British expense scandal ousts lower house speaker

LONDON -- Leaving the speaker's chair in Britain hasn't always been quite so orderly. Seven speakers of the House of Commons were beheaded -- but that was centuries ago.

Michael Martin said Tuesday he would step down from the prestigious post, becoming the highest-ranking casualty of Britain's widening expense scandal in Parliament. In announcing his resignation for June 21, he became the first House of Commons speaker to be forced out in 300 years.

"That is all I have to say on this matter," Martin said after a 30-second speech, swiftly calling the lower house to order and moving on to other business.

Details of lawmakers' expenses became public earlier this month. Claims have included such mundane items as cookies and pet food to more costly ones such as a chandelier installation, cleaning a moat at a country house and even mortgage payments.

Conservative leader David Cameron is asking the public to sign a petition urging Prime Minister Gordon Brown to call an election as soon as possible, offering voters a chance to kick out lawmakers who have abused expenses.

Brown is resisting calling an election. He said Tuesday that any lawmaker in his Labour Party who broke expense rules won't be allowed to run in next national election. He said Parliament should hand supervision of salaries and expenses over to an independent body.

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