UK NEWS

MARTIN FACES NEW CALLS TO QUIT POST

PROBE: Michael Martin

Monday February 25,2008

By Kerry Gill Scottish Political Editor

Comment Speech Bubble Have your say(2)

HOUSE of Commons Speaker Michael Martin was defying pressure to quit last night in a sleaze row.

The senior Parliamentary official was embarrassed when his spokesman resigned after he admitted giving misleading information.

And questions were raised about £75,000 in a housing allowance claimed by Mr Martin for his Scottish constituency home while also enjoying a lavish grace-and-favour apartment.

But allies rallied around the Speaker yesterday, claiming he was the victim of a “witch hunt”. Former Labour minister Margaret Beckett said: “Somebody is out to get him.”

Mr Martin has been under growing criticism over his expenses, including taxpayer-funded taxi rides for his wife Mary to go shopping.

With fresh allegations yesterday, anti-sleaze campaigners called for the Speaker to relinquish his control over an inquiry into the MPs’ expenses.

Sir Alistair Graham, former chairman of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, said: “His review of MPs’ expenses really cannot have any credibility now.”

And former independent MP Martin Bell said: “There is widespread disquiet on both sides of the House and no one dare speak up.”

Mr Martin’s spokesman Mike Granatt resigned on Saturday after admitting unintentionally misleading a journalist about taxi claims. He had said Mrs Martin was accompanied by a Commons official on the shopping trips, which were described as expeditions to buy food for Parliamentary receptions. But it emerged the official with her was the Speaker’s housekeeper.

And fresh questions were raised yesterday about money claimed by the Speaker – who has a grace-and-favour apartment in the Commons – for his constituency home in Bishopbriggs, near Glasgow.

He claimed more than £75,000 in Additional Costs Allowance over six years, even though records showed his mortgage was paid off. He claimed £17,000 a year for his home in Scotland and £7,500 in costs for using that home as an office. Although the payments did not breach Commons regulations, they have attracted criticism.

Mr Martin refused to comment yesterday.

RESIGN

26.02.08, 9:32am

Sadly, corruption is endemic in the Labour Party, and nowhere more than the West of Scotland, where they behave like Mafia overlords. Lets get shot of them folks.

• Posted by: Lothian_Sky • Report Comment

MARTIN FACES CALLLS TO QUIT

25.02.08, 4:18pm

When have any one of them ever quit?
They seem to be above the law, and even if they leave they turn up again or become part of the EU gravy train , which seems to be something of an express at the moment.
I am waiting with baited breath for the return of P,Hain, I'm sure he'll be whitewashed like the rest of them and returned to a suitable position.
Sickened , utterly sickened by the antics of those in power.
And they wonder why the population don't vote?
They wonder why people despise politicians?
I wonder why we don't take to the streets and demand that the police take action against them.
I wonder when we'll stop sitting around moaning about them and take a leaf out of French books and take action!

• Posted by: QueenD • Report Comment