View source for Michael Martin, Baron Martin of Springburn

{{Short description|British politician (1945–2018)}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{For|other people named Michael Martin|Michael Martin (disambiguation){{!}}Michael Martin}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix    = [[The Right Honourable]]
| name                = The Lord Martin of Springburn
| honorific-suffix    = {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100|PC}}
| image               = File:Michael_Martin_MP.jpg
| caption             = 
| office              = [[Speaker of the House of Commons (United Kingdom)|Speaker of the House of Commons<br>of the United Kingdom]]
| term_start          = 23 October 2000
| term_end            = 21 June 2009<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2009-05-19c.1323.0&s=speaker:10420|title=Speaker's Statement|website=TheyWorkForYou}}</ref>
| monarch             = [[Elizabeth II]]
| predecessor         = [[Betty Boothroyd]]
| successor           = [[John Bercow]]
| office2             = [[Chairman of Ways and Means|Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons<br>First Deputy Chairman of Ways and Means]]
| term_start2         = 14 May 1997
| term_end2           = 23 October 2000
| 1blankname2         = Speaker
| 1namedata2          = Betty Boothroyd
| predecessor2        = [[Geoffrey Lofthouse]]
| successor2          = [[Sylvia Heal]]
| office3             = Member of the [[House of Lords]]<br />[[Lord Temporal]]
| term_start3         = 25 August 2009
| term_end3           = 29 April 2018<br />[[Life peer]]age
| office4             = [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]]<br />for [[Glasgow North East]]<br />{{nobold|[[Glasgow Springburn (UK Parliament constituency)|Glasgow Springburn]] (1979–2005)}}
| term_start4         = 3 May 1979
| term_end4           = 22 June 2009
| predecessor4        = [[Richard Buchanan (politician)|Richard Buchanan]]
| successor4          = [[Willie Bain]]
| birth_name          = Michael John Martin
| birth_date          = {{Birth date|1945|7|3|df=y}}
| birth_place         = [[Glasgow]], Scotland
| death_date          = {{Death date and age|2018|4|29|1945|7|3|df=y}}
| death_place         = Glasgow, Scotland
| party               = [[Crossbench]]
| otherparty          = {{plainlist|
* [[Speaker of the House of Commons (United Kingdom)|Speaker]] (2000–2009)
* [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] (1966–2000)}}
| spouse              = {{marriage|Mary McLay|1966}}
| relations           =
| children            = 2 (including [[Paul Martin (Scottish politician)|Paul]])
| residence           =
| alma_mater          =
| occupation          =
| profession          =
| signature           =
| website             =
}}
'''Michael John Martin, Baron Martin of Springburn''', {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100|PC}} (3 July 1945 – 29 April 2018) was a Scottish politician who served as [[Speaker of the House of Commons (United Kingdom)|Speaker of the House of Commons]] between 2000 and 2009. A member of the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]] prior to becoming speaker, he was the [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]] (MP) for [[Glasgow Springburn (UK Parliament constituency)|Glasgow Springburn]] from [[1979 United Kingdom general election|1979]] to [[2005 United Kingdom general election|2005]] and for [[Glasgow North East]] until 2009. He was [[2000 Speaker of the British House of Commons election|elected]] as Speaker of the House of Commons in 2000, remaining in the office for nine years until his involuntary resignation in 2009.

On his election to the post of Speaker in 2000, he was the first Catholic to serve in the role since the [[English Reformation|Reformation]].<ref name="BBC Profile 17May2009"/> He resigned from the position on 21 June 2009,<ref>{{cite web |title=The Rt Hon. the Lord Martin of Springburn – Parliamentary career – MPs and Lords – UK Parliament |url=https://members.parliament.uk/member/3899/career |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=4 November 2019}}</ref> as a result of diminishing parliamentary and public confidence owing to his role in the [[United Kingdom parliamentary expenses scandal|expenses scandal]].<ref name="BBCQuit">{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8057203.stm |title=Speaker quits 'for sake of unity' |publisher=BBC News |date=19 May 2009 |access-date=21 March 2010 }}</ref> He stood down from the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]] on the following day.<ref name="Northstead">{{cite press release |title=Manor of Northstead |publisher=[[HM Treasury]] |date=22 June 2009 |url=http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/press_59_09.htm |access-date=14 January 2011 |archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20100407212614/http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/press_59_09.htm |archive-date=7 April 2010}}</ref>

==Early life==
Martin was born on 3 July 1945 in William Street in [[Glasgow]], the son of a [[Maritime transport|merchant seaman]] and a school cleaner.<ref name="Kirkintilloch Herald 2003">{{cite news |url=https://www.kirkintilloch-herald.co.uk/news/john-egan-meets-glasgow-springburn-mp-michael-martin-speaker-of-the-house-of-commons-1-363317 |title=John Egan meets Glasgow Springburn MP Michael Martin, Speaker of the House of Commons |work=Kirkintilloch Herald |date=17 September 2003 |access-date=30 April 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite encyclopedia |date=2007-12-01 |title=Martin of Springburn |encyclopedia=Who's Who |language=en |publisher=Oxford University Press |doi=10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.26818 }}</ref> He was one of five children,<ref name="Guardian profile 2001">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2001/mar/19/michaelmartin |title=Michael Martin. Glasgow Springburn (1979-) | first=Andrew |last=Roth |work=The Guardian|date=19 March 2001 |access-date=29 April 2018}}</ref> and was brought up in a [[tenement]] community in [[Anderston]]. The family later moved to [[Springburn]] when Michael was fourteen years old.<ref name="Herald perspective 10May2006">{{cite news |url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12441295._apos_I_think_of_doctors_like_mechanics_with_a_car__And_I_apos_ve_had_a_fine_tune_apos__A_heart_attack_put_a_lot_of_things_in_perspective_for_Commons_Speaker_Michael_Martin__But__he_tells_Deborah_Summers__he_apos_s_still_a_man_on_a_mission/ |title='I think of doctors like mechanics with a car. And I've had a fine-tune' |first=Deborah |last=Summers |work=The Herald |date=10 May 2006 |access-date=29 April 2018}}</ref> He attended St Patrick's Boys' School, leaving a few days before his fifteenth birthday to become an apprentice [[sheet metal]] worker at a factory called Heatovent.<ref name="Kirkintilloch Herald 2003"/> He worked at a railway yard in Springburn for the train engine makers North British Caledonian Railways and became involved in the [[National Union of Sheet Metal Workers and Coppersmiths]].<ref name="Guardian profile 2001"/> He joined the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]] when aged 21.<ref name="Kirkintilloch Herald 2009">{{cite news |url=https://www.kirkintilloch-herald.co.uk/news/michael-martin-speaks-out-on-a-prestigious-career-1-361779 |title=Michael Martin speaks out on a prestigious career |work=Kirkintilloch Herald |date=24 June 2009 |access-date=1 May 2018}}</ref> He worked as a sheet-metal worker with [[Rolls-Royce Limited|Rolls-Royce]] from 1960 to 1976, and<ref name="Parliament biography">{{cite web|url=https://www.parliament.uk/biographies/lords/lord-martin-of-springburn/3899 |title=Lord Martin of Springburn |publisher=[[Parliament of the United Kingdom]] |access-date=29 April 2018}}</ref> worked at the plant at [[Hillington, Scotland|Hillington]]. By his mid-twenties, he was a full-time [[Union representative|shop steward]] with the [[Amalgamated Union of Engineering Workers]].<ref name="Herald obituary">{{cite news |url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/opinion/16192361.Obituary___Michael_Martin__former_Commons_speaker_criticised_for_handling_of_expenses_scandal/ |title=Obituary – Michael Martin, former Commons speaker criticised for handling of expenses scandal |work=The Herald |date=29 April 2018 |access-date=1 May 2018}}</ref>

At the age of 27, in [[1973 Glasgow Corporation election|1973]], Martin was elected as a Labour councillor of the [[Glasgow Corporation]], representing the Fairfield ward in the [[Govan]] area. In [[1974 Glasgow City District Council election|1974]], he was elected to the City of Glasgow District Council, representing the [[Balornock]] ward.<ref name="Kirkintilloch Herald 2009"/> He was a [[trade union]] organiser with the [[National Union of Public Employees]] (NUPE) between 1976 and 1979.<ref name="Parliament biography"/>

==Early parliamentary career==
In 1978, Martin was selected by the Labour Party out of five prospective candidates to replace [[Richard Buchanan (politician)|Richard Buchanan]].<ref name="Kirkintilloch Herald 2003"/><ref name="Guardian profile 2001"/> He was elected as the [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]] for [[Glasgow Springburn (UK Parliament constituency)|Glasgow Springburn]] at the [[1979 United Kingdom general election|1979 general election]]. He was a supporter of [[Roy Hattersley]] and [[Denis Healey]], who were ideologically on the right-wing of the party and with whom he served as a [[parliamentary private secretary]] from 1980 to 1983.<ref name="BBC Profile 17May2009">{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/7261396.stm|title=Profile: Michael Martin |work=[[BBC News Online]]|date=17 May 2009|access-date=19 May 2009}}</ref><ref name="Parliament biography"/> He was re-elected in [[1983 United Kingdom general election|1983]], [[1987 United Kingdom general election|1987]], [[1992 United Kingdom general election|1992]] and [[1997 United Kingdom general election|1997]]. Associated with the [[right wing]] of the Labour Party, he was socially conservative on issues such as abortion and homosexuality.<ref name="BBC Profile 17May2009"/> In 1994, he was one of thirteen Labour MPs who voted against the reduction of the [[age of consent]] for homosexuals from 21 to 18.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/gay-age-of-consent-the-vote-on-legality-at-18-1395875.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220514/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/gay-age-of-consent-the-vote-on-legality-at-18-1395875.html |archive-date=14 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Gay Age of Consent: The vote on legality at 18 |newspaper=The Independent |date=23 February 1994 |access-date=30 March 2010 | location=London}}</ref>

He served as Chairman of the [[Scottish Grand Committee]] from 1987 to 1997.<ref name="Herald obituary"/> He sat on the Speaker's Panel of Chairmen 1987–2000. He was appointed as First Deputy [[Chairman of Ways and Means]] (one of three Deputy Speakers) in May 1997.<ref name="Parliament biography"/> Unusually, despite a long Commons career of 30 years, Martin never sat on the government benches, as his party was out of office during his time as a backbencher, and then returned to power as he was elevated to the Deputy Speakership.

==Speakership==
{{main|2000 Speaker of the British House of Commons election}}

In 2000, [[Betty Boothroyd]] retired as Speaker. An election was held in October of that year and twelve MPs put their names forward as potential successors. Many observers had considered the Conservative MP [[George Young, Baron Young of Cookham|George Young]] to be the favourite as he had support from both the Conservative and Labour leadership, who viewed it as the Conservatives' 'turn' to have a Speaker elected from their benches. However, many backbench MPs, particularly those from the Labour Party (who held a large majority in the House at the time), viewed Young as being not sufficiently in touch with ordinary MPs because he had very recently been a member of his party's front bench team. (Young had stepped down from the Shadow Cabinet just before the election for a new Speaker and had been a member of the Cabinet in the Conservative government during the previous parliament.) In the end, the contest was determined by a series of votes that were held during a process that lasted more than six hours on 23 October 2000.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/985427.stm |title=Speaker's election sparks reform calls |publisher=BBC News |date=24 October 2000 |access-date=29 April 2018}}</ref> Martin's rivals were eliminated one by one and Young's candidacy was rejected by the House.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2000/oct/24/speaker2000.politicalnews1 |title=Ex-shop steward Martin is Speaker |first=Michael |last=White |work=The Guardian|date=24 October 2000 |access-date=29 April 2018}}</ref>

Martin was elected as the 156th Speaker on 23 October 2000, becoming the first Catholic to serve in the role since the [[English Reformation|Reformation]].<ref name="BBC Profile 17May2009"/> In accordance with a long-standing convention, Martin resigned from the Labour Party. He eschewed some of the traditional clothing associated with the Speaker's role, appearing without wig, silk stockings and knee breeches.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/tories-plan-to-vote-out-new-speaker-after-election-634702.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220514/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/tories-plan-to-vote-out-new-speaker-after-election-634702.html |archive-date=14 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Tories plan to vote out new Speaker after election |first=Paul |last=Waugh |work=The Independent |date=24 October 2000 |access-date=30 April 2018}}</ref> His [[Glasgow dialect|Glaswegian accent]] led to his being nicknamed "[[Gorbals]] Mick" by [[Quentin Letts]], after the working-class district of Glasgow, although he was actually born on the other side of the river from the Gorbals and represented a constituency a few miles away.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/michael-martin-out-of-order-mr-speaker-9162013.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220514/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/michael-martin-out-of-order-mr-speaker-9162013.html |archive-date=14 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live | title= Michael Martin: Out of order, Mr Speaker |first=Simon |last=Carr | work=The Independent |date=10 November 2001 |access-date=29 April 2018}}</ref>

Martin's initial appointment as Speaker occurred against a recent pattern in the House where the post of Speaker had alternated between the two main political parties (the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]] and the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]]).<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/is-mr-speaker-the-victim-of-a-classist-campaign-in-the-commons-9270746.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220514/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/is-mr-speaker-the-victim-of-a-classist-campaign-in-the-commons-9270746.html |archive-date=14 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Is Mr Speaker the victim of a classist campaign in the Commons? |first=Paul |last=Waugh |work=The Independent |date=12 February 2002| access-date=29 April 2018}}</ref> As his predecessor, [[Betty Boothroyd]], had been a Labour MP, the new Speaker had been expected to emerge from the Conservative benches.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/986496.stm|title=The new Speaker: Michael Martin|work=[[BBC News Online]]|date=23 October 2000}}</ref>

Martin was re-elected as an MP in the [[2001 United Kingdom general election|2001 general election]], with the Conservatives and [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrats]] not challenging him but the [[Scottish National Party]] (SNP) achieving a small swing towards its candidate.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/vote2001/results_constituencies/constituencies/274.stm |title=Vote 2001. Results and constituencies. Glasgow Springburn |publisher=BBC News |access-date=2 May 2018}}</ref> After being returned in the general election, he did not face a contest for the chair—no previous speakers that were returned to the Commons after a general election have. He was re-elected as Speaker, with Young nominating him.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/1386875.stm |title=Commons speaker re-elected |publisher=BBC News |date=13 June 2001 |access-date=30 April 2018}}</ref>

Although the House of Commons has long held a yearly [[hannukiah]] lighting ceremony at the official residence of the Speaker, it never had its own hannukiah and had to borrow one from the local Jewish community every year; despite being a Catholic, Martin arranged in 2003 for the House to have its own hannukiah, which is still used every year.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mplevene.co.uk/blogs/special-commissions/7583367-silver-for-the-house-of-commons |title=Silver for the House of Commons |access-date=2018-10-06}}</ref> Coincidentally, his successor [[John Bercow]] would become the first Jewish Speaker of the House six years later.

In the [[2005 United Kingdom general election|2005 general election]], he stood in the new constituency of [[Glasgow North East]], with the SNP again fielding a candidate against him. He was returned to Parliament.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/vote2005/html/703.stm| title=Result: Glasgow North East (Speaker) |publisher=BBC News |date=23 May 2005 |access-date=29 April 2018}}</ref> He was unopposed in the election to be Speaker.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/4537237.stm |title=Speaker Martin re-elected by MPs |publisher=BBC News |date=11 May 2005 |access-date=29 April 2018}}</ref> Shortly after the 2005 election, when the Liberal Democrat MP [[Patsy Calton]] entered the Commons for the last time to affirm her allegiance from a wheelchair and sign the register, Martin broke with tradition and left the Speaker's Chair to shake her hand and kiss her on the cheek, saying "Welcome home Patsy."<ref>{{cite news| url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8058301.stm | publisher=BBC News | title=Farewell then, Speaker Martin | date=19 May 2009 | access-date=12 May 2010 | first=Sean | last=Curran}}</ref> Calton, who had just been re-elected, had terminal breast cancer and died three days later.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12490220.LibDem_MP_taken_by_ambulance_to_swear_oath_loses_her_long_battle_with_cancer/ |title=LibDem MP taken by ambulance to swear oath loses her long battle with cancer |work=The Herald |date=30 May 2005 |access-date=29 April 2018}}</ref>

On 17 February 2006, Martin had [[angioplasty]] at the [[Glasgow Royal Infirmary]] for blocked coronary arteries.<ref name="Scotsman return 2006">{{cite news |url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/health-secretary-uses-speaker-s-return-to-take-pot-shot-at-scots-nhs-1-1114487 |title=Health Secretary uses Speaker's return to take pot-shot at Scots NHS |first1=Gerri |last1=Peev |first2=Louise |last2=Gray  |work=The Scotsman |date=19 April 2006 |access-date=1 May 2018}}</ref> His office confirmed this on 26 February and indicated that he would be absent from his duties for several weeks.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/4752898.stm |title=Speaker Martin has heart surgery|work=[[BBC News Online]]|date=26 February 2006}}</ref> He returned to the chair on 18 April.<ref name="Scotsman return 2006"/>

===Prime Minister's Questions===
On 1 November 2006, during [[Prime Minister's Questions]], Martin caused uproar in the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]] by ruling out of order a question from [[Leader of the Opposition (United Kingdom)|Opposition Leader]] [[David Cameron]] in which he challenged [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister]] [[Tony Blair]] over the future leadership of the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]]. Martin stated that the purpose of Prime Minister's Questions was for the House to question the Prime Minister on the actions of the government. This caused such dissent amongst MPs that Martin threatened to suspend the session. Cameron re-worded the question to ask about Blair's future as prime minister rather than leader of the Labour Party, which Martin allowed. Conservative MPs threatened to walk out if a similar event occurred in the future.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/player/nol/newsid_6100000/newsid_6106600/6106686.stm?bw=bb&mp=rm | publisher=BBC News | title=Speaker and Cameron dispute | date=1 November 2006 | access-date=12 May 2010}}</ref>

===Personal expenses===
In 2007, Martin used public money to employ lawyers in challenging negative press stories; media law firm [[Carter-Ruck]] was engaged for three months at a cost of more than £20,000. The Liberal Democrat MP [[Norman Baker]] criticised the use of taxpayers' money as a "very expensive" way to issue press releases; the [[TaxPayers' Alliance]] also expressed disapproval.<ref name="bbc_oct07">{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/7039994.stm |date=11 October 2007 |title=Speaker's legal costs criticised |publisher=BBC News |access-date=16 May 2009 }}</ref> Martin was also criticised at the same time for trying to block the publication of details of MPs' £5 million-a-year travel expenses under the [[Freedom of Information Act 2000|Freedom of Information Act]].<ref name="bbc_oct07"/>

On 24 February 2008, [[John Lyon (commissioner)|John Lyon]], the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, was asked by the Taxpayers' Alliance to investigate whether Martin had abused parliamentary expenses and allowances. Lyon was obliged to examine all such complaints although the Commissioner could have ruled that the complaint was unfounded. This followed a week in which Martin's spokesman, the veteran Whitehall communications chief [[Mike Granatt]] of PR agency [[Luther Pendragon]], resigned after admitting that he had unwittingly misled ''[[The Mail on Sunday]]'' over more than £4,000 in taxi expenses incurred by the Speaker's wife, Mary Martin. Granatt blamed unnamed officials, but not the Speaker, for falsely informing him that the expenses were legitimate because Martin's wife had been accompanied by an official on shopping trips to buy food for receptions. In fact, her housekeeper had accompanied her; catering for such receptions is the responsibility of the parliamentary caterers.<ref>{{cite news |first=Nicholas |last=Watt |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2008/feb/25/michaelmartin.whitehall |title=Pressure mounts on Speaker amid complaints over his expenses |newspaper=The Guardian|date=25 February 2008 | location=London |access-date=29 April 2018}}</ref>

On 29 March 2008, ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' revealed that refurbishment of Michael Martin's official residence, [[Speaker's House]], had amounted to £1.7 million over seven years. The house is inside the [[Palace of Westminster]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/labour/1583227/Michael-Martins-home-gets-1.7m-makeover.html |title=Michael Martin's home gets £1.7m makeover |first1=Rachel |last1=Sylvester |first2=Robert |last2=Winnett |work=The Daily Telegraph| location=London | date=29 March 2008 |access-date=29 April 2018}}</ref> On 14 May 2009, ''The Daily Telegraph'' reported that Martin had claimed £1,400 for using chauffeur-driven cars that included visits to [[Celtic Park]], home of [[Celtic Football Club]], and his local Job Centre.<ref>{{cite news|title=Michael Martin: Speaker spent £1,400 on chauffeurs to his local job centre and Celtic Park|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|date=14 May 2009|access-date=15 May 2009|first=Christopher|last=Hope|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/mps-expenses/5298316/Michael-Martin-Speaker-spent-1400-on-chauffeurs-to-his-local-job-centre-and-Celtic-Park.html | location=London}}</ref>

===Damian Green affair===
In November 2008, Conservative immigration spokesman [[Damian Green]] was arrested,<ref name="Arrest">{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/7756013.stm |work=BBC News Online |date=29 November 2008 |title=PM had 'no knowledge' of arrest |access-date=29 April 2018}}</ref> in connection with a police investigation into alleged leaks from the [[Home Office]].<ref name="Sparrow">Andrew Sparrow, [https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2009/nov/02/michael-martin-damian-green-police Michael Martin criticises Commons officials over Damian Green police raid], ''The Guardian'' (2 November 2009).</ref> The MP was detained for nine hours, and his homes and office in the House of Commons office were searched.<ref name="Sparrow"/> Green was never charged with any crime.<ref name="Sparrow"/> The raid on Commons premises angered many MPs, who viewed it as infringement on the democratic prerogatives of parliament.<ref name="Arrest"/><ref name="Sparrow"/>

Martin's spokesperson was asked if he had approved the [[Metropolitan Police]] searching Green's Commons office without a [[search warrant]], and replied: "There is a process to be followed and that was followed."<ref name="Arrest"/> When Parliament reconvened a few days later, Martin read a statement to MPs, stating that "I have been told that the police did not explain, as they are required to do, that ([[Serjeant at Arms of the House of Commons|House serjeant at arms]] [[Jill Pay]]) was not obliged to consent or that a warrant could have been insisted on." Martin also said that Pay had given consent for the search without consulting the [[Clerk of the House of Commons|clerk of the house]]. The Metropolitan Police questioned Martin's account of events, writing in a letter to [[Home Secretary]] [[Jacqui Smith]] that police "explained the nature of the investigation and the purpose of the search" to Pay "and were satisfied that the serjeant at arms understood that police had no power to search in the absence of a warrant and therefore could only do so with her written consent or that of the Speaker."<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2008/dec/04/michael-martin-damian-green| title=Police question Speaker's account of Damian Green affair |first=Deborah |last=Summers |work=The Guardian|date=4 December 2008 |access-date=29 April 2018}}</ref>

Martin later testified that Pay had informed him of the police plans to raid a Commons office and arrest an MP, but was told that the arrest was related to terrorism. In a subsequent statement to a Commons committee investigating the incident, Martin said Pay failed to tell him that the search was being conducted on the basis of a consent form she had signed, rather than on the basis of a search warrant.<ref name="Sparrow"/> Martin criticised Pay's actions and those of the Commons clerk, [[Malcolm Jack]], related to the affair.<ref name="Sparrow"/> A report on the investigation, published in 2010, criticized Martin, writing that as speaker he "failed to exercise the ultimate responsibility, which was his alone, to take control and not merely expect to be informed" and that he "should have been asking the right questions and ... should have taken more responsibility for exercising the authority of his high office."<ref name="TravisSparrow">Alan Travis & Andrew Sparrow, [https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2010/mar/22/michael-martin-damian-green-investigation-police MPs hit out at Michael Martin in Damian Green report], ''The Guardian'' (22 March 2010).</ref> The report also criticized "failings" by multiple parties, including other Commons officials, [[Civil Service (United Kingdom)|civil servants]], and the police, determining that they had made a "quite unnecessary" and "poorly executed" arrest of Green.<ref name="TravisSparrow"/>

===Declaration of British Council expenses===
In 2009, Martin was involved in a row over expenses incurred by MPs on taxpayer-funded [[British Council]] trips. In 2008 Conservative MP [[Mark Lancaster, Baron Lancaster of Kimbolton|Mark Lancaster]] flew business class to [[Bangkok]] with the British Council for a two-day conference, at a cost of £5,018. Labour MP [[Sally Keeble]] flew out economy class and returned business class at a cost of £2,452. MPs must normally declare any hospitality they receive from outside organisations, and the British Council does not appear on a list of bodies whose gifts are exempt from the requirement. Martin signed a special certificate preventing the release of information about these trips, citing "Parliamentary privilege".<ref name="bc">{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/4550620/Speaker-Michael-Martin-in-secrecy-row-over-British-Council-trips.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090211151401/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/4550620/Speaker-Michael-Martin-in-secrecy-row-over-British-Council-trips.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=11 February 2009|title=Speaker Michael Martin in secrecy row over British Council trips |last=Hastings|first=Chris|date=7 February 2009|newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|access-date=25 May 2009 | location=London}}</ref>  This occurred during extensive revelations about MPs expenses.{{Cn|date=September 2024}}

===Resignation===
On 12 May 2009, the BBC reported that Michael Martin was under pressure to resign.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8045092.stm|title=Speaker faces anger over expenses |work=[[BBC News Online]]|date=12 May 2009}}</ref> On 17 May, Liberal Democrat leader [[Nick Clegg]] said that Michael Martin should stand down, saying he had become an obstacle to much-needed reform of Parliament.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2009/may/17/nick-clegg-speaker-michael-martin|title=Nick Clegg calls for Speaker to resign over expenses storm|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|date=17 May 2009 | location=London | first=Toby | last=Helm | access-date=12 May 2010}}</ref> On 19 May, [[Douglas Carswell]] tabled a motion of no confidence, which 22 MPs signed.<ref>{{cite report |url=http://www.parliament.uk/commons/lib/research/rp2009/rp09-060.pdf |publisher=House of Commons Library |page=46 |quote=A motion, in the name of Douglas Carswell and 22 other Members, entitled "No Confidence in the Speaker" |title=Members' allowances (research paper 09/60) |date=25 June 2009 |access-date=21 March 2010 |url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100423150238/http://www.parliament.uk/commons/lib/research/rp2009/rp09-060.pdf |archive-date=23 April 2010 }}</ref> Later that day, Martin announced his intention to resign effective as of 21 June 2009.<ref name="BBCQuit"/> If the motion had been successful in a vote, Martin would have been the first Speaker to be forced out of office by a motion of no confidence since [[John Trevor (speaker)|John Trevor]] in 1695.<ref name="LotBNote">{{cite web |url=http://lordsoftheblog.net/2009/05/19/a-note-on-the-speakership/ |title=A note on the Speakership |website=lordsoftheblog.net |first=Philip |last=Norton |author-link=Philip Norton, Baron Norton of Louth |date=21 October 2009 |access-date=21 March 2010}}</ref> Martin said of his decision to resign:

{{blockquote|Since I came to this House 30 years ago, I have always felt that the House is at its best when it is united. In order that unity can be maintained, I have decided that I will relinquish the office of Speaker on Sunday 21 June. This will allow the House to proceed to elect a new Speaker on Monday 22&nbsp;June. That is all I have to say on this matter.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmhansrd/cm090519/debtext/90519-0001.htm#09051970000004|title=House of Commons Hansard debates for 19 May 2009 (pt 0001)|date=19 May 2009|publisher=[[Hansard]]|access-date=20 May 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2009-05-19a.1323.0|title=Speaker's Statement: 19 May 2009|date=19 May 2009|publisher=Theyworkforyou.com mysociety.org|access-date=20 May 2009}}</ref>}}

He was made the Steward and Bailiff of the [[List of stewards of the Manor of Northstead|Manor of Northstead]] to be able to stand down as an MP on the same date,<ref name="Northstead" /><ref group="note">Members of Parliament are not at liberty to [[Resignation from the House of Commons of the United Kingdom|resign their seats]] because they are given a trust to represent their constituencies; however, taking an "office of profit under the Crown" such as the stewardship of the Manor of Northstead disqualifies an individual from sitting in the House of Commons, and as such is often used by MPs to effectively resign their seats.</ref> forcing a [[2009 Glasgow North East by-election|by-election]] in his [[United Kingdom constituencies|constituency]] of [[Glasgow North East]].<ref name="MPResignation">{{cite web|url=http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Politics/Michael-Martin-Speaker-Of-The-House-Of-Commons-Resigns-Over-MPs-Expenses/Article/200905315284430|title=Commons Speaker Michael Martin Resigns|publisher=[[Sky News]]|date=19 May 2009}}</ref> An [[2009 Speaker of the British House of Commons election|election for Speaker]] was held on 22 June, which was won by [[John Bercow]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8111887.stm |title=Tory MP Bercow is elected Speaker |publisher=BBC News |date=22 June 2009 |access-date=30 April 2018}}</ref>

Speakers are normally elevated to the [[House of Lords]] when they retire, and the government said it considered this a "formality".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/mps-expenses/5357435/Michael-Martin-faces-backlash-over-possible-peerage.html |title=Michael Martin faces backlash over possible peerage |author=Gordon Rayner and Rosa Prince |date=20 May 2009 | work=The Daily Telegraph| location=London}}</ref> A vetting panel for the House of Lords pointed out to Prime Minister [[Gordon Brown]] that nominees had to "enhance rather than diminish" the standing of the house, which some Labour MPs interpreted as a slur against Martin. Sixteen MPs signed a Commons [[Motion (parliamentary procedure)|motion]] requesting that the peer responsible, [[Michael Jay, Baron Jay of Ewelme|Lord Jay]], withdraw his comment.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8132369.stm|title=Labour MPs attack Martin 'slur' |publisher=BBC News|date=3 July 2009|access-date=3 July 2009}}</ref> In accordance with tradition, as soon as Martin's successor as Speaker was installed, the first motion passed by the House of Commons was a resolution directing that a [[humble address]] be presented to [[Elizabeth II|The Queen]], asking her "to confer some signal mark of Her Royal favour" (i.e., a [[peerage]]) upon Martin "for his eminent services during the important period in which he presided with such distinguished ability and dignity in the Chair of this House".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/ex-speaker-michael-martin-to-get-peerage-1727060.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220514/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/ex-speaker-michael-martin-to-get-peerage-1727060.html |archive-date=14 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Ex-Speaker Michael Martin to get peerage |first=Joe |last=Churcher |work=The Independent |date=1 July 2009 |access-date=30 April 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmvote/90622v01.htm |title=House of Commons Votes and Proceedings. 22 June 2009 |publisher=Parliament of the United Kingdom|access-date=28 March 2015}}</ref>

==Life peerage and death==
Martin was made a [[life peer]] on 25 August 2009 as '''Baron Martin of Springburn''', ''of [[Port Dundas]] in the City of Glasgow''.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/notice/L-59170-907766|title=Crown Office announcement|newspaper=The London Gazette|date=28 August 2009|access-date=29 December 2019}}</ref> He was [[Introduction (House of Lords)|introduced]] in the [[House of Lords]] on 13 October 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23756083-ex-commons-speaker-michael-martin-takes-lords-seat.do|title=Ex-Commons speaker Michael Martin takes Lords seat – News – London Evening Standard<!-- Bot generated title -->|access-date=18 October 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091020121105/http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23756083-ex-commons-speaker-michael-martin-takes-lords-seat.do|archive-date=20 October 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref> Like previous Speakers elevated to the Lords, he sat as a [[Crossbench]] peer.<ref name="Parliament biography"/>

Martin took a leave of absence from the House of Lords on 13 September 2017.<ref name="Parliament biography"/> Following a short illness, he died on 29 April 2018.<ref name="Guardian">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/apr/29/michael-martin-former-speaker-of-the-commons-dies-aged-72|title=Michael Martin, former Speaker of the Commons, dies aged 72|work=The Guardian|date=29 April 2018|access-date=29 April 2018}}</ref><ref name=BBC_obit>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-43941759|title=Ex-Commons Speaker Lord Martin dies aged 72|date=2018-04-29|publisher=BBC News|access-date=2018-04-29|language=en-GB}}</ref> Tributes were paid by current and former politicians, including then Labour leader [[Jeremy Corbyn]], Martin's successor [[John Bercow]], and former [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister]] [[Gordon Brown]].<ref name=BBC_obit />

==Arms==
{{Infobox COA wide
|image = [[File:Coronet of a British Baron.svg|centre|150px]][[File:Martin of Springburn Escutcheon.png|centre|200px]]
|escutcheon = Per chevron Gules and Sable, on a chevron Argent between in chief a martin volant Or between dexter a locomotive wheel partially covered by a cowling and sinister a salmon hauriant with a signet ring in its mouth both Proper and in base a lymphad of the Third flagged Gules sail chequy Azure and Argent, a crescent Sable between an engineer's steel footrule and a chanter both Proper.
|crest = A kestrel wings surgeant-tergiant Proper.
|motto = Tha Mi A’s Stri A Bhi Cothromach (I Strive To Be Fair)<ref>{{cite book|title=The Double Tressure No. 28 |date=2005}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/baz_manning/8566851764/in/album-72157633017171913/ |title=Speakers as peers |date=28 October 2012 |publisher=Baz Manning |accessdate=22 November 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Debrett's Peerage & Baronetage |date=2011}}</ref>}}

==Family and personal life==
Martin met Mary McLay at the Heatovent factory, where she worked as an assembly worker, and they got married in 1966.<ref name="Kirkintilloch Herald 2003"/><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2009/jun/21/michael-martin-commons-speaker-interview |title=Interview. Michael Martin: 'It was when they started attacking my wife that I knew I had to go' |first=Roy |last=Hattersley |author-link=Roy Hattersley |work=The Observer |date=21 June 2009 |access-date=1 May 2018}}</ref> The couple had a son and a daughter.<ref name="Herald perspective 10May2006"/> His son [[Paul Martin (Scottish politician)|Paul Martin]] was the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] [[Member of the Scottish Parliament]] (MSP) for [[Glasgow Springburn (Scottish Parliament constituency)|Glasgow Springburn]] from 1999 to 2011, then for the [[Glasgow Provan (Scottish Parliament constituency)|Glasgow Provan]] constituency from 2011 until his defeat at the [[2016 Scottish election]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12516562.Second_grandchild_for_speaker_Martin/ |title=Second grandchild for speaker Martin |work=The Herald |date=26 February 2004 |access-date=30 April 2018}}</ref>

Martin was a keen player of the bagpipes, having regularly played for guests during his annually hosted Burns night supper.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bercow |first=John |date=1 May 2018 |title=Hansard Volume 640: debated on Tuesday 1 May 2018 |url=https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2018-05-01/debates/fbea1e2b-4a18-4458-8bf2-2cdf144a747e/CommonsChamber |access-date=23 January 2023 |website=House of Commons}}</ref> In the run-up to a St Andrew's Day reception on the parliamentary estate, Martin is reported to have once made a special intervention on behalf of the SNP group in the run-up to a [[Saint Andrew's Day]] reception, overruling the decision of the [[Serjeant at Arms of the House of Commons (United Kingdom)|Serjeant at Arms]] to allow bagpipes to be played on the parliamentary estate.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bercow |first=John |date=1 May 2018 |title=Hansard Volume 640: debated on Tuesday 1 May 2018 |url=https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2018-05-01/debates/fbea1e2b-4a18-4458-8bf2-2cdf144a747e/CommonsChamber |access-date=23 January 2023 |website=House of Commons}}</ref>

==Notes==
{{Reflist|group=note}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Hansard-contribs | mr-michael-martin | Michael Martin }}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20011014203203/http://politics.guardian.co.uk/person/0,9290,-3400,00.html Guardian Unlimited Politics – Ask Aristotle: Michael Martin MP]
* [https://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/michael_martin/glasgow_north_east TheyWorkForYou.com – Michael Martin MP]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090515231023/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article4384015.ece Biography and profile in the ''Sunday Times'' 27 July 2008]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070505115804/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/11/05/nspeak05.xml Conservative MPs accuse Speaker of bias and threaten to walk out]
* [https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0090f75 Profile, broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on 24 February 2008]
* {{C-SPAN|88738}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-par|uk}}
{{s-bef |before=[[Richard Buchanan (politician)|Richard Buchanan]]}}
{{s-ttl
 | title = [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]] <br /> for [[Glasgow Springburn (UK Parliament constituency)|Glasgow Springburn]]
 | years = [[1979 United Kingdom general election|1979]]–[[2005 United Kingdom general election|2005]]
}}
{{s-non | reason = Constituency abolished }}
{{s-new | constituency}}
{{s-ttl
 | title = [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]] <br /> for [[Glasgow North East]]
 | years = [[2005 United Kingdom general election|2005]]–[[2009 Glasgow North East by-election|2009]]
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{{s-ttl|title=[[Chairman of Ways and Means#List of First Deputy Chairmen of Ways and Means|First Deputy Chairman of Ways and Means]]|years=1997–2000}}
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{{s-ttl|title=[[Speaker of the House of Commons (United Kingdom)|Speaker of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom]]|years=[[2000 Speaker of the British House of Commons election|2000]]–[[2009 Speaker of the British House of Commons election|2009]]}}
{{s-aft|after=[[John Bercow]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{Speaker of the British House of Commons}}
{{2000 Speaker of the British House of Commons election}}
{{2009 Speaker of the British House of Commons election}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Martin, Michael}}
[[Category:1945 births]]
[[Category:2018 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Springburn]]
[[Category:People from Anderston]]
[[Category:Nobility from Glasgow]]
[[Category:Councillors in Glasgow]]
[[Category:Scottish Labour councillors]]
[[Category:Members of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for Glasgow constituencies]]
[[Category:Scottish Labour MPs]]
[[Category:Scottish trade unionists]]
[[Category:Speakers of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Crossbench life peers]]
[[Category:Technical, Administrative and Supervisory Section-sponsored MPs]]
[[Category:UK MPs 1979–1983]]
[[Category:UK MPs 1983–1987]]
[[Category:UK MPs 1987–1992]]
[[Category:UK MPs 1992–1997]]
[[Category:UK MPs 1997–2001]]
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[[Category:20th-century Scottish politicians]]
[[Category:21st-century Scottish politicians]]
[[Category:Scottish Roman Catholics]]
[[Category:Sheet metal workers]]
[[Category:Life peers created by Elizabeth II]]