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Harriet Harman, Leader of the Commons: “Michael Martin’s resignation today as Speaker is an act of great generosity to the House of Commons that Members of Parliament from all parties will respect.

“Michael Martin has served the House as Speaker with distinction. As someone who has been in the House of Commons with him for over 25 years, I know that his passionate commitment to the House is beyond doubt. The House owes him a great debt of gratitude.”

Douglas Carswell, backbencher who tabled motion of no confidence in Speaker: “It had to happen. It was not a nice business. It’s been extremely unpleasant work. I did this regretting I had to do it.”

Sir Stuart Bell MP, a defender of the Speaker: “I think he recognised that unity in the House was not there and therefore he did the noble thing.”

Gerry Leonard, chairman of the Labour party in Glasgow North East: “I am very sorry he has decided to stand down as Speaker and I hope that this decision is a personal one.

“It is totally wrong that some Tory and Lib Dem MPs have been trying to use his office as a distraction from their own mistakes and errors of judgment. I also think there has been some prejudice from some quarters.”

Ken Ritchie, chief executive of the Electoral Reform Society: “Politicians on both sides of the House are fooling themselves if they think this act alone will right the boat and restore public confidence in our political process.

“One burnt offering cannot change the culture at Westminster. The politicians, who seem so set on human sacrifice, have steered clear of the more difficult course - and that is genuine and deep reform of the Commons."

Peter Facey, director of the Unlock Democracy pressure group: “His resignation was necessary but it is nowhere near sufficient to rebuild public trust in Parliament. Replacing one MP in a funny costume with another does not address the fundamental flaws in our democracy that this scandal has exposed.”

Lord Soley, former chairman of the Parliamentary Labour Party: “I think the time is right for radical reform. I hope the Commons will choose a Speaker who is committed to leading a reform process.

“Methods of setting the pay and expenses of both Lords and Commons is a first priority of reform but it must not be the last stage."

Esther Rantzen, likely to stand as an anti-sleaze candidate in Luton: “I think it was the right thing for him to do, he should and could have done it earlier. I think he belongs to an out-of-date era of tribalism and he saw his job as protecting the interests of the MPs as if they were members of his union.

“It would have been possible to foresee all this and for the House of Commons to clean up their act far earlier if he had only just shown them the way, and he didn’t. He led them into a cul-de-sac and he had to go.”

Full text of Mr Martin's resignation statement: “Since I came to this House 30 years ago I’ve always felt the House is at its best when it is united. In order that unity can be maintained, I have decided that I will relinquish the office of Speaker on Sunday June 21.

“This will allow the House to proceed to elect a new Speaker on Monday June 22. That is all I have to say on this matter.”

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