Speaker Michael Martin's statement
Updated on 18 May 2009
Facing calls for his resignation over the MPs' expenses affair, Speaker Michael Martin makes an emergency statement to the House. And says 'sorry'.
The Speaker said he wanted to tell "the men and women of the United Kingdom" that the Commons had let them down "very badly indeed".
He said: "We must all accept the blame and, to the extent that I have contributed to the situation, I am profoundly sorry.
"Now each and every Member including myself must work hard to regain your trust."
"We must do everything we possibly can to regain the trust and confidence of the people."
Martin's statement follows a motion of no-confidence put down by Conservative backbencher, Douglas Carswell.
However, the Speaker today declined to grant a debate to discuss the early day motion calling for him to be replaced because it was not "substantive".
"That this House has no confidence in Mr Speaker and calls for him to step down; notes that Mr Speaker has failed to provide leadership in matters relating to hon. Members’ expenses; believes that a new Speaker urgently needs to be elected by secret ballot, free from manipulation by party Whips, under Standing Order No. 1B; and believes that a new Speaker should proceed to reform the House in such a way as to make it an effective legislature once again."
It is understood that the motion was signed by 15 MPs from the three major parties.
