This Speaker is nothing less than they deserve

It is often said that a people get the government they deserve (perhaps originally from de Tocqueville, but who knows). Well, this Parliament has the Speaker it deserves. The MPs themselves have twice voted Mr Martin to office, and in the words of Ming Campbell on Martin’s re-election in 2005, "We are delighted to join in the unanimous endorsement of your continuing responsibility to preside over our proceedings." Wonder how unanimous that endorsement is now?

More to the point, he perfectly represents a House which still seems to have difficulty in grasping the public mood over the issue – by which I primarily mean the continuing stream of excuses and “it was within the rules” pleas trotted out with each new day of revelations. There’s a very interesting piece in the Times yesterday by Martin’s former PR adviser detailing an extraordinary reaction to being warned of possible problems with his second home allowance.

Unlike others I reckon the speaker should stay as long as this Parliament remains; he embodies its practices and ethos entirely. In the words of his eminent 17th Century predecessor Speaker Lenthall “I have neither eyes to see nor tongue to speak in this place but as the House is pleased to direct me, whose servant I am here.” Very apt.

Hat tip re. Times article: Hattie Garlick, Comment Central - Times Online