On this “sad day for democracy”, the speaker Michael Martin said that “I have always felt that the House is at its best when it is united” — and they were united against him, so he’s gone by June 21st and furthermore:
Mr Martin’s spokeswoman said he would stand down as MP for Glasgow North East on June 21, sparking a by-election in what has been considered a safe Labour seat.
Later in a written statement Commons leader Harriet Harman paid tribute to Mr Martin’s “passionate commitment to the House” and said he had served “with distinction”.
She said: “Michael Martin’s resignation today as Speaker is an act of great generosity to the House of Commons that Members of Parliament from all parties will respect.”
Labour MP Paul Flynn, who was among those who signed the no confidence motion, told the BBC it had been “painful” to see the Speaker forced out but it was inevitable.
Do not feel bad for Michael Martin — no doubt as an ex-member of parliament and ex-speaker he has a pension waiting for him you and I can only dream of. As is of course the case for all these disgraced MPs leaving parliament “at the next election”….