Mea culpa, mea culpa - but only cos I got found out...

I have just watched Shaun Woodward, the millionaire Labour MP with seven homes, on Newsnight saying that the the expenses fiddles are terrible and the system must be changed. How many of the MPs now decrying the system would be saying that if the public had never found out about it? As for the disgraceful and terminally stupid Speaker Martin who tried to block publication of MPs expenses and exempt MPs from FOI, he should resign immediately.

Time for Mr Speaker to be silent...

Labour MPs are rallying around the Speaker Michael Martin.

Former foreign secretary Margaret Beckett says, “What I don't understand is why there have been a whole string of nasty little stories about Mr Martin. Somebody is out to get him.”

Business Secretary John Hutton said, “He is a decent man and a good Speaker of the House of Commons.”

No, he isn’t. He is the worst Speaker of the House since Selwyn Lloyd. Martin has flown members of his family in business class from Glasgow to London for a New Year break, using air miles gained from official trips. He has claimed £17,000 a year mortgage relief for his home in Scotland even though there is not mortgage on that home and £7,500 in costs for using that home as an office.

He lets Gordon Brown get away with murder at PMQs and has used public money to fund personal legal matters.

He is a disgrace and should go immediately.