'Sorry' Speaker snubs MPs' fury to cling on

Ignoring repeated calls for him to stand down, he made clear he would not be made a scapegoat for public anger sparked by the extravagant claims of dozens of MPs.

But, in extraordinary scenes in the Commons, his authority was openly questioned by a number of back-benchers. A number of MPs told The Scotsman they believed Mr Martin was fatally wounded and his resignation on or before the next general election was now inevitable.

The Speaker, the highest authority in the Commons, was heckled and shouted at by MPs, who were furious at being denied the chance to debate a motion of no confidence in him.

Veteran Labour MP David Winnick called on him to go without delay and former minister Kate Hoey branded him a "dead Speaker walking".

At least 18 MPs have signed the motion demanding he quit – he would be the first Speaker in 300 years to be forced from office.

Many blame Mr Martin who, as "independent referee", is meant to uphold the dignity of the Commons, for failing to recognise the scale of the public outrage and for having led a lengthy legal battle, at public expense, to keep the claims secret.

In further revelations last night, it emerged Labour chief whip Nick Brown claimed almost 19,000 for food over four years, while one of his junior colleagues was accused of using taxpayers' money to fit a whirlpool bath.

In a public apology to the nation, Mr Martin said he was "profoundly sorry" for the expenses scandal. He summoned party leaders at Westminster to an urgent meeting in an attempt to resolve the crisis and agree interim rules, while asking MPs to avoid submitting claims in the short term. But last night there was a growing belief at Westminster that the scenes in the chamber had fatally wounded him. Shadow Scottish secretary David Mundell told The Scotsman : "If the Speaker thought this was the end of the matter, he clearly is mistaken."

MP Danny Alexander, chief of staff to Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg, who has called for the Speaker's resignation, said his party was demanding the government allow a debate on Mr Martin's future at the earliest opportunity. "The Speaker has lost the confidence of members of all sides," he said.

"Some people were willing to say that explicitly; some people implied it. The Speaker's statement simply wasn't up to the mark. I think it would be much better for all concerned, including the Speaker, if this were to be resolved quickly."

The party leaders will meet at 4pm today, with the SNP expected to demand that Westminster adopt many of the rules of the Scottish Parliament to ensure greater transparency. Holyrood publishes every MSP's receipts within three months.

Conservative leader David Cameron said a general election might be the only way to respond to public outrage. "Why put off what needs to be done?" he said. "Why not have a general election now?"

A poll yesterday showed more than two-thirds of respondents believed Prime Minister Gordon Brown had handled the scandal badly – while more than half believed Mr Cameron had coped well. But both parties have seen their support fall as a result of questionable claims.

Police and the Crown Prosecution Service will meet this week to decide whether there is evidence that merits launching a criminal investigation.

To date, two Labour MPs have been suspended from the parliamentary party for claiming allowances on non-existent mortgages; justice minister Shahid Malik has quit his post after failing to declare a financial interest and Mr Cameron has lost his parliamentary aide, Andrew MacKay, amid accusations that he benefited from two second-homes claims at the same time.

MPs packed the Commons to hear the emergency statement from Mr Martin, amid speculation from his allies that he would announce plans to stand down at the general election. Mr Martin, the MP for Glasgow North East, has been Speaker since 2000. But in a three-minute address, he made no mention of his own future – prompting MPs to use points of order to make clear their anger at his failure to do so.

In his statement, Mr Martin said: "Please allow me to say to the men and women of the United Kingdom that we have let you down very badly indeed. We must all accept the blame and, to the extent that I have contributed to the situation, I am profoundly sorry."

He made clear his dismay that MPs had failed last year to pass a series of reforms to their allowances – worth some 135,000 a year and in addition to an MP's basic salary of 64,766.

These reforms had been proposed by a committee of senior MPs chaired by the Speaker, leading Mr Martin's supporters to maintain he was being unfairly "scapegoated".

Mr Martin may yet make an announcement on his future when he updates MPs later this week on the outcome of his meeting with the party leaders. However, if the government refuses to allow time for the no confidence motion to be debated, he may hope the pressure eases during next week's mid-term holiday.

In the Commons, Labour MP Gordon Prentice shouted a challenge to the Speaker when he ruled the no confidence motion was not valid for a debate. Tory MP Richard Bacon, who was standing outside the official boundaries of the chamber, also yelled across the floor in a direct challenge to his authority.

Sir Patrick Cormack, a Tory grandee, likened the situation to the crisis that enveloped Neville Chamberlain as prime minister when Britain failed to liberate Norway in the Second World War. He told the Speaker: "What is at stake is the institution of parliament and its integrity.

"Could I ask you to bear in mind that the condition of the House today is rather like the condition of the country at the time of the Norway debate."

Gerri Peev: MPs from all sides line up to take a stab at hapless Scot in Commons' bloodiest battle

NOT since Culloden had there been a bloodier rampage against a Scot in which the boundaries between friend and foe were so blurred.

Commons Speaker Michael Martin was left ducking and diving to escape bayonets from all directions. But this was an incredibly un-British affair: not a hint of back-stabbing, this was knife-through-the-heart stuff.

Mr Martin's defence was to try to use parliamentary convention to shield him from the barbs. In front of a packed Chamber, the Speaker stood up shakily and began to stumble through his statement.

"I am profoundly sorry," he said in his foghorn tone before continuing to spell out why he was not really to blame.

His great plan was also to call all the party leaders to discuss the way forward. Has he been taking lessons from the PM on how to defer everything by calling endless reviews?

And just to sweeten the blow, he told MPs not to dare claim anything until the entire mess had been sorted out.

Cue a flicker of panic across the faces of MPs as they wondered how they would pay for the pool cabana before the summer holidays.

Red-faced, Mr Martin then took questions from his detractors, masked as "points of order".

First up to charge at the Speaker was a Jacobite in all but name, Gordon Prentice, a Scot who represents an English seat.

When could MPs discuss the motion of no confidence in the Speaker, he asked.

The Speaker replied: "This is not a point of order."

"Oh yes it is," said a furious Mr Prentice from stage left, as the violent panto continued.

Then the Tory ring-leader of the rebels, Douglas Carswell, took a swipe: when can we have a speaker with some "moral authority" to clear up the expenses system? Ouch. Loud tuts from the Labour benches and cries of "shame".

Then Mr Martin brushed off an MP's call to debate the motion of no confidence in him, saying he did not have to do it as it was an "early-day motion". This was untrue, as a wig-wearing clerk whispered to him. Red-faced, Mr Martin then had to correct himself.

David Winnick, a Labour veteran MP rebuked by the Speaker a week earlier, asked when he was going to retire.

Labour's Sir Stuart Bell tried to ride to the Speaker's rescue, saying the majority in the House fully supported his statement. "What planet is he living on?" cried Mr Winnick.

Just to add to the drama, Tory Richard Shepherd compared the Commons spectacle with the Norway debate of 1940, which led to Neville Chamberlain being replaced by Winston Churchill.

As the Speaker moved on to other parliamentary business, MPs ran for cover. But it was too late: he had already detonated.

Speaker's statement

PLEASE allow me to say to the men and women of the United Kingdom that we have let you down very badly indeed. We must all accept the blame and, to the extent that I have contributed to the situation, I am profoundly sorry. Each and every Member, including myself, must work hard to regain your trust.

As a matter of urgency and within 48 hours I am calling the Prime Minister and party leaders, including the minority parties, to meet with me and the other members of the House of Commons Commission.

Leaders of all parties have made announcements on what should be done. Some of their proposals are very similar to those put to the House on 3 July last year by the Members Estimate Committee – which I chair – and copies of which are lodged in the Vote Office.

I want discussion to centre on the Additional Costs Allowance and all those matters that have caused the greatest controversy and most anger with the public. And I include in that early publication of Additional Costs Allowance office costs and travel material.

While we await the work of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, we must search for agreement so that the Leader of the House can bring forward resolutions to give an opportunity for the House to deal with the immediate situation.

In the meantime, I do urge all Honourable Members not to submit claims for approval.

Last week I had a most productive meeting with Sir Christopher Kelly (chair of the Committee for Standards in Public Life], who explained to me his hopes to bring reasoned proposals in the autumn.

While we await the outcome of his work, it is imperative we continue to improve our accounts and practice in the interim and get in place measures that work and are seen to be working.

I say again, we all bear a heavy responsibility for the terrible damage to the reputation of this House. We must do everything we can to regain the trust of the people.