Philippe Naughton
Attend an evening with Andre Agassi
'Moat' MP to step down | Vote for next speaker | Runners and riders | Profile: Michael Martin | Archive: disgraced Speaker, 1695 | Brown's bad night
Michael Martin is to resign today as Speaker of the House of Commons as the controversy over MPs' expenses claims its biggest scalp.
Westminster sources said this morning that the veteran Labour MP for Glasgow North East had decided he should go in the face of yesterday's unprecedented attacks on his authority on the floor of the House and after losing the trust of the Prime Minister.
One Labour MP who directly called on him to go during in the Commons yesterday – David Winnick – welcomed the move. "That is the right and honourable course to take," he said. "His resignation will be the first step in the House recovering its reputation."
Mr Martin is to inform MPs of his decision at the start of Commons business at 2.30pm. He is expected to leave before the summer recess, rather than trying to stay on in the post until the next election.
The move follows amazing scenes in the House yesterday after Mr Martin issued a "profound" apology on behalf of all MPs after publication of the details of hundreds of dubious expenses claims and damaging stories of MPs "flipping" their designated main and second homes to maximise their income.
As Westminster reverberated to the news of Mr Martin's departure, the Tory MP whose claim for the cleaning of the moat his country estate came to embody MPs' excesses announced that he is to stand down at the next general election.
Douglas Hogg, who has represented Sleaford and North Hykeham in Lincolnshire since 1979 and served as Agriculture Minister under John Major, was embarrassed by the revelation that he claimed £2,115 for having the moat dredged at his country manor house.
As Speaker, Mr Martin is in ultimate charge of Commons administration and had repeatedly thwarted moves to ensure greater transparency on parliamentary expenses.
He had himself been criticised on more than one occasion on his lavish expenditure, which included £4,000 in claims for his wife's taxi bills while she was out shopping and more than £700,000 spent on refurbishing Speaker's House.
But it was his failure to recognise the depth of public anger over individual claims reported by The Daily Telegraph – and his unparliamentary rebuke of two MPs who questioned his actions – that prompted the first open calls for his resignation last week.
The Government had so far resisted pressure to allow a Commons debate on a no-confidence motion tabled by Douglas Carswell, a Tory backbencher, which appeared for the first time on Commons orders this morning, signed by 23 MPs from the three major parties by this morning.
Follow @theredbox, @dannythefink, @NicoHines and @timespolitics for the latest political tweets
Sam Coates keeps you up-to-date with events from Westminster
Industry sectors news at a glance. Interactive heatmap, video and podcast
Everything the Business Traveller needs to know to make a better trip
Get ready for the winter sports season, with our resort guides and snow reports
We are backing British business, what is the confidence of the nation and what businesses are succeeding?
Growing demand for energy, oil that is harder to reach and the rise of carbon dioxide emissions. We examine the energy challenge
With rail travel in Europe on the rise, we review the benefits of travelling by train
In this special section we explore new food trends to help improve your dinner party and impress guests
Enjoy further reading from Travel to Fashion, Business to Sport, discover more
Shortcuts to help you find sections and articles
1998
£47,955
12 months for the price of 11 and a 5% discount.
Offer ends 31/11/09
Check your free Experian credit report before applying
Car Insurance
£353 per day
Phonepay Plus
London
£12,000 plus expenses
Ministry of Justice
London
£85k
CPA
Highly Competitve
Specsavers
Whiteley, near Southampton
Moments from Battersea Park.
For sale with Winkworth
Find out about shared ownership.
See your free Experian credit report beforehand
7nts - Penang £499; Borneo £699; All Inclusive £799 including flights, taxes, accommodation and private transfers
For your ultimate tailor-made ski holiday, click here
Get covered on your travels with a superb range of policies at great prices. Visit InsureandGo.com
World Class Golf, Spa and preferential Beach Club. Private estate overlooking West Coast
Villas from £275 per night inclusive of Golf
Contact our advertising team for advertising and sponsorship in Times Online, The Times and The Sunday Times, or place your advertisement.
Times Online Services: Dating | Jobs | Property Search | Used Cars | Holidays | Births, Marriages, Deaths | Subscriptions | E-paper
News International associated websites: Globrix Property Search | Milkround
Copyright 2009 Times Newspapers Ltd.
This service is provided on Times Newspapers' standard Terms and Conditions. Please read our Privacy Policy.To inquire about a licence to reproduce material from Times Online, The Times or The Sunday Times, click here.This website is published by a member of the News International Group. News International Limited, 1 Virginia St, London E98 1XY, is the holding company for the News International group and is registered in England No 81701. VAT number GB 243 8054 69.