Campaign to oust Speaker gains cross-party support

At least 15 MPs today backed a historic motion of no confidence in Commons Speaker Michael Martin.

Six Conservative, six Liberal Democrat and three Labour MPs put their names to the move to force out a Speaker for the first time in more than 300 years.

The motion, drawn up by Tory backbencher Douglas Carswell, leaves Mr Martin facing an unprecedented battle to cling onto his job until the next general election.

In a sign that support for Mr Martin is ebbing away, Business Secretary Lord Mandelson became the latest Cabinet minister not to give him his full backing.

Lib-Dem leader Nick Clegg has called on the Speaker to quit and shadow foreign secretary William Hague has branded him a "problem" — but stopped short of urging him to go.

The 14 other MPs who have agreed to sign Mr Carswell's motion include former shadow home secretary David Davis, senior Conservative backbencher Richard Shepherd, Tory Richard Bacon, who has twice been named parliamentarian of the year, Labour MP Kate Hoey and Lib-Dem health spokesman Norman Lamb.

The others are Tories Philip Hollobone, the MP who claimed the least expenses in 2007/08, and Philip Davies, Labour's Paul Flynn and Gordon Prentice, and Lib-Dems Norman Baker, Lynne Featherstone, Jo Swinson, Stephen Williams and John Hemmings.

In addition, Lib-Dem MP Chris Huhne is among a group of MPs who have signalled that they will put their name to the motion.

Mr Martin's supporters went on the offensive this morning, accusing his critics in the House of being "cowardly" and spreading "poison" — and the media of treating him like a "paedophile". Labour MP Jim Sheridan said: "They attack a man who can't defend himself."

But Tory leader David Cameron made clear that only parliamentary protocol was stopping him from revealing his true feelings about the Speaker and called for a "swift" resolution to the crisis.

Ahead of an emergency statement to the Commons by Mr Martin, Mr Cameron said: "The whole point of the Speaker is he must be above party politics.

"So, it would not be right for the official Opposition to call for him to go or to force him to go. But clearly this issue has to be resolved and resolved quickly."

A growing number of MPs were today publicly demanding that Mr Martin step down. "We need a leader who can speak for the whole of the Commons and is trusted by MPs and the country as a whole," said Mr Bacon, who sits on the Commons public accounts committee. "I'm afraid that's not Michael Martin."

If ousted, the Glasgow North East MP would become the first Speaker to be forced out since Sir John Trevor was expelled from Parliament in March 1695 after taking a £1,000 bribe from the Corporation of London.

Asked about Mr Martin's future, Lord Mandelson said: "That's a purely House of Commons matter. It would be really unacceptable if the Government started weighing in and trying to tell the House of Commons what to do."

MPs are discussing installing as "caretaker" Speaker an MP who is retiring at the next general election, so Westminster can immediately start to rebuild its reputation.

A "caretaker" Speaker could address Tory opposition to another Labour or a Liberal Democrat MP being elected to this key post for another five or 10 years.

MPs likely to win support for such a role are likely to include Labour's Tony Wright, the chairman of the all-party public administration committee, Father of the House Labour MP Alan Williams, who has the fifth lowest expense claims despite living 200 miles from Westminster, independent-minded former Tory minister Ann Widdecombe, or Conservative MP Michael Jack, chairman of the environment, food and rural affairs.

Mr Martin was today due to outline plans to tackle the sleaze storm which his allies hope will allow him to continue until the election.