Michael Martin will lose his 'golden goodbye' if he quits according to the Daily Mail. Cabinet ministers yesterday told Gordon Brown to call on Mr Martin to stand down as a poll found that 8 out of 10 MPs want the Speaker to go. MPs of all parties are talking about uniting around former LibDem Sir Menzies Campbell as a replacement - providing his expenses claims are beyond reproach. Well that idea has been blown out of the water.
By leaving now Mr Martin would lose out on a generous resettlement payment for members who lose their seats or retire at an election. He could expect a windfall of £100,000 or more if he hangs on. Generous? Obscene is a more appropriate word. All these types of perks have to stop. MPs pensions are more than handsome. MPs made these rules remember and we had no say.
For his first 3 years as Speaker, Michael Martin paid his wife an estimated £20,000 a year for secretarial duties in his constituency while she was sharing his official residence in London.
So there we have it, Michael Martin will hang on and Menzies Campbell will struggle to talk himself out of his excessive expenses, possibly by saying he's broken no rules, because I'm sure he'd just love the Speaker's job.
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It is too much to hope that he will go if his pension is on the line. This could test how much spirit the Conservatives have for a bloody fight... Alternatively it could cause a chasm in the Parliamentary Labour Party. Oooh the drama !
Hmmm. He may be put under considerable pressure to announce his intentions but not actually resign. Also, it very unusual for a new parliament to elect a Speaker as the new MPs do not know the contenders.
My guess is that he will announce his resignation in the next few weeks and will be replaced just before parliament is dissolved.
The unknown at the moment is the no confidence motion that is doing the rounds. I have a hunch it will be withdrawn. We shall see.
I think I will get into politics - it's the only growth industry left - and the perks are pretty good.
It's obscene the way they've feathered their nests scunnered. When a military person has to leave the army through injury they get nothing unless they put in a claim.
He'll have to stand down at the next election Howard. But of course his son is lined up to take over the constituency up here.
It's not his pension Dan it's an extra perk called a 'resettlement' payment. Utter nonsense, he's already been claiming for his Glasgow home so where's he resettling?
If Martin goes, the convention is that he stands down immediately. No party will want a by-election at present.
I stand by my earlier comment.
Sorry Howard if I misled you with my answer. I'm sure it's been mooted he was standing down as an MP at the next election that's what I mean. You're probably right and he'll hang on until just beforehand then all his handshakes will be safe.
Reading all this shit makes Canadian politics more comprehensible...lol...I guess our parliament not only follows the old country rules...but it religiousely abides by the same corruption rules... Salary & Pension...politics a profession?... you made me laugh...hahahaha..politics a meal ticket....well what do you think...to the over over...Slanghjie Valech
Politics isn't a profession because there are is no open and honest procedures for coming an MP. It's all to do with the old boys' network and nothing to do with who is the best person for the job.
Rosa - In replying to Howard you said the following
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“You're probably right and he'll hang on until just beforehand then all his handshakes will be safe.”
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Going by the recent revelations on his propensity for taking chauffeur driven excursions to Parkhead ( The home of Celtic Football Club) on the back of the public purse, I have serious doubt those handshakes you speak of - will be Masonic ones, but then again, one never knows.
Martin has proved he is a greedy, arrogant and useless lump of lard! I bet he'll resign under some back-handed agreement to get some pay-off before he goes. They're corrupt to the core, so very likely he'll do that because Gordon Brown is in a world of shite of his own.
"Politics isn't a profession because there are is no open and honest procedures for coming an MP. It's all to do with the old boys' network and nothing to do with who is the best person for the job."
Subrosa, MPs face a selection procedure and some of DCs got short shrift recently, despite his endorsement. If more people engage in the grassroots, VOLUNTARY end of politics, the better the chance of a decent democracy. Labour hijacked their selction with nepotism and trade union demands, long ago. One of my many reasons for my despising them.
I still fancy a Parliament of elder statesmen who volunteer to SERVE, after some experience of the world.
I also still thing Jimmy gave The Barclay Brothers that CD!
Must disagree EDBE. Plenty of people ready for a Scottish by-election now, especially in Springburn. My concern is that calls for his resignation are just someone else's battle. Martin has been my MP for many years (he used to be in the Labour Party you know) and I only bumped into him once at the local video shop (note the use of the word 'video'). Martin Jr. is doing such a sterling job highlighting crime in the area he couldn't possibly want to follow in his father's footsteps... ;-p
Doesn't matter how healthy the grassroots are OR, the high heid yins will still place their favourites in most cases. I've seen it over and over again.
You mean to say Jimmy did that to boost his escape fund? Well ...
Oh BD, I couldn't possibly comment on that wee boys club. Us women aren't privileged enough to know the ins and outs of why one trouser leg gets hoisted and not the other ;)
He'd have to introduce a new wee rule for that CBaby, but he shouldn't find that difficult should he.
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