Why hasn't the

[Bobbisox]

PM done anything at all about the Commons scandal, he's happier posing with Beckham and Rooney while the country is asking for heads to roll. michael Martin's pathetic auti-cued apology has only heightened these demands, if he doesn't step down as speaker, then he should be sacked, saving the tax-payer yet more money when it come to the GE in June 2010, when he would receive a handsome golden handshake, GB, is doing absolutley sweet fa about this,,,hoping it will just go away attitude.

[Bobbisox]

but there could be a vote of no confidence in the speaker zac??
by GB distancing himself, he has weakened an already weakened position, he isn't a leader at all, what's more worrying, come a GE, just who do you vote for they are all at it, They could print a list of the MPs who haven't taken the public to the cleaners, their voices should be heard too

[Bobbisox]

yes, alas zac, that is surely the case, I don't see an alternative with Mr Cameron and Mr Clegg tho' do you?

[Bobbisox]

I am doing a serious stint today on News,,,,lol, but no doubt the CBers will find me,,,,lol

[sqad617]

Joy....I have always known that you are multi-talented....bingo, socks and shares, jewelry expert and now politics.
Lucky man,,,,that Mr. Joy.

Back to the speaker....he will be gone in the next 2 days, BUT should not be used as a scapegoat for the MP's expenses row.

For me, most of the perks scandal are "no big deal" but the flippin and mortgage interest claims when the mortgage has been payed off is scandalous.

[jake-the-peg]

Yes, I think we should be careful of the impulse to tar them all with the same brush.

Some have been stupid allegations that are neither here nor there, some more serious and a few have been close to if not actually criminal.

But the speaker does not report to Gordon Brown he's elected by the whole house.

It's really tricky because if they set a precident of hiring and firing speakers that one side or other disapproved of there would be nothing to stop the same thing happening in future for political reasons.

If you heard Cameron on the Today program this morning, he was really trying to avoid calling for MM's resignation too and for the same reason

That's why it would be so much better for MM to step down rather than have a vote of no confidence force him to.

[sqad617]

Zac.... we hav all done it and would do it if we had the chance..........however the "flippin" and mortgages ARE a scandal.

[albaqwerty]

breaking news, MM resigning at 2.30 this afternoon when he makes a speech in the House. 32 backbenchers have voted a no-confidence in him.

[McMouse]

Just announced MM resignation.

[Bobbisox]

Hi sqad pet, multi-tasker that's me...lo
if this is true about MM, then good, let him crawl back noth of the border to lick his wounds, I agree totally about the "flippin" Hazel Blears should be the next little gnome to step down,,,

[Bobbisox]

yes, just seen it, he's going this afternoon, he has played a big part in this scandal by putting forward a motion in the house making MPs exempt from scrutiny, this was to go through next January, then we would never have found out.
A motion in the house becomes midful of just what this lot are,,,lol

[Simon-Bloom]

The Speaker was removed 300 years ago so the same could potentially happen today. The whole House of Commons needs a v good shake up or kick up the jacksie anyhow. Our government are a big embarrasment to the whole of the UK yet alone the rest of the world+ the opposition are not a great deal better it would seem either. The saintly MP's with little or very low extra expenses are in the minority, sadly. The Speaker needs to have a backbone especially a moral backbone as does the whole house of commons or else our honorary members are far from honourable. Scandal in politics will take longer to erradicate than swine flu, most probably.

[Simon-Bloom]

One less dishonourable MP is good, yet, this is just one of many that urgently need to go in this circus of clowns.

[Totterdown]

There have been many MPs that appear to have abused the system from all parties and it is wrong whoever did it and from whatever party. Perhaps the person on this thread who listed all Labour MPs would care to remember that and not just pick out Labour MPs.

[lankeela]

MM is being used as a scapegoat - giving us a sacrificial lamb to take our attention away from the fraudsters.

If someone overclaims (or is overpaid) on benefits they risk jail if they don't pay it back.

[brionon]

Where are the ''It's all the fault of Europe'' brigade ?