UK speaker steps down over scandal
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The Associated Press
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Mayıs 20, 2009 00:00
LONDON - The powerful speaker of the British House of Commons resigned yesterday because of a backlash over excessive expense claims by lawmakers, marking the first time in three centuries a speaker has been forced out.
Though Michael Martin has not been caught up in recent revelations about lawmakers’ expenses - reimbursements for chandeliers, moat cleaning and mortgage payments have outraged taxpayers - he was blamed for creating a climate in which such excesses were allowed.
In an extremely short statement to the House of Commons, Martin said he would leave the post June 21 to maintain "unity" in Parliament's lower chamber. "This will allow the house to proceed to elect a new speaker," Martin said. "This is all I have to say on this matter."
Martin resisted reforms designed to make lawmakers' expenses more transparent and fought to block publication of the expense claims. But lawmakers themselves have been reluctant to expose their sometimes lavish spending, and Martin's defenders said he was taking the fall for their avarice.
The announcement came a day after Martin ignored calls to resign, invoking parliamentary procedure to stall debate on a motion of no-confidence intended to force him out. Lawmakers, normally respectful of the speaker, had to be called to order repeatedly by Martin as he tried to make himself heard.
In an extremely short statement to the House of Commons, Martin said he would leave the post June 21 to maintain "unity" in Parliament's lower chamber. "This will allow the house to proceed to elect a new speaker," Martin said. "This is all I have to say on this matter."
Martin resisted reforms designed to make lawmakers' expenses more transparent and fought to block publication of the expense claims. But lawmakers themselves have been reluctant to expose their sometimes lavish spending, and Martin's defenders said he was taking the fall for their avarice.
The announcement came a day after Martin ignored calls to resign, invoking parliamentary procedure to stall debate on a motion of no-confidence intended to force him out. Lawmakers, normally respectful of the speaker, had to be called to order repeatedly by Martin as he tried to make himself heard.