MPs Want Speaker To 'Get The Message'
MPs claim the Speaker has misread public feeling on expenses
Another MP has added his voice to calls for the House of Commons Speaker Michael Martin to go.
LibDem Norman Lamb told Sky News: "I think he has lost his authority."
Tory MP Douglas Carswell says his "no confidence" motion in the Speaker will be put before Parliament next week.
Mr Carswell says it has received sufficient cross-party support and he has urged more MPs to back his bid to oust the under-fire Speaker.
Mr Martin has been under pressure after refusing to apologise for personal rebukes to MPs who questioned his handling of the Westminster expenses controversy.
A long-term critic of the Speaker, Mr Carswell wrote on his blog that support was growing for a formal attempt to topple Mr Martin.
"I continue to pick up support for the motion. I can confirm that it will definitely be tabled with backing from both sides of the Commons.
"It's the first time anything like this has been done in 300 years," he wrote, predicting that it would be tabled "early next week".
Among other MPs from all three main parties who have given their support is Labour backbencher Paul Flynn.
The Newport West MP said they were just the visible tip of a very big iceberg of dissent against Mr Martin.
"I believe we speak on behalf of two-thirds of MPs on this," he said. "I hope the Speaker will get the message.
"We have got to get the message across that we have recognised the understandable outrage of the public, the revulsion."
Mr Martin's conduct was openly questioned in the Commons chamber yesterday when he was asked to apologise for comments he made to ex-minister Kate Hoey on Monday.
The Vauxhall Labour MP had suggested that calling in the police to investigate leaks about MPs' expenses was a waste of time.
Mr Martin rounded on her, pointing to her "public utterances and your pearls of wisdom on Sky News". Some people had other responsibilities than talking to the media, he said.
Hoey and Martin clash over expenses
The Speaker followed that up with abrupt responses to Lib Dem MP Norman Baker, who has also championed expenses reform, and former Cabinet minister Patricia Hewitt.
Labour MP David Winnick, who challenged Mr Martin yesterday to apologise for making personal comments, was told he could have raised it the day before if he had been present.
"If it's not adequate, then you know what you must do then," Mr Martin challenged him when he shouted back from the back benches.
The Right Honourable Michael Martin MP, the Speaker of the British House of Commons, faces a vote of no confidence this week. This motion will be launched by Tory Douglas Carswell MP. Martin addressed the House of Commons at 15:30 BST (14:30 UTC).

The Right Honourable Michael Martin MP in 2008Speaker Martin has faced much controversy over his handling of a recent scandal involving the expenses of Members of Parliament (MPs). Martin defended the House of Commons' authorities that requested a police investigation with regard to this leak, causing anger amongst many MPs.

In his statement, the Speaker apologised to the public saying that "we have let you down". He also personally apologised: "I am profoundly sorry". He acknowledged that "each and every member, including myself, must work hard to regain your trust".

Sir Christopher Kelly will release a report in Autumn about expenses, and the Speaker said that the House should take steps until then and MPs should not file further expense claims. Some MPs urged an interim report to be published before this. The Speaker urged leaders of all Parliamentary parties, including the Prime Minister, to meet with the Speaker and House of Commons Commission within 48 hours to discuss expenses.

After the speech, various MPs asked the Speaker questions. Carswell asked "when will members be able to choose a new leader?" and David Winnick MP asked for information about when the Speaker will retire. Bob Spink, the Independent MP for Castle Point, said that his constituents did not want the Speaker to be a "scapegoat". Labour MP for Middlesbrough, Sir Stuart Bell, said "the majority of the House will support this statement you made today" and noted "never in history has there been such an attack on Speaker".

In the UK, attacking the Speaker defies a long-standing tradition; the last Speaker to be forced from office was Sir John Trevor in 1695 for accepting a bribe.

Even before the speech, MPs from all major parties have supported this motion; Nick Clegg, the leader of the Liberal Democrats, has urged the speaker to resign. On his blog, Carswell claimed that he 'continues to pick up support for the motion'.

Martin's friend, the Labour Lord Foulkes, has suggested Martin is a victim of snobbery, as the Speaker is "someone from a working class background in Glasgow".

In the past, Martin has been involved in several past scandals, including that he made excessive claims for the use of taxis, and for over £1,600,000 spent on the Speaker's residence.