Former Commons Speaker Michael Martin dies aged 72
2 min read
Former Commons Speaker Michael Martin has died at the age of 72.
The former MP - who chaired debates in the House from 2000 until 2009 - passed away following a short illness, his family announced today.
Lord Martin served as Labour MP for Glasgow Springburn from 1979 until 2005 and then Glasgow North East until he stepped down from the Commons in 2009.
His appointment to the chair after the resignation of Labour's Betty Boothroyd was controversial as it broke a long-standing convention of speakerships swapping between the two major parties.
Lord Martin was the first speaker to be forced to resign from the position in 300 years, after MPs launched a motion of No Confidence following his perceived mishandling of the MPs' expenses scandal.
He was appointed to the Lords immediately after his successor John Bercow took over the role, and followed convention by sitting as a crossbench peer.
His son said today: "He passed away early this morning after a period of short illness. He passed away peacefully with his family.
"We would be grateful for our privacy to be respected at this difficult time."
Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard paid tribute to the former speaker, describing him as "an authentic working-class voice in Parliament for many years".
"He never forgot where he came from, the community he served and the trade union movement, which gave him his education. My thoughts are with his family at this time."
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