It seems Speaker Michael Martin may survive the initial fallout from the expenses scandal and the controversial manner in which he has chosen to deal with it.
But my sources tell me even if this initial attempt fails, his days may be numbered.
My hunch would be to watch for a peerage. And so the man at the very heart of this maelstrom is the one least likely to suffer for it electorally.
And as well as the speaker, there is a possibility that some of the more embarrassing entities will be moved there to get them out of immediate trouble for their parties.
One of the measures that Gordon Brown could take would be to freeze all appointments to the House of Lords until this scandal is over – indeed, until after the next election.
The speaker by implication attacked the people who work in the Fees Office when he repeated an allegation on the floor yesterday that a House of Commons employee had leaked the material.
My sources tell me that there is almost no suspicion that they did the leaking but that an agent in an altogether different domain had the wit to get it out.
Commentsoldest first
I noted with some alarm your coverage of the BNP’s film about MP’s expenses. isnt this how the Nazi & fascists couched themselves in the 30’s as honest Volk opposed to the corruption & decadence of democratic politicians. whats the matter C4 news couldnt you find your usual anti Israel story to fill five minutes ?
Jon, I hope your sources are wrong.
Speaker Martin was a disgrace when he knocked down Hoey & Baker. He has not behaved as a Speaker should:he’s got previous.It may be that tradition says he should go to the other place but quite frankly he should not be allowed that dare I say privilidge.
Swizzler Martin must go. It’s time for serious change.
Brings a new meaning to “Cash for honours”…
Martin is the worst speaker in history. He shouldn’t get anything, let alone a peerage. Brown has stated clearly that there should be no reward for failure. Martin redefines the word. Somehow, though, I suspect Brown will elevate him. Let’s just see.
I entirely agree, Martin has to go in disgrace, no honours, no nice footnote in history, just a swift kick up his fat arse and out the door.
Yeah, a peerage or, some other lucritive hideout becons. He will only be replaced by another arrogant member of the elite ‘Boys Club’.
When a country is invaded and pillaged and raped and, the loot shared among the perpetrators, they usually face expulsion by force or, they know to get the heck out. This is what should have happened, time and again, with British governing politicians. They squander all, and allow the ruin of the UK and, peoples lives, They should be removed by force. We can never expect them to do the ‘Honorable’ deed, and disolve parliament and resign. No, they just manipulate the election date depending on how they can manipulate news leading up to it.
Roll on the next election. But who to vote? No choice? Only the 2 great evils.
I wouldn’t insult the House of Lords by suggesting that they put Martin out to pasture there- where ever he lands he is used to his freeloading lifestyle now- so he won’t be giving it up.
He now has ‘customn and practice’ on his side, however after watching his parody (or spoof) of ‘how to behave like a competent speaker’ he is obviously not up to the job. Perhaps he is stressed?
I would like to do that job, how do I apply and where do I get that black fancy dress robe from, I will buy it myself, promise not to claim expenses.
Jon
Great interviewing tonight. Thank you.
I am concerned that repaying inproper expense claims is a smoke screen, Many MPs chose not to abuse their expenses. Those that did made a choice. What other conclusion can we draw except that these people are dishonest and not fit to govern us. MPs appear to be immune to the effects of their actions. Tony Blair is a multi millionaire, yet is directly responsible for a probably criminal enttrprise – the invasion of Iraq. Mandleson was forced to resign, but is now back in the heart of government. It is simply not acceptable that the worst transgressors pay back their outrageous expense claims and carry on. A level of probity must be maintained. They must leave parliement for the greater good – to restore trust. The fact that they argue and cringe and dont resign is further proof of their lack of decency. They must go….for ever. Frankly, I despair. The predictable tactic of waiting for the media storm to die down and the next headline to occupy our attention is cynical and typical.
Keep up the good work exposing these greedy flawed human beings.
Simon
As I commented last night..see below..
8:55 pm on May 11, 2009 Peter Lloyd wrote:
Let’s hope that disgraced MPs are not conveniently elevated to the House of Lords where a different system of financial accounting is also in need of ‘transparancy’..Peter ‘
This was my initial thought…. that might be followed…..ditch the offenders to the Lords whilst promoting a ‘New and Accountable’ political core…to be fought out in the forthcoming Euro and County Elections….and refashion the political message ..what ever the Party….Peter
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Snowstorm comment..
The Lords must not be the default process for disgrace within the Commons..damn convention..another convenient process for supporting ‘class and patronage’ … I am sure her Majesty would have an opinion but clearly she is unable to share her comments or views.
A penny for her thoughts? Peter
Great interview with Teresa May tonight Jon. What seemed to be your personal moral outrage shone through. A distinctly different quality to the often testosterone-fuelled style of what has come to be accepted as interview behaviour. thanks.
Think this expenses system was intially set up by Thatcher to placate and reassure the public that MP’s weren’t receiving inflated incomes. The expences scheme was designed to disguise wage increases for MP’s from the start, hidden from the prying eyes of ordinary tax payers.
Setting up an so-called independent panel again will cost us more money, why can’t the Mp’s just make honest claims for expences that are in line with Inland Revenue guidelines- then, why can’t these claims be submitted to The Inland Revenue?
Otherwise I think that the people on the so called independent panel will get replaced if they are too thorough, just like Elizabeth Filkin did- she was asked to leave on Tony Blairs watch!
What ever method is proposed a) Martin must depart now, he is a liability and a disgrace to democracy b) we need to reduce the number of MP’s and peers in the House of Lords, we have too many, they are too expensive, they are feasting on our public purse c) lets overall and audit local councils, I am sure some of our locally elected representative will have imitated the role models set by our honourable ministers.
If the party leaders thing they can send the disgraced MPs to the House of Lords, they will simply bring down another storm of abuse on their heads and more accusations of just looking after themselves.
If Speaker Martin, who has form when it comes to expenses, had any integrity or even dignity, he would resign and return quietly home and live off his generous pension that we pay for.
Jon Snow, you got to the heart of the matter tonight. If any person who is not as well disposed as these MPs is convicted of any misdemeanor they don’t get the chance to offer to pay back – there is no “get out” clause. It is all very well for Conservative MP Mr Alan Duncan to be able to casually announce that he will pay back more than £4,500. It exposed (a) that he should never have claimed this money and (b) how trivial a sum £4,500 was to him – that he could casually afford to pay it back whenever asked.
Question: What is the current weekly rate for unemployment benefit – i.e. what does the British Government say that the ordinary person be expected to live on?
I wrote this comment already being concerned that the process of ‘elevation to the lords’ is a political device’
My sources reveal a get out clause for Speaker Martin. The apathy of the electorate as evidenced by interviews with the public..’ I’m not voting’ said one to nods of confirmation from a fellow prospective voter …
Don’t despair please vote….
I sound like Michael Winner..!
No bad thing..he is passionate about valuing the sacrifice made by Police Officers but I suspect that he expects all voters to exercise the hard fought right to vote …Peter
Ref Comment
At 11:52 pm on May 11, 2009 Peter Lloyd wrote:
Hi Jon,
and Out there..’the wider informed electorate’. I remember a documentary piece you presented regarding the Honours System and I was struck then by your journalistic humilty and independence strengthened by what I regarded as a a journalistic imperative to retain uncontaminated by those most corrosive and corrupting elements of British life.
….yes ..class and patronage…
Full circle Jon..your values have allowed you to take the battle to MPs and Peers without fear of compromise. Journalistic integrity celebrated.
I must express a view on Jeremy Paxman. He commands a large publicly funded cheque and shouts and berates any MP that stays up late as ‘tonight’s victim’ . In my opinion, not good value for money but despite my view I acknowledge his skills and presentation.
My conclusion..well watch and observe the patronige ridden class system launder the defects from our Parliamentary Process to re-emerge clean and defined ready for the electorate to once again press the democratic buttons ….perhaps just maybe ..that is the process that repeatedly votes toffs in power.
Peter
Will Blair get away with shredding his expenses? He seems to have just walked away from it all without anyone saying a word. He was noticeable by his absence last week at the remembrance service for the dead soldiers in Iraq. That he sent there.
Probably, Peerage beckons in the future for Michael Martin.
My cob-webbed brain tells me that that horrible man Edward Heath was actually responsible for Martin becoming Speaker. I seem to recall that Heath had a casting vote, maybe something to do with him being ‘Father of the House.’
The House of Lords is not an elected body so should not be entitled to any expense claims.The people sitting in it should consider it a privilege to be there; without expecting any payment. Roll on a new political system and the abolition of the House of Lords!
Hi Susan…your view needs further expansion…I am with you ….Peter
This is my first visit to this site, I am relieved to find that the content is much more reasoned than sites I have been looking at in the last few days. It seems there is great deal of unhelpful venom amongst the understandable anger and revulsion expressed. As to Speaker Michael Martin I would expect and would be relieved to see him go to the other place. Any overt action to depose him might set a dangerous precedent, it is up to Gordon Brown to move as quickly to resolve this as he is to deny culpability for much of our recent distress.
No Bob… not the ‘other place’. It protects with little accountabilty… It must not be a convenient disposal route for failed MPs let alone a Speaker that has sought to weld shut the pandora’s box of financial reward that a number of MPs and Ministers have exploited for their personal gain.
Come back Cromwell all is forgiven
About the Speaker – Michael Martin
I live in Glasgow and have worked in a school in the heart of Glasgow North – Michael Martin’s constituency. Despite the best efforts and remarkable resilience of many who live and work in that community it is fair to say that the electorate in Glasgow North live in an area blighted by poverty, social exclusion and poor life chances. Mr Martin has been the sitting MP for decades and whatever his initial motivations and working class creditentials on entering politics I feel he has long since lost any connection with the lives of his constituents or in securing social justice for them.
It is so ironic that his dwindling band of defenders at Westminster claim he is being attacked by political opponents because he is too working class. Where that this was the case !! Sadly over the years of riding the Commons gravy train Mr Martin’s alliegances have changed. His disconnect from the voters of Glasgow North and their lives and concerns was all too evident during a previous expenses scandal when questions were asked about claims for foodbills and taxis his wife took to Fortnum & Masons and other high end London stores. In socially excluded Glasgow North shopping in Asda or Tesco is an aspirational luxury.
No, the Speaker is not an archetypal working class hero – he is a shrewd political operator and bully who happens to find himself on the wrong side of the moral argument. If you believe, as many now do, that our Parliamentary system is institutionally corrupt then Michael Martin is part of the problem, not part of the solution. If you live in Glasgow North it is time to seriously consider your allegiances and where your vote is going next time.
Hi Fran, I have a strong link to Glasgow…although I am in London at present.
When in Glasgow, as I watch Westminster political life played out on TV, I see Scots MPs often having entered politics as local councillors slowly fight to be both strong Westminster players and also stay in touch with their constituents.
I sometimes took the number 24 bus fom Victoria Station along Victoria Street heading towards the Commons and on occasions would recognise Scots MPs who had boarded the bus in Pimlico.
To retain strong relations with their constituents would have been extremely difficult. The environments are just so different.
It requires an MP with those twin values, commitment and integrity, …. As we now see these values are widely absent given Day 9 of The Daily Telegraph’s momentous scoop.
I agree ‘institutionally corrupt’ and I urge Glasgow North and Scots voters across the UK to express their anger through the ballot box.
I reckon that a number of the MPs will have to resign, triggering bi elections that will rapidly send a message to the current political classes.
Apologies for grammatical errors ‘Miss’
Will try harder…
Peter
Speaker Michael Martin has acted disgracefully.
A system which allows him to be awarded a peerage is morally wrong, regardless of what the rules say.
Time to go Michael Martin-some recompense would be that you are sacked and not promoted.
I wish to commend the Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg’s public call for Speaker Michael Martin to quit.
I would be further encouraged if this public call was also made by the Prime Minister and David Cameron (even though this goes against convention).
The time has come for fairness, doing what is right (morally), transparency and showing regard to the electorate.
Cromwell would applaud principle before convention….you’re in good and historic company Natasha..
I suppose that the MP’s felt they needed a scapegoat…..someone who would deflect some attentions away from their flagrant disregard for the UK taxpayer.
While Martin himself is clearly, very much free from blame, they have found it all too easy to jump on the Bandwagon of ‘It’s His Fault’!
We should not, and cannot allow the story to drift away from the fundamental issue here, which is clearly that MP’s from all parties have acted apallingly, and should be reprimanded accordingly.
Michael Martin should ‘go’ – if for no other reason than to partially break the irritating ‘grip’ that the Scots have over our current parliament; i.e. Brown, Darling, ‘ex’ pm Blair [who engineered it all if the truth be known], and lo and behold – Mr Martin amongst others!
What IS going on?
One thing I just do not understand:-
ALL the leaders and hierarchy of the three main parties [who now seem to donned their 'outraged' mantles] had their noses firmly in the ‘extraordinary expenses’ trough! – How many faces have these guys got? – More than Big Ben that’s for sure!
And why can’t it be more highlighted that, even if all the mp’s who made the ‘obscene’ expenses claims, paid all the money back it would still be but a drop in the ocean compared with all the ‘legitimate’ money claimed that they will [smugly] be able to keep!
His performance today was utterly appalling , he was not talking from the heart but a carefully prepared speech which he even had trouble stringing the words together. The demise of Betty Boothroyd as speaker was Blair’s doing to bring in this buffoon. However he is probably hanging on as long as he can to get his promised £100K golden goodbye-and that will be far too late for this country?
PEOPLE ARE STRANGE AREN’T THEY ?
Car companies and their anonymous directors receiving trillions of dollars and pounds from the tax payer for poisoning us all.
Incompetent crooked anonymous bankers with massive personal fortunes
allowed to hide.
Yet we are treated to a month of press coverage about the work of the fees office at the Houses of Parliament.
Quite incredible.
PEOPLE ARE STRANGE AREN’T THEY ?
Trillions of dollars and pounds given to anonymous Car company directors and executives for poisoning us all.
Enviromental Insurerers and their bankers hiding the re-structuring of “risk”.
and escaping scott-free.
Yet we have to watch and read a month’s worth of press coverage about the work of the Fees Office at the Houses of Parliament.
Quite incredible.
Gordon Brown has also got it wrong again. Those abusing the expenses system should be de-selected; those breaking the rules should be prosecuted.
Sacking the Speaker will not on it’s own satisfy the public.
Demonstrations of the greed displayed in the House this week, it would be interesting to know what financial packages Micheal Martin will be receiving. Pension – will this be affected by his resignation and how much it will be. Golden handshake or any other financial extras?:
Making a scape goat of one man and withdrawing his pension is not demcracy its mob mentality (whipped up by the media) that is ruling the public thought.
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