The Kintyre Forum

Gorbals Mick to resign,good riddance.He is not being made a scapegoat for he too has had his nose in the trough, which included £4,000 in claims for his wife's taxi bills while she was out shopping .

Mick Martin didn't bring in the expenses system. He can't bring forward any legislation to address it. He can't essentially vote for or against any legislation. They ALL had their noses in the trough, making him the scapegoat is going to solve nothing.

On a different note I for one will be delighted to see the end of the Speaker's role in the House. The reason being this, I was unfortunate enough to be in Mr Martin's old constituency and that means I (along with 40,000 or so other voters) was denied the right to a free vote. I, possibly like many other was unaware of this arrangement, however did you know that none of the main political parties stand against the speaker when he is up for re-election. Effectively there's one name on your ballot paper. How's that for choice!

I suppose in Scotland I had some option in that the SNP chose to contest the seat, as did the SSP - however I found it a joke of democracy that I was prevented for voting for whoever I wanted to. So get rid of this throwback to the middle ages, and provide a constiuency with the right to vote.

Anyway getting rid of Mick Martin will not fix anything, all the same issues will still be there.

Sheik Yir Erse wrote:Mick Martin didn't bring in the expenses system. He can't bring forward any legislation to address it. He can't essentially vote for or against any legislation. They ALL had their noses in the trough, making him the scapegoat is going to solve nothing.

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The 'fees office' reported to him - and they seemed to be the guys who were giving the nod to all the ridiculous claims. Either he knew the sorts of things that were being approved, in which case he should have flagged up his concerns to the PM and other party leader years ago instead of yesterday, or he didn't know what was going on in which case he was not doing his job right - I assume he knew exactly what was going on.

But I agree I hope they don't stop at him as a scapegoat - I hope some of them get the jail, or are at least sacked from being an MP.

I liked the CEO from MacDonalds who was on Question Time last week, and just repeatedly said, "What is going on, get it sorted in the next 48 hrs, and move on to the real business"

all process over substance again

£3.73 wrote:I see where you're coming from on a personal level Sheik, but they're not getting rid of the speakers job !
The plan is to have a "mickey mouse" speaker for ceremonial purposes, and the job is farmed out into "the void".

Sorry £3.73 I should have been clearer, I appreciate that they are not getting rid of the role when he stands down, but I would actually like to see them get rid of the position, or alternatively the Speaker stands for re-election just like everyone else, if you know what I mean.

Tom B wrote:The 'fees office' reported to him - and they seemed to be the guys who were giving the nod to all the ridiculous claims. Either he knew the sorts of things that were being approved, in which case he should have flagged up his concerns to the PM and other party leader years ago instead of yesterday, or he didn't know what was going on in which case he was not doing his job right - I assume he knew exactly what was going on.

I know what your saying TB, and I'm not for a second saying he is without blame, however I assume that EVERYONE knew what was going on! There's alot of fantastically hindsighted politicians who are now saying it's unacceptable, but they've known about it, and abused it, for years. No-one has ever looked to change it. Freedom of Information is what this is all about, if it hadn't been for that Act, it would still be going on and we'd be none the wiser. My opinion is that Mick Martin is merely being offered up as the sacrificial lamb so the rest of them hope it starts to die down.

Not saying the Scottish Parliament is without fault, but compare this to David McLetchie losing his job for mis-claiming a £3.50 taxi!

One thing that puzzles me, is what happens to all the stuff when they cease being an MP? I assume if the State buys goods, it still belongs to the State? Therefore the Fees Office is undoubtedly full of toilet brushes, bath plugs, and LCD TV's

bill wrote:Gorbals Mick

Bill.

Seriously, and in all honesty, you're one of my favourite posters and I'm not trying to be confrontational, but where somebody comes from has got nothing to do with anything when expressing opinions on their actions.

So Michael Martin is to step down. He has done the decent thing. What's needed now is for every other MP found wanting in these matters to do the same.

bill wrote:Gorbals Mick to resign,good riddance.

Killing two birds with the one stone bill ?

hugh wrote:

bill wrote:Gorbals Mick

Bill.

Seriously, and in all honesty, you're one of my favourite posters and I'm not trying to be confrontational, but where somebody comes from has got nothing to do with anything when expressing opinions on their actions.

Michael Martin does not come from the Gorbals.

The class issue was raised tonight on a discussion on BBC News tonight. Although I cannot claim to be a Tory, I feel that Michael Portillo summed up the real reason why Mick Martin was not popular. He stated that it was because he was inarticulate and did not have much knowledge of the rules. these are two attributes that I would have thought were necessary to be speaker.

Yeah, it was the "inarticulate" bit that the English press were continually pushing that was getting me. I get the impression that if he were to express the same sentiments in a Home Counties accent he wouldn't be getting half the heat he's getting now. I think snobbery and the class system is coming back out the closet at Westminster.
If it's abuse of expenses and position that's bothering them then I'm sure they could find bigger fish to fry. How about the House of Lords?

hugh wrote:

bill wrote:Gorbals Mick

Bill.

Seriously, and in all honesty, you're one of my favourite posters and I'm not trying to be confrontational, but where somebody comes from has got nothing to do with anything when expressing opinions on their actions.

He's from Anderston

petewick wrote:He's from Anderston

Aye? I'm beginning to wish he'd stayed there. Wrong end of the stick. Not the first time, won't be the last.

It was just the treatment of the whole affair by the English media that was ripping my knitting. I know the entire outmoded parliamentary circus needs reforming, I just thought that people were picking on an easy target. Not exactly the most articulate or confidence-inspiring person in the house (probably not even in his own house), but I'm fairly sure there are more important matters at hand. Anyway, I've just heard it's last orders from Anderston Michael. Suppose they'll make him a lord now. Or get him doing "Supermarket Sweep." Comes to the same thing, really.

Yes I know Gorbals Mick came from Anderston,he was quoted as saying that living in the Gorbals would have been a step up.

He is not being made a scapegoat,if he had not been so adverse to the changes that were proposed 5 years ago he would not be in this position now.Lets not forget he spent hundreds of thousands of taxpayers money on taking the fight to the High Court.

As Speaker of the House he lives in a lavish grace and favour flat within Westminster,over 7 years he has spent £1.7 million on redecoration.Not bad for a guy from Anderston.

While enjoying this lavish lifestyle he earned £140,000 per annum,which begs the question of why he needed to claim £17,000 in expenses for his home in Glasgow,especially with the mortgage fully paid off.?

While on trips back to Glasgow he has been known to hire a chauffeur driven motor to take him to his beloved Parkhead ,at the taxpayers expense.He has also been known to pop into the local job centre arriving in the same said chauffeur motor.
How's that for a slap in the face for the unemployed who were genuinely seeking employment ?

Lets not forget the many overseas trip paid for once again by the taxpayer to such exotic locations as Hawaii/New York/Bahamas/Rome/Singapore/Japan and New Zealand,and ofcourse always accompanied by his wife.A total of 16 trips in all were claimed on his expenses.

Finally in December of last year he negotiated himself a £1.4 million pension,which will give him in the region of £90,000 per annum.

All in all,not bad for a lad from Anderston.