Commons speaker quits over expenses

THE speaker of the House of Commons resigned over an MPs’ expenses scandal which has plunged Britain into its worst political crisis for years and outraged voters.

Michael Martin became the first person to quit the prestigious post since 1695 after losing moral authority among lawmakers, 23 of whom had signed a motion of no confidence. John Trevor was found guilty by the house of a “high crime and misdemeanour” for accepting a bribe in 1695.

Although there had been questions over his leadership for years, Martin’s fate was sealed by his failure to embrace reforms which his opponents said were necessary to rebuild public confidence in politicians after the expenses furore. “In order that unity can be maintained, I have decided that I will relinquish the office of speaker on Sunday, June 21,” he said in a statement to the lower house. Martin, a former sheet metal worker and trade unionist, is also stepping down as a lawmaker for his home city, Glasgow.

This will leave Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s struggling Labour government to fight a by-election in what was once a safe seat, but could now be a magnet for anti-sleaze campaigners.

Revelations about lawmakers’ lavish expense claims have prompted public fury in Britain as it struggles with its worst recession since World War II. The Daily Telegraph newspaper has published leaked documents showing how MPs claimed from the public purse for everything from food and drink to repairs to a swimming pool, tennis court and castle moat.

Both of the main political parties have announced action to crack down on over-extravagant spending.

Brown said no MP who had defied expenses rules would be allowed to stand at the next general election.

Conservative leader David Cameron, who polls tip to be the next premier, has forced some of his lawmakers to pay back expenses and is publishing all the party’s claims online. Meanwhile, Douglas Hogg, a backbench Conservative who charged taxpayers for the cost of cleaning the moat at his country home, said he would not stand at the next election, which must be held by mid-2010.

Commentators said Martin was doomed following a stumbling, bad-tempered session in the House of Commons on Monday when he made a statement on the row, but still faced repeated calls to quit.

News of his departure was welcomed by MPs from across the political divide.

Stuart Bell, a Labour lawmaker and Martin ally, said the speaker had “paid a heavy price for trying to be an establishment figure when the establishment was falling away”.

“A speaker of the House of Commons must have authority,” he said. “Michael Martin clearly lost it.”

A new speaker will be elected on June 22.