Harman and Beckett refuse to back Martin

Support for Speaker Michael Martin drained away today, with two senior ministers refusing to express confidence in him.

Commons leader Harriet Harman refused to endorse him, while housing minister Margaret Beckett made clear he had made mistakes.

Ms Harman was asked repeatedly by Jeremy Paxman on Newsnight to say she had full confidence in Mr Martin but she replied: "I am not saying I have full confidence in anything or anybody."

Speaking this morning, Mrs Beckett said she did not blame Ms Harman for her cautious reply. "I don't blame Harriet for not wanting to be put in the position whereby she is somehow taking responsibility which is not hers."

However, today Downing Street said the Prime Minister had confidence in the Speaker and Labour MP Stephen Pound - a friend of the Speaker - said of Ms Harman: "It's not collegiate or comradely but I'm sure she has her reasons."

Two Tory MPs, Richard Bacon and Douglas Carswell, have called on Mr Martin to quit because of the row over the raid on Tory MP Damian Green's Westminster office. Mr Bacon said the case showed that Mr Martin had "failed in his fundamental duty".