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Under-fire Speaker to address MPs Under-fire Speaker to address MPs
(40 minutes later)
The Speaker of the House of Commons is to make a statement to MPs later, amid growing calls for him to quit over his handling of the expenses furore.The Speaker of the House of Commons is to make a statement to MPs later, amid growing calls for him to quit over his handling of the expenses furore.
Michael Martin has been urged to stand down by Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg while MPs from all parties have signed a motion of no confidence in him.Michael Martin has been urged to stand down by Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg while MPs from all parties have signed a motion of no confidence in him.
This comes after a week of damaging media revelations about MPs' expenses.This comes after a week of damaging media revelations about MPs' expenses.
But Labour MP Sir Stuart Bell has said he expects Mr Martin to state he will remain in post until the next election.But Labour MP Sir Stuart Bell has said he expects Mr Martin to state he will remain in post until the next election.
The Daily Telegraph has continued to publish stories about individual MPs' claims - based on leaked receipts - on Monday.The Daily Telegraph has continued to publish stories about individual MPs' claims - based on leaked receipts - on Monday.
'Extremely distressed''Extremely distressed'
The Labour MP Ben Chapman reportedly paid off a lump sum on his mortgage - but continued to claim the same mortgage interest payments for 10 months.The Labour MP Ben Chapman reportedly paid off a lump sum on his mortgage - but continued to claim the same mortgage interest payments for 10 months.
The paper says it amounted to a £15,000 overpayment and said it had been done with the agreement of an official in the Commons Fees office.The paper says it amounted to a £15,000 overpayment and said it had been done with the agreement of an official in the Commons Fees office.
Wirral South MP Mr Chapman told the BBC he had not yet seen the papers but added: "I am obviously extremely distressed."Wirral South MP Mr Chapman told the BBC he had not yet seen the papers but added: "I am obviously extremely distressed."
"Whatever I have done I have been entirely open and above board," he said adding all his claims had been agreed by the fees office."Whatever I have done I have been entirely open and above board," he said adding all his claims had been agreed by the fees office.
TEXT OF MR CARSWELL'S MOTION That this House has no confidence in Mr Speaker and calls for him to step down; notes that Mr Speaker has failed to provide leadership in matters relating to honourable members' expenses; believes that a new Speaker urgently needs to be elected by secret ballot, free from manipulation by party whips and believes that a new Speaker should proceed to reform the House in such a way as to make it an effective legislature once again Q&A: Speaker under pressure More MPs under expenses scrutiny Profile: Michael MartinTEXT OF MR CARSWELL'S MOTION That this House has no confidence in Mr Speaker and calls for him to step down; notes that Mr Speaker has failed to provide leadership in matters relating to honourable members' expenses; believes that a new Speaker urgently needs to be elected by secret ballot, free from manipulation by party whips and believes that a new Speaker should proceed to reform the House in such a way as to make it an effective legislature once again Q&A: Speaker under pressure More MPs under expenses scrutiny Profile: Michael Martin
The Speaker's critics blame him for various attempts to block requests in recent years to have expenses details released under Freedom of Information laws.
And he angered many by attacking MPs who had pressed for more transparency or criticised his decision to ask the police to investigate the leaking of expenses details to the Daily Telegraph.
The Speaker's authority was undermined on Sunday when Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg called for him to step down.The Speaker's authority was undermined on Sunday when Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg called for him to step down.
Describing Mr Martin as a "dogged defender of the status quo", Mr Clegg said he should make way as he was not the "right man" to lead much-needed reform of Parliament.Describing Mr Martin as a "dogged defender of the status quo", Mr Clegg said he should make way as he was not the "right man" to lead much-needed reform of Parliament.
'Opportunistic'
Senior Lib Dem colleagues Chris Huhne and Vince Cable have also called on Mr Martin to step aside.Senior Lib Dem colleagues Chris Huhne and Vince Cable have also called on Mr Martin to step aside.
Conservative MP Douglas Carswell is to table a motion of no confidence in the Speaker on Monday and says he has half a dozen signatures, including those of senior Conservative David Davis as well as a number of Labour and Lib Dem MPs. The Speaker's critics blame him for various attempts to block requests in recent years to have expenses details released under Freedom of Information laws.
The motion states that the Speaker has "failed to provide leadership" over the expenses scandal, has lost the confidence of the House of Commons and should step down. It goes on to say that a successor should be chosen by a secret ballot of MPs. And he angered many by attacking MPs who had pressed for more transparency or criticised his decision to ask the police to investigate the leaking of expenses details to the Daily Telegraph.
Conservative MP Douglas Carswell is to table a motion of no confidence in the Speaker on Monday and says he has 15 signatures of "highly respected Parliamentarians from right across the political spectrum".
'Opportunistic'
His motion states that the Speaker has "failed to provide leadership" over the expenses scandal, has lost the confidence of the House of Commons and should step down. It goes on to say that a successor should be chosen by a secret ballot of MPs.
"He needs to go and he needs to go now," Mr Carswell told the BBC.
"If this goes on for another year, if this goes on for more months, the reputation of our entire democracy will be undermined."
He added: "It's not simply that these revelations are coming out in the newspapers, it's the fact that he used public money and his position to try to prevent these details coming out."
Conservative MP Douglas Carswell: 'Change has to start with a new Speaker'Conservative MP Douglas Carswell: 'Change has to start with a new Speaker'
But Labour MP Jim Sheridan accused Mr Carswell of making "a career out of attacking the Speaker" and said Mr Clegg had been "opportunistic and cowardly".But Labour MP Jim Sheridan accused Mr Carswell of making "a career out of attacking the Speaker" and said Mr Clegg had been "opportunistic and cowardly".
He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme the Speaker could not come on TV or radio to defend himself and was angry and frustrated at being attacked by "opportunists" through the media.He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme the Speaker could not come on TV or radio to defend himself and was angry and frustrated at being attacked by "opportunists" through the media.
"He's a human being after all - I think people should remember that.""He's a human being after all - I think people should remember that."
He said reports that Mr Martin had lost the confidence of most of the Commons or the PM were "unsubstantiated rubbish" and criticised reporters who had waited outside the Speaker's house, saying they were treating him like he was "some sort of paedophile".He said reports that Mr Martin had lost the confidence of most of the Commons or the PM were "unsubstantiated rubbish" and criticised reporters who had waited outside the Speaker's house, saying they were treating him like he was "some sort of paedophile".
'Crisis point' 'Metropolitan elite'
He said senior management in the Fees Office should be more closely scrutinised: "You can't blame the speaker for what senior management have allowed to happen - he didn't know what was going on."He said senior management in the Fees Office should be more closely scrutinised: "You can't blame the speaker for what senior management have allowed to happen - he didn't know what was going on."
Mr Martin's friend Lord Foulkes said he should wait for the next general election before standing down.Mr Martin's friend Lord Foulkes said he should wait for the next general election before standing down.
He suggested some of the criticism was motivated by snobbery, arguing that members of "Metropolitan elite" resented the success of "someone from a working class background in Glasgow".He suggested some of the criticism was motivated by snobbery, arguing that members of "Metropolitan elite" resented the success of "someone from a working class background in Glasgow".
Sir Stuart Bell, another ally of the Speaker, said Mr Martin had taken soundings on the issue and he believed he would make it clear that he intends to stay on until the end of the Parliament.Sir Stuart Bell, another ally of the Speaker, said Mr Martin had taken soundings on the issue and he believed he would make it clear that he intends to stay on until the end of the Parliament.
It is also expected he will say he will step down from the post at the next general election, due by June 2010 at the latest.It is also expected he will say he will step down from the post at the next general election, due by June 2010 at the latest.
Under parliamentary rules, the Speaker can either ignore the motion or ask for it to be debated in government time.Under parliamentary rules, the Speaker can either ignore the motion or ask for it to be debated in government time.
'Crisis point''Crisis point'
For MPs to openly criticise the Speaker breaks a long-standing Commons convention, while the last time a Speaker was forced from office was in 1695 - when Sir John Trevor was found guilty by the House of "a high crime and misdemeanour".For MPs to openly criticise the Speaker breaks a long-standing Commons convention, while the last time a Speaker was forced from office was in 1695 - when Sir John Trevor was found guilty by the House of "a high crime and misdemeanour".
Some MPs have expressed concern that the Speaker may become a scapegoat. Labour's Stephen Pound warned against making him a "blood sacrifice".Some MPs have expressed concern that the Speaker may become a scapegoat. Labour's Stephen Pound warned against making him a "blood sacrifice".
Any move to unseat the Speaker would have to be supported by the Conservatives and there are doubts they are willing to do this less than a year before the next election.Any move to unseat the Speaker would have to be supported by the Conservatives and there are doubts they are willing to do this less than a year before the next election.
Shadow foreign secretary William Hague has said the situation had reached "crisis point" and needed to be resolved immediately.Shadow foreign secretary William Hague has said the situation had reached "crisis point" and needed to be resolved immediately.
However, he said the issue was a matter for MPs and neither the government, nor the official opposition, should try to force Parliament's hand.However, he said the issue was a matter for MPs and neither the government, nor the official opposition, should try to force Parliament's hand.
Foreign Secretary David Miliband has said it is up to MPs to make up their own minds about the issue and the government could not be seen to be "bullying" Parliament.Foreign Secretary David Miliband has said it is up to MPs to make up their own minds about the issue and the government could not be seen to be "bullying" Parliament.