The One That Asks. . .

. . . has there ever been a more graceless exit from public life than that which we saw from Michael Martin today? He looked furious, furious because he has been caught out, furious that he has made himself the news story, furious that the press have had the balls to buy and release expenses claims, furious that some MPs have dared to speak out against him, and furious that we the public have listened to what has been said and rested our gaze upon him.

Martin has demonstrated what I have always considered to be the worst flaw of the vocal socialist; it is all 'Brothers and Sisters! Let us struggle together against those who would seek to take that which is ours and live like parasites off our toil' up until such time as they then get their spot at the trough, when it becomes 'Guards! Arrest that peasant, he is looking at me, doesn't he know who I am?'

I understand that in the lobby before his resignation 'speech', the MPs lined up and applauded him into the chamber with a guard of honour.

How apt that those without honour should line up to guard the quality which is so sadly missing in the soon to be erstwhile Speaker.

Good riddance, Martin, fancy taking about 600 others with you?