Well, y’know, I’m personally convinced that Michael Martin must have been finally convinced to quit when he saw the overwhelming result of LDV’s over-night poll showing 85% of readers thought he should quit now. So much more likely than that the Prime Minister instructed him to resign voluntarily.
Here, for the record,is what you said in response to the question, “Do you think the Speaker of the House of Commons Michael Martin should resign over his handling of the MPs’ expenses row?”
>> 85% (137 votes) – The Speaker should resign now – reform cannot wait until the general election.
>> 9% (15) – The Speaker should announce now he will resign at the next election – his forced resignation now would set a dangerous precedent.
>> 4% (7) – The Speaker should not feel obliged to resign – he is being made a scapegoat for the failings of individual MPs.
>> 1% (2) – Don’t know / Other
Total Votes: 161. Poll ran: 17th-18th May 2009
Kudos to Tory MP Douglas Carswell for having the courage to start the early day motion which triggered the Speaker’s downfall; also to Nick Clegg for taking the risk of using his position as leader of the third largest party to call for the Speaker’s head. There were potential pitfalls for both in doing what they did, but they will feel justified by the events of today.