The Glasgow North East By-election 2009

'Michael Martin confirmed last night he would step down as an MP as well as from the post of Speaker in June, after claims by one ally he could still remain in the Commons as an independent until the next election.'

Speaker confirms he will vacate his seat

ARCHBISHOP SAYS HE WAS HOUNDED OUT

From Press & Journal 21 st May 2009

MICHAEL Martin confirmed last night he would step down as an MP as well as from the post of Speaker in June, after claims by one ally he could still remain in the Commons as an independent until the next election.

His spokeswoman said: "The Speaker categorically states that, as he told the House yesterday, he is relinquishing the office of Speaker on Sunday June 21.

"On the same day he will 'apply for the Chiltern Hundreds', which means that his seat will be vacated."

Labour peer Lord Foulkes, a close friend, had earlier said he was urging Mr Martin to stay on as an independent.

A 78-year-old campaigner declared his willingness last night to stand as an anti-sleaze candidate in the seat. John Swinburne, an MSP for four years up to 2007, offered to stand for Jury Team, a coalition of independents.

Mr Swinburne was previously elected to the Scottish Parliament for the Scottish Senior Citizens Unity Party.

An archbishop accused MPs yesterday of "hounding" Mr Martin out of office.

Roman Catholic Archbishop of Glasgow Mario Conti accused MPs of seeking "a scapegoat to excuse their own shortcomings".

Mr Martin was the first Catholic Speaker of the Commons since the Reformation and some of his supporters have complained he was the target of sectarian criticism.

The former Bishop of Aberdeen did not mention Mr Martin's religion but complained of a parliamentary culture of "greed, selfishness and secrecy".

"To compound the sense of public distress, we have now witnessed some MPs shifting the spotlight away from their own misconduct by hounding the Speaker from office."