Take your pick of stories relating to the Commons Speaker Michael Martin today – here’s just three:
Martin ‘loses 32 MPs’ confidence’ (BBC)
I will go on and on, says defiant Speaker (Sunday Times)
Who Should Be the Next Speaker? (Iain Dale)
As I pos(i)ted yesterday, my guess is that this row will blow itself out. Labour MPs, whatever their real, private views might be, will have no wish to bring down one of their own. So any move against Speaker Martin is doomed.
But the Speaker’s wretched performance in the past week has undermined any credibility he might once have exercised; and a weakened Speaker increasingly dependent upon being propped up by the governing party is bad for Parliament and democracy. If he cared for such matters, let alone the dignity of his office, Michael Martin would announce his intention to retire at the next general election, at the latest.
That, at any rate, is my view. But what’s yours? Here’s your chance to say in LDV’s new poll, asking: Do you think it’s time for the Commons Speaker Michael Martin to go? Here are your options:
>> Yes, he should go now, he has become an embarrassment
>> Yes, but he should be allowed to survive in post until the next election,
>> No, he’s not done anything wrong, and should be allowed to stay for as long as he sees fit
Eyes right to vote; eyes down to continue the debate…
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8 Comments
If you really pushed me I think he should go now because he clearly has lost far too much credibility. However, I think trying to force him out is a waste of time and effort to be honest and this whole issue is in danger of descending (if it hasn’t already) into looking like the Westminster village talking to itself…
I don’t know why it’s not term-limited, to be honest. If we had four year fixed-terms, he could serve for two parliamentary terms, which would remove uncertainty.
I get the impression that too many people don’t understand just how important the job of Speaker really is. The British Constitution has not been taught in State Schools since the Wilson Government, and History is no longer part of the Core Curriculum. how aabout a series of articles on the history of Parliament?
I’ve wanted him out ever since learning that he originates from north of Watford and is working class.
Do you have to ask such leading questions? Aren’t you assuming things a bit when you insert our reasoning?
Sorry, Stephen, where is the ‘Who gives a Shit’ Button?
I have to agree with Andrew Turvey, the questions are very leading and where is the option for ‘no he should not go what he did was wrong but not enough to make him have to resign’?
Its basic statistics that surveys should cover all possible options
Martin is not fit to hold office after he despicably tried to pass the buck on to a subordinate for his sloppy attitude over the Met invading the private domain of an MP – That is NOT good leadership. By that and the fact he and his wife have taken the piss out of the office and she has insulted the Queen indicate they have denigrated the office of speaker. He should be dismissed forthwith, NOT be given any title as is the norm and furthermore, both of them should be sent back to Scotland