AT LONG LAST
MICHAEL Martin yesterday bowed to growing pressure over his role in the expenses scandal and announced he would resign as Commons Speaker.
In a remarkably brief 34 second statement to the house, Martin said the Commons was “best when it is united”. “In order that unity can be maintained, I have decided I will relinquish the office of Speaker on Sunday 21 June,” he added.
His constituency office later said that Martin – the first speaker to be ousted in 300 years – would stand down as MP for Glasgow North, leading to a by-election, a grim prospect for Labour which last year lost the neighbouring Glasgow East to the SNP.
The Speaker is likely to be given a peerage and a pension pot worth £1.4m. Those tipped to succeed him include Labour MP Frank Field and Sir Alan Haselhurst, the Tory MP.