A sad day for Parliament

Today was a sad day for Parliament, that democratic instrument set up to safeguard liberty and make laws, and which should ordinarily command our respect. Michael Martin, the Speaker of the House of Commons, has been forced to announce his resignation (which will take effect on 21st June) on the grounds that he's mishandled the crisis of the MP's expenses and failed to carry through reforms which might have prevented it in the first place. As a layman in the provinces (the Province of York to be precise) I get the feeling that Mr Martin has been treated as a scapegoat - the ritual 'sacrificial lamb' if you like. He is no more to blame for the crisis than the Prime Minister or, indeed those MP's of all parties, who've been judged guilty of making excessive claims upon the public purse. Should not all the MP's who've claimed excessive expenses resign instead?

Furthermore, when the scandal broke it would, left to its own devices, have died the death within 48 hours. However an aggressive and unscrupulous media, keen to exploit the Freedom of Information Act for all it's worth, has perpetuated the saga for a fortnight or more. Oh that Prince William would get engaged and provide the media with some other amusement! The great British public must be heartily sick of hearing about MP's and their alleged dodgy expenses claims. Clearly the system which allows such claims needs reforming or, better still, scrapping altogether. Perhaps one way would be for Members of Parliament who have to stay for late sittings to be provided with some sort of hostel accommodation with decent but basic facilities, free of charge. If they wanted to make their own arrangements they could continue to do so - but at their own expense.

Whatever changes are needed, they should be introduced as speedily and as painlessly as possible. However it is unprecedented in modern history for the Speaker of the House of Commons, constitutionally the third most important person in the land, to be forced from office in the despicable manner in which Mr Martin has been treated. It last happened in 1695 and we must hope that it doesn't happen again for at least another 300 years. :mad:

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