one can attest that the atmosphere in the Chamber was electric as the Speaker stood up.  His statement of 35 secs was again a missed opportunity for him to set the record straight and to apologise to MP’s for his poor performance of late, particularly his bullying of MP’s such as Kate Hoey.

See it reported hear on Sky News.

A resignation statement should be a dignified affair.  A chance to reflect and to say positive words to the House.  Speaker Martin was obviously extremely sad he was going but his resignation lies more with his own hands than anyone else.

Later in the day, he finally made the statement he should have done a week plus ago.  After meeting with the main 3 Party Leaders he announced interim measures that would stop practices like ‘flipping’ and laying down a list of unclaimable expenses. Finally the end of the Gentleman’s club is in sight.  Hear him here via Sky News….(if he made this statement yesterday he would have had more dignity…), announce the end of a number of perks….

But please dont shed any tears for Michael Martin.  He will leave the House with a £77,000 pa pension and a Peerage.  Not bad for the man who was acclaimed as one of the worst Speaker’s of all time.

It makes sense for the House to reflect now until the Speaker goes on 21st June on whether it wants an interim Speaker, (eg Anne Widdecombe like figure), thus allowing for the new Parliament to elect its new Speaker…or whether it does want to elect a new full term Speaker now.

Amongst those touted are the likes of Tory Grandee, (who has been grooming himself as a Speaker for years), Sir George Young.  Whilst an Honourable man it feels like he will be passed over as a man entrenched in the virtues of the old system, (hence advice to Sir George is if you want the job you need to position yourself as a reformer—which is tough as there can be no campaign for the role of Speaker, like there is for a Leadership battle). 

TBB’s choice of Speaker would be someone that is a reformer, deeply intellectual and someone that would command the respect of the House.  That would lead me, so far, to support Frank Field, a man who has my full respect and would restore dignity back to the Robes of the Speaker.

Phew…what a 2 weeks it has been.  Speaker Martin is now on the way.  Thank god he could not prevent Freedom of Information and stop the Daily Telegraph from revealing the extraordinary fraudsters in Parliament.  This period, whilst painful for politicians to go through, reinforces what a robust democracy we have, how the British people, when engaged, are passionarte about politics…..and these 2 weeks could be a defining moment in the re-assertion of our Parliamentary Democracy.

‘Order Order….Clerk of the House…tell me what I should do next’?

Just heard the Speaker make his much anticipated statement.  Wow, never did I anticipate in my wildest dreams such a lack lustre, arrogant, out of touch statement from a Speaker of the House of Commons.  I am still gob smacked.

The lack of substance in his statement was breathtaking.  His big announcement was that MP’s had brought shame on the House and that he was going to get a meeting together of all the Party leaders.  Too little, too late…and a smokescreen for his own inadequacies.  There was no mention as to his own intentions.  Post statement MP after MP called a Point of Order and the mood of the House was clearly that the Speaker was not in control and MP’s should debate a motion of no confidence in him.  Out of control….this was very true as he had to ask twice the Clerk of the House, the rules of the House…unbelievable.  Even the most loyal supporter of the Speaker will lament his poor poor performance today.

What was saddest of all was that he just does not grasp the severity of this situation.  He clearly demonstrated that he out of touch with the mood of the country.

A very sad day to see a man holding an Honourable position that will have to be ejected out of office by the force of MP’s opinion.  He should resign now.  Don’t drag the office of Speaker into the gutter Michael Martin.

All it will take next is for David Cameron to withdraw the support of the Official Opposition, (added to Nick Cleggs statement), this will all but make the Speakers position untenable.  Another chance for David to lead……

Speaker Martin….you are a disgrace to the robes you wear.

Here’s an overview from Sky News:

Speaker Michael Martin has just announced that he is going to give a statement tomorrow on MP’s expenses.  Rumours are circulating Westminster like wildfire that he will announce that he will step down at the next election. 

However, is this enough?  Given the growing calls for him to go, the disrespect & contempt people hold for him, the Great Office of the Speaker is being damaged.  The centuries old tradition of not criticising Speakers has been broken, with a Leader of a Major Political Party, Nick Clegg, calling for his head.

Given the sheer hostility people feel towards politicians and the expenses scandal, the House of Commons needs to be seen to react.  It is not enough to sit and wait for the Chris Kelly report for late this year. 

As previously blogged, Speaker Martin has had a bad few months, be it over the Damien Green issue or MP’s Expenses and the way he has been slow to grasp the severity of this issue…or indeed his disrespectful remarks to MP’s in the House last week, including Kate Hoey….shows that the Office of the Speaker is being dragged down by Martin’s actions.

Speaker Martin should announce that he is going with immediate effect after an election for a new Speaker.

That is the first step of many to show the House of Commons wants to regain the public’s trust.

For the sake of Parliament, for the sake of the Honourable history of the Office of the Speaker.. Michael Martin….GO NOW.

If he refuses to then MP’s should vote with a clear conscience and support Douglas Cardwell’s motion tomorrow.  But let’s hope that Martin decides to go down with dignity that scrapping like an alley cat.

Order, Order……….a new Speaker please!

The whole expenses issue has brought shame upon the Palace of Westminster, especially the House of Commons, our bastion of democracy and alleged upholder of the highest standards and decency in society.

Speaker Martin when faced with a glorious opportunity to rise to the occasion and show his contempt with MP’s abuse of the expenses system and demonstrate he shares the public’s disgust…failed….by all measures.

Speaker Martin showed himself to be more concerned not with corrupt MP’s but with the person/s who leaked this information to the Daily Telegraph and also those who side with the media and criticise the system.

Kate Hoey, not someone TBB normally quotes or sides with, rightfully raised in the House, that it was a waste of police time to get them investigating how the details of MP’s expenses were made public.  The police have a bigger duty and that is focusing on solving crimes not devoting resources trying to track someone who disclosed information that by any definition is in the public’s interest to see. 

Speaker Martin’s put down of Kate Hoey was crass, insensitive to public opinion and at times he sounded petulant and pitiful.  This was not the way a Speaker should wear the great robes of office.  Bernard Weatherill would never have acted like that.  Even Betty Bothroyd would have had more dignity. 

Throughout the whole expenses debacle, Speaker Martin has never sounded contrite in the slightest.

The reputation of the House has been damaged.  Root and branch action is needed.  Speaker Martin cannot command / oversee reviews recommending radical/wholesale reform when he acknowledges very few faults in a system he has overseen since 2000.

For the House of Commons to regain public trust, as part of a series of measures needed, the House will need to elect a new Speaker.

Speaker Martin…..be honourable and fall upon your sword and prevent further damage to the great office of state: the Speaker.

Posted on YouTube by liarpoliticians, Speaker Martin showing is petulence…….