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Britain's Speaker of the Lower House Michael Martin To Resign

by Rob Walker | May 19, 2009 at 05:55 am

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Britain's speaker of the lower house is expected to resign on Tuesday, another casualty of the expense claims scandal. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown will hold a press conference after meeting with speaker of the house Michael Martin. Martin would become the first person in 300 years to quit the position.

Critics claim he ignored warnings that the expense system required reforms and went so far as to block publication of the claims. Martin apologized on Monday and pledged to help restore Parliament to respectability, but it may be too late.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown will hold a news conference later in the day following a meeting with Michael Martin, who could become the first person in 300 years to quit the post.

Martin, a member of Brown's governing Labour party, has been criticized for his handling of the scandal, which saw public officials claim tax money for inappropriate expenses such as constructing swimming polls, paying off mortgages and buying luxury furniture.