日批在线视频_内射毛片内射国产夫妻_亚洲三级小视频_在线观看亚洲大片短视频_女性向h片资源在线观看_亚洲最大网

WORLD> Europe
UK Commons speaker quits over expense scandal
(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-05-19 23:19

LONDON -- The powerful speaker of the British House of Commons resigned Tuesday because of a backlash over excessive expense claims by lawmakers, marking the first time in three centuries a speaker has been forced out.

UK Commons speaker quits over expense scandal
Britain's Speaker of the House of Commons, Michael Martin, is seen in the Member's Lobby of the Houses of Parliament, in London in this December 3, 2008 file photograph. [Agencies] 

Though Michael Martin has not been caught up in recent revelations about lawmakers expenses -- reimbursements for chandeliers, moat cleaning and mortgage payments have outraged taxpayers -- he was blamed for creating a climate in which such excesses were allowed.

In an extremely short statement to the House of Commons, Martin said he would leave the post June 21 to maintain "unity" in Parliament's lower chamber.

"This will allow the house to proceed to elect a new speaker," Martin said. "This is all I have to say on this matter."

He then moved on to other parliamentary business.

Martin resisted reforms designed to make lawmakers' expenses more transparent and fought to block publication of the expense claims. But lawmakers themselves have been reluctant to expose their sometimes lavish spending, and Martin's defenders said he was taking the fall for their avarice.

The announcement came a day after Martin ignored calls to resign, invoking parliamentary procedure to stall debate on a motion of no-confidence intended to force him out. Lawmakers, normally respectful of the speaker, had to be called to order repeatedly by Martin as he tried to make himself heard.

Martin's replacement will be elected by the 646 lawmakers in the House of Commons the day after he steps down.

The new speaker will take over a position steeped in history and entrusted with the running of the House of Commons. The speaker keeps order during debates, decides which lawmakers are called on to speak and represents the chamber in discussions with Queen Elizabeth II and the House of Lords. The position is not a partisan one, and the speaker is expected to be fully impartial.

The last speaker to be forced from his position was Sir John Trevor, who was found guilty of accepting a bribe in 1695.

Rodney Barker, a professor of government at the London School of Economics, said Martin's departure shows Parliament is taking reform seriously.

"It won't solve anything at all, but if his successor could appear to be taking charge of things in a way that implements proper procedures, probity, and decent use of public money, that would be the very opposite of Michael Martin's position," Barker said. "He has been seen as a supporter of the most greedy and the most mean."

Martin was elected to represent a Glasgow constituency in the House of Commons in 1979 as a member of the Labour Party and became speaker in 2000.

   Previous page 1 2 3 4 Next Page  

主站蜘蛛池模板: 国产69久久精品成人看 | 欧美精品在线视频 | 岛国大片在线观看 | 亚洲手机在线观看 | 男人天堂手机在线 | 亚洲男人天堂2023 | 午夜影院视频 | 国产视频1 | 国产成人精品一区二区三区视频 | 欧美国产第一页 | 激情网站在线 | 日韩av影片 | 艳母动漫在线观看 | 亚洲婷婷免费 | 欧美a级在线 | 亚洲成人影院在线观看 | 免费成人高清视频 | 欧美日韩小视频 | 可以看毛片的网站 | 久久桃花网 | 国产在线视频在线观看 | 经典三级av | 国产福利第一页 | 国产第四页| 台湾av片 | 亚洲欧美第一页 | 日韩一区二区三区免费 | 久久高清国产 | 九九在线视频 | 超碰最新在线 | 欧美午夜精品一区二区 | 亚洲天堂日本 | 中文字幕精品久久久 | 成人在线观看小视频 | 国产精品婷婷 | 日本久久久久久久 | 伊人热久久 | 精品一区二区三孕妇视频 | 黄网在线免费看 | 天堂中文字幕在线观看 | 国产一级二级三级在线观看 |