Disorder in the House and a threat of suspension ...

Mrs Rigby notes this, from PMQ today :

Mr. Speaker: Order. Remember that there is a danger of the House being suspended if people continue to shout. That is the danger, and there will be no Prime Minister’s Question Time. [Interruption.] That goes for both sides of the House.

Wondering, obliquely, what would be the reaction if he tried this on a group of noisy yoof who were making a nuisance of themselves near his home ...

Another beheading?

Mrs Rigby noticed in the "Today in History" widget that on 19th April 1536 Anne Boleyn was beheaded, having been charged with adultery. It might have had something to do with her not providing Henry VIII with a male heir, something he rather desperately wanted, and his close friends decided to find a way of getting rid of an inconvenience.

It's sad to read that

After Anne's arrival at the Tower in April 1536 it was noted that her behaviour oscillated from a resigned calmness to occasional bouts of hysteria and depression. One moment she would be laughing, sometimes maniacally, the next weeping uncontrollably.

Mrs R, unfortunately, can't help but compare Anne's situation with that of Michael Martin, a no doubt decent man who has found himself in a role that he longed for, but can no longer control, and who may find that today he loses his position, but not his head.

The Speaker holds one of the highest positions in the land, standing in precedent only below the Archbishops, the Prime Minister and The Lord President of the Council (Mrs R had to look that one up here) It is a crucially important position, one that has a noble history. It is a role that has the full support of Parliament, but, unfortunately for Mr Martin there are only very few staunch Labour politicians support him, and wish him to remain as Speaker. One of them was reported as suggesting that the "campaign" to oust Mr Martin had been launched by middle class English people who've got something against the Scottish working classes. (Mrs R can't find the quote). This, Mrs R thinks, is ridiculous.

Mrs Rigby has long held the belief that when a person accuses another of something that is far-fetched and bigoted it's often because it's something that that particular individual might do to their own enemies. So, she wonders if it's the case that there are some Scottish people in Parliament who actually hold a grudge against a) the English b) "middle" classes, whatever they may be. Surely not, not in this day and age where equality rules supreme.

All that, though, is by the by, because Mrs R has noticed that Mr Martin might be tendering his resignation this afternoon.

Mrs Rigby is aware that he may be considered a scapegoat, but unfortunately there often has to be one, otherwise long standing, difficult, problems are not resolved.

Mrs R believes that if Mr Martin resigns with dignity he will be setting an excellent example to other politicians, of all parties, some of whom should also do the decent thing and resign their posts.
..........
Update

Mr Martin has indeed resigned and did so, Mrs R believes, with dignity.

These are his words.

"Since I came to this House 30 years ago, I have always felt that 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 21st.
This will allow the House to proceed to elect a new Speaker on Monday June 22nd.
That is all I have to say on this matter."

The Speaker said, "No!"

Mrs Rigby has just watched the Speaker make a statement regarding MP's expenses and so on.

Following this statement several MPs asked when time would be given to debate Douglas Carswell's motion of no confidence in the Speaker.

Mr Martin said it was an "Early Day Motion", and needed to be a "Substantive Motion" in order to be debated. When challenged he acknowledged that he might have made a mistake, and sought advice - but luckily he got the response he wanted. (Mrs R didn't expect otherwise.)

Mr Martin also said it was up to government to decide whether the matter be debated or not.

Mrs R thought there were times when opposition parties were allowed to choose what was, and wasn't, debated - on Opposition Days. She thought the Speaker should be aware of this - so perhaps she's wrong.

Mrs R thinks this is a sad day for Parliament.

Text of Motion of no confidence in the Speaker.

Taken directly from Douglas Carswell's blog here

The text of tomorrow's motion

Tomorrow I will be tabling the following motion in the House of Commons:

No confidence in the Speaker

"That this House has no confidence in Mr Speaker and calls for him to step down; notes that Mr Speaker has failed to provide leadership in matters relating to hon. Members' expenses; believes that a new Speaker urgently needs to be elected by secret ballot, free from manipulation by party Whips, under Standing Order No. 1B; and believes that a new Speaker should proceed to reform the House in such a way as to make it an effective legislature once again."

I already have the signatures of a growing number of MPs on both sides of the Commons.

Please contact your local MP and ask them if they intend to sign it.

Posted on 17 May 2009 by Douglas Carswell

See also this post on his site for updates.

Nepotism doesn't always work out.

Michael Martin seems determined to hang on to his position as Speaker until next year. A headline in the Mail says, "Michael Martin to quit, but not until after next Election to install son in hereditary seat and claim £100,000 golden parachute"

The story goes on to explain the thinking behind this plan, and how Mr Martin is determined to make sure his son, Paul, enters Parliament, through the route of a "safe" Glasgow seat. "Safe", Mrs Rigby presumes, because that constituency has traditionally returned a Labour candidate.

Mrs R has an inkling of how voters are thinking just now. She has a feeling that any politician who lets the media think they're "safe" is probably in for a very rude awakening. She's heard plenty of people saying they'd rather vote for somebody else, anybody else - even the Monster Raving Loony Party - instead of one of the few greedy, self-seeking individuals who see themselves above the rules of decent behaviour, and who aren't above pinching the petty cash if they think nobody's looking.

Mrs Rigby's notes to Mr Martin ...

* The electorate can see how you behave when you're at work - it was, perhaps, a sad day for you when they let television cameras into the House. Those with short memories can read your words in Hansard.

* Voters know you have been stubbornly refusing to change the rules relating to MPs expenses, they know you have spent vast sums of taxpayers money fighting a court ruling to make them public.

* The electorate knows you have been rude to MPs, they know that you yourself have seen fit to claim additional allowances when you already earn - according to Parliament's own FAQs here - £141,866.

* Voters might decide that you and your family have taken more than enough taxpayers money, and want to give somebody else a chance. Your voters might even choose an SNP candidate over Labour.

* Many people, Mr Martin, will have read or heard anecdotally, that you said,
"I have been a trade unionist all my life. I did not come into politics not to take what is owed to me."
There are people on a minimum wage who pay their Union fees knowing full well that a percentage of every single union subscription automatically goes to the Labour Party - to pay people like you to represent them and their interests in Parliament. That money is not intended to help you do your job, line your pocket.

* Take note, Mr Martin, of what has happened to 22 year old Georgina Gould, who had set her heart on being Labour parliamentary candidate for Erith and Thamesmead. Georgina's Dad was given a peerage by that nice Mr Blair, probably because he helped found New Labour, and Georgina's candidacy was publicly supported by Alistair Campbell and Tessa Jowell. There were some shenanigans with voting, silly nonsense about a ballot box and postal votes, which seems to have been brushed under the carpet. But, in the end, even an all-female shortlist couldn't help her and she came last, so will not stand for election to Parliament - not in that constituency anyway.

So, you see Mr Martin, nepotism doesn't always work out the way you want it to. It isn't always possible for people like you to draw up the ladder behind you once you've reached the top.

Actually, Mr Martin, Mrs Rigby thinks you should go now, straight away, before you are allowed to do any more damage to either the position of Speaker, the UK Parliament or the way the rest of the world views this country. If you were a man of honour you would know this is for the best - for the country you claim to serve.

Mrs R doesn't think you should be able to work out a long notice, giving you the opportunity to cause whatever mischief you choose in the interim. She thinks you should be given a large cardboard box and be ordered to clear your desk - with a security guard watching - the same as can happen within the private sector.

Frank Field is first!

Actually, Mrs Rigby doesn't know if he is first, but he's the first she has noticed in her wanderings round the internet.

Frank Field, who is Member of Parliament for Birkenhead, has published his expenses on his website. They can be found on the front page of his site, which is here

Hat's off to you Mr Field, for doing the decent thing.

Separately, Iain Dale had an informal poll for, asking visitors to his site who they would most like to see as Speaker. 2,100 people (members of the public who visit his blog) voted and this answer caught my eye. Mrs R hopes he doesn't mind it being shown here.

who you would like to succeed Michael Martin
Frank Field 19%
Sir Ming Campbell 18%
Sir George Young 15%
Kate Hoey 13%
David Davis 6%
Sir Alan Haselhurst 6%
Ken Clarke 5%
Alan Beith 4%
John Bercow 3%
Keith Simpson 3%
Sir Patrick Cormack 3%
Richard Shepherd 2%

Mrs Rigby thinks Mr Field would make an excellent Speaker, but she thinks his job on the back benches is more important to his constituents.

Mrs Rigby was not amused.

Mrs Rigby was not amused to see The Speaker wagging his finger at Kate Hoey when she asked a question about Police involvement in the expenses saga. It's the sort of thing she would expect an irate parent to do, when confronted with a petulant child.

It seemed that Mr Martin was a bit annoyed that the media have been publishing details of MPs expenses and allowances, something he's been trying rather desperately to avoid. He must have been in a very bad mood because he was also curt with Norman Baker and Patricia Hewitt.

The Speaker is meant to defend the Commons, and represent all Members of Parliament, not attack them if they say something he, personally, doesn't like, so it's a bit odd that a spokesman for Mr Brown later said he thought The Speaker was doing a good job.

It looks as if a few MPs thought the same as Mrs Rigby, because Douglas Carswell has tabled a cross party motion calling for Mr Martin to step down.

We'll have to wait and see what happens next.