Lord Lawson leads calls for Michael Martin not to be given a peerage

The Daily Mail this morning reported how Michael Martin will get a Speaker's pension of £38,000 and be entitled to £80,000 when he reaches 65 in two years' time. It also suggested that it was generally accepted that he would be given the life peerage, as is traditional for former Speakers.

However, increasing numbers of voices are saying that Michael Martin - the first Speaker forced to resign in 300 years - should not be sent to the House of Lords.

The most high profile voice so far identified by the Mail is Lord Lawson, the former Chancellor, who says:

"He has let the House of Commons down. He has let parliamentary democracy down and it is good that he has gone. I very much hope that he will not be offered the customary peerage because I am afraid to say he clearly does not deserve it."

Also backing up that view is Matthew Elliott of the TaxPayers' Alliance, who says:

"He should get no payoff and he absolutely must not be elevated to the Lords."

Jonathan Isaby