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British speaker comes under fire for expense claims

Britain's parliamentary speaker has found himself at the center of a heated argument over his lavish expenses claims, including taxpayer-funded taxi rides that his wife used for shopping trips.

Though he has broken no laws or rules, Parliamentary Speaker Michael Martin has come under fire for claiming around ?4,280 (US$8,420) for his wife's cab fares and around ?17,500 toward a second home in Scotland.

His expenses, and claims for thousands of pounds more to pay for legal bills and airline tickets, have set many wondering if he is the right person to lead a review of the generous allowances offered to lawmakers.

And questions over his expenses bill are only part of mounting troubles faced by Martin, a janitor's son who rose through Britain's political ranks.

Martin, in charge of keeping order and upholding standards in the House of Commons, served as a lawmaker with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown's Labour before he was elected as the strictly impartial speaker in 2000.

But opposition lawmakers charge that he deliberately favors his ex-Labour colleagues during debates, when he decides which legislators are allowed to speak.

Martin, in recent weeks, has denied opposition Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg his customary chance to question Brown during a debate. In 2006, he prevented opposition Conservative Party leader David Cameron from pressing then prime minister Tony Blair over the identity of his likely successor.

On Monday, Martin rejected criticisms, making a rare statement on the floor that is usually reserved for lawmakers to refuse to hand over his responsibilities for the expenses review.

"I will carry out that duty until this House decides otherwise -- and that is a good thing for the reputation of this House," he said.

Martin's spokesman resigned on Friday after claiming he had been misled by the speaker's office -- and in turn had misled reporters -- over details of the taxi claims.

Alistair Graham, former chairman of the committee on standards in public life, said Martin should no longer lead a review of lawmakers' expenses, which is scheduled later this year.

It was launched after a legislator acknowledged he had paid family members for work they had never carried out.

Lawmakers claimed an average of ?135,600 between April 2006 and last year -- the financial year -- and made claims for office costs, transport, staff, stationary, payments toward homes in London, food and insurance.

Information has only been released because of requests made under freedom of information laws. Campaigners are still fighting to force lawmakers to release breakdowns of every individual item they claim.

Graham said: "The scope for reform is pretty enormous but unfortunately now the speaker ... is not the body to carry out that reform."

Martin's supporters insist the attacks are sheer snobbery at his modest background.
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