Michael Martin to get a Peerage?.

[Lonnie]

If this is true, it can only be a bribe to keep his mouth shut..

Absolutely disgusting, and has to be another nail in Labours coffin, although, and I don't know exactly how these things work, but if the Queens approval has to be sought, I hope she shows a bit of gumption and refuses.

Not a question, just my opinion/

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-118389 7/Arise-Lord-Gorbals-Peerage-1-4m-pension-sham ed-Speaker-quit-34-seconds.html

[jake-the-peg]

No read this carefully.

This is Nigel Lawson creating a "straw man" argument

We set up a fake, probably indefinsible proposition and then attack it violently before announcing triumph!

Michael Martin has been an MP for years and still warrents his pension. His greatest crime is not presiding over this system which has also been the case for Betty Boothroyd, George Thomas and all the other respected speakers but his unwillingness to bring about change.

There is no question that should be denied his pension but nobody as far as I know has suggested that he should receive a peerage!

This is simply clever politicking aimed at conning the gullible and cynical into thinking there was a conspiracy to do so.

[sqad617]

A Peerage goes with the job, some people say he was a good speaker, some people say he was a poor speaker......matter of opinion.

It matters not a jot to me and will not affect MY life in anyway.

[rov1200]

Now that Jack Jones is no longer with us he could be a replacement in the Lords for a new shop steward.

[New Judge]

It is customary for Speakers of the House of Commons to receive a Life Peerage upon their retirement and as far as I can see all holders of the post since 1800 (apart from those who died in office and one who declined the honour) have been elevated to the upper House.

Speaker Martin is certainly the worst I can recall. He was not up to the job in the first place, let alone in recent months when he has been called upon to show leadership in the expenses affair. Don�t forget as well his lamentable performance in the Damien Green affair. The blame for his election, however, rests with MPs.

The previous three holders of the post (George Thomas, Bernard Wetherill and Betty Boothroyd) demonstrated the way the job should be done and I imagine each of them would have handled the current situation far more competently.

Nonetheless Martin will almost certainly be offered his peerage as most MPs see him as an �honourable� (if incompetent) man.

His pension rights should not be an issue. If everybody who was inept was denied their agreed pension, there would be a lot of poor pensioners around.

[anotheoldgit]

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2009/05/20/arti cle-1183897-0503A670000005DC-375_468x286.jpg

Whatever he gets he defiantly wont make a fortune out of Public Speaking, taking into account he only had 72 words in his 34 seconds farewell speech to remember off pat, but instead he had to read them from a paper.

ORDER, ORDER!!!!!!! he seemed to remember these two words well enough.

[R1Geezer]

His greatest crime jake is trying to bury the whole expenses fiasco and then having a go at anyone who dared critcise it. Ie defending the indefensible.

Yes it is traditional for the speaker to be kicked up stairs, in the case I think they should break with tradition and send the old scroat back up to Glasgow premanently.

[Haggisdj]

I LOVE defending the indefensible!! It's on 5Live every Saturday lunchtime at the end of Fighting Talk.

[youngmafbog]

R1, just like my piles - much better when they go back up again.

Can he take a few of his Jock mates with him. McBottle for instance ?

[Lonnie]

Thanks for your replies, and I agree, its his 'right' to be elevated into the house of Lords, but in his case, after what he's presided over, and allowed to happen, this right should be stopped.