 | 'Mr Martin may have been the worst Speaker for three centuries, who did nothing to prevent MPs from cheating the public. But he didn't force any of them to do it, either. That was their own decisionÊ -Ê and they must pay for it.' Daily Mail Editorial, 18 th May 2009. |  |
A scapegoat or the chief culprit? Opinion was sharply divided among Michael Martin's North East Glasgow constituents yesterday.
Has he been made a fall guy for the indefensible expenses claims of many MPs, or did his failure to halt the system make him culpable?
Passions were running high on both sides of the divide because, as the MP since 1979, and with a solid record of helping constituents, Mr Martin is part of the fabric of the community.
The son of a merchant seaman and a school cleaner, the 63-year-old Speaker was educated at St Patrick's Boys' School in Anderston, Glasgow, and left school aged 15 to become an apprentice sheet metal worker.
He became involved in the trade union and joined the Labour party aged 21. He later worked for Rolls-Royce in Hillington and was the AEEU shop steward for four years from 1970.
In 1973, Mr Martin took his first step towards entering Westminster when he was elected to the Glasgow Corporation as a Labour councillor. He held the position until 1979, when he was elected MP for Springburn.
Teetotal, he was regarded as being on the right of the party and a social conservative on issues including abortion and homosexuality.
He chaired the Scottish Grand Committee of the House of Commons for 10 years from 1987 and was appointed the first deputy chairman of the Ways and Means Committee in the Commons in 1997, a prelude to being elevated to Speaker in 2000.
He is married to Mary. His son Paul has represented the constituency at Holyrood since 1999.
At the centre of Springburn yesterday, those most critical of his conduct tended to be loyal supporters who felt grievously betrayed, while the least concerned were the under-40s, many of whom said they have no interest in politics.
"It's a disgrace. He had to go," said Eddie and Jean Beighan, who have known Michael Martin for 37 years. "I've voted for him since he was a councillor and for his son" (the MSP Paul Martin), said Mr Beighan, a retired postal driver.
"He's been a good MP, but I think the lifestyle went to his head and he's been too keen to keep up with the Joneses.
"He had a lovely house at Springburn Park, but sold it and moved out of the constituency. I am very disillusioned."
Mrs Beighan, a housekeeper in a Merchant City hotel, added: "I've voted Labour all my life, but I won't do that next time. I think people will just not turn out. I like to see a working-class man getting on, but when so many people round here have nothing, it's wrong that MPs take so much."
For Mary McFarlane, 77, Mr Martin has become an embarrassment.
"It was an honour to get the job of Speaker and he has let the people of this area down."
Despite being a Conservative voter, a rare species in Springburn, she conceded he has been a good MP: "He used to go to all the community meetings and he always fought for local causes, but he had to go."
The unfairness of lavish lifestyles for MPs compared with the poverty of many people in the north-east of Glasgow was a recurring theme among Mr Speaker's constituents.
Victoria Veanney, 41, said: "Every MP who knows they have made unnecessary claims should resign. So many people in this area are really scrimping to pay for basic items like electricity and MPs are frittering away taxpayers' money."
David Newon, 55, a retired painter and decorator, believed Mr Martin has been unfairly "hounded out of office" due to snobbery.
"A lot of people have done much worse than him. However, he had the chance to stop it and he should have taken it.
"Mr Martin has been helpful to my family, but people are disillusioned and won't turn out to vote now. This is a Labour stronghold, but it will probably go to the SNP and people will even vote Tory."
Beatrice and Ian MacDuff, long-time Labour voters, felt more sorrow than anger. "He is not the worst offender. It is a shame someone has to fall, because they have all overdone the expenses. I feel let down by all of them," said Mrs MacDuff.
Louise McMillan, 62, a support worker for Visibility, a charity providing services to the blind, was angry at the waste of public money: "I claim back bus, train and the occasional taxi fare for visiting clients, but we must keep it to the minimum and always provide receipts.
"Thankfully, MPs with big expenses won't be getting many votes now."
"I'd like to see MPs try to live on £30 a week. That's what I get in Income Support," said Irene Traynor, 42.
"He should go: he was the one who tried to keep the expenses covered up. I'd like to see his pension - I don't think he'll be short of funds," said Robert Sergeant, 66.
Beatrice Harkness, 75, has voted regularly for Mr Martin and judges he has been a good MP.
"I think they are just picking on him. They've all been claiming these expenses," she said.
Samuel Reid, 70, of Balornock, a staunch Labour voter, said: "They're all blaming him, but they're all as bad. Is it ok to do something wrong now and just say sorry when you're found out?"
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