Speaker: snobs are out of order

Commons Speaker Michael Martin has told friends he is the victim of "snobs" in the Cabinet, intensifying the row over his role in Parliament.

Mr Martin, whose handling of MPs' debates has come under constant fire, feels some ministers are prejudiced against Scots and the working classes. His allies also believe he is being attacked because he has insisted that ministers go to the Commons to make policy announcements, rather than trail them in the media.

The fightback comes after Mr Martin was criticised for his performance at Prime Minister's Questions-last Wednesday, when he told Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith he could not attack Mr Blair over the financing of Labour by the unions. He then told the Prime Minister he could not attack the Tory Party's politics, but had to stick to discussing Government policy.

A senior Tory source has told the Evening Standard that Mr Blair was livid. The source said: "When Blair walked out of the Chamber, he was visibly fuming, spitting blood." In The Times today, an anonymous friend of Mr Martin is quoted as saying: "There is a snob element in all this, and it amounts to senior people in the Labour Party trying to pick the Speaker to suit themselves."

Tam Dalyell, Father of the House - the longest-serving MP - today said Mr Martin was right to stop Mr Blair attacking Tory policy in Parliament.

Mr Blair's official spokesman said he was not aware of Mr Blair having a "rethink" on the way he deals with questions. But he added: "The Speaker is perfectly entitled to point out his interpretation of the rules, and the PM will abide by them."