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.