Loss of confidence in the Speaker

The Speaker of the House of Commons should have the confidence of the house. Micheal Martin does not.

Not only is the a motion of no confidence being debated later today but PoliticsHome's recent poll of Westminster insiders had 87% of respondents calling for the Speaker to step down, including more than ten times as many MPs as have so far said it publicly.

When the Speaker was first criticized the Labour stalwarts threw out accusations of classism and racism as motives. Had the Speaker and Labour members been more open and less defencive changes could have been made and the current impasse avoided.

Assuming all criticism is based on narrow party political advantage is dangerous and stupid, as the Speaker's current difficulties testify.