Speaking of controversy
James Forsyth 7:07pmMichael Martin’s spokesman has resigned for unwittingly misleading a journalist over the recent story about the Speaker’s wife’s £4,000 taxi expenses. The spokesman had said that she had been accompanied by a Commons administrative official when she was actually with her housekeeper. No one in the Speaker's office who knew the truth had prevented him from making the error.
There is more to come on this story in the Sunday papers and even though the departing spokesman has absolved the Speaker of blame, this story is bound to increase the pressure on Martin to stand down. There is, though, no sign that he plans to go gracefully.
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Austin Barry
February 23rd, 2008 8:06pm Report this commentI see that the spokesman is one Mike Grannat the co-author of "Building Resilience" which apparently (the Cabinet Office refuses to release it) highlights Whitehall's "lack of a joined-up approach to foreseeing, planning for or handling major cross-sector crises". Mmmm..
Trumpeter Lanfried
February 23rd, 2008 9:19pm Report this commentlet's just hope they get it right next time. The Speaker's job has never been more important. We need a man or woman of real calibre, prepared to assert the powers of the legislature over the executive.
adrian drummond
February 23rd, 2008 11:30pm Report this commentCan anyone explain to me how someone of Speaker Martin's background, feels so compelled to spend so freely and become the very antithesis of what they start life opposing?
Max Kaye
February 24th, 2008 3:32pm Report this commentadrian drummond, Maybe he had an underprivileged childhood? (For the past 60 or so years, this lame excuse works for most things).
Nicholas
February 24th, 2008 4:51pm Report this comment"Can anyone explain to me how someone of Speaker Martin's background, feels so compelled to spend so freely and become the very antithesis of what they start life opposing?" The natural outcome of the politics of envy. The socialist revolution has gleefully replaced the "bad old establishments" across Europe and become the very thing it despised - only more so.
Nicholas
February 24th, 2008 4:51pm Report this comment"Can anyone explain to me how someone of Speaker Martin's background, feels so compelled to spend so freely and become the very antithesis of what they start life opposing?" The natural outcome of the politics of envy. The socialist revolution has gleefully replaced the "bad old establishments" across Europe and become the very thing it despised - only more so.
Fergus Pickering
February 24th, 2008 7:31pm Report this commentCome now. What has his background got to do with it. Do you suppose that the poor are morally better. They just don't have any money. And when they get it they become rich and behave accordingly.
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