From the Commons: Order at last as Michael Martin stands down

Crammed into the lobby yesterday, with the throng of people who had come to see a moment in history that occurs only every three hundred and fourteen years: the resignation of the Speaker. As soon as we managed to get into the public gallery and sat down the fireworks went off but within thirty-five seconds the moment had fizzled out. For there had been no cheering, no great statement, no statesman-like speech only a short brief and to the point address and for less than a minute Michael Martin had briefly restored some order.

The mood in the Commons defused. When he had finished the tension left along with most of the MPs who began to file out as foreign affairs questions began. The PM as he left went over and shook Michael Martin’s hand as he left through the members exit. He was followed by many labour backbenchers the likes of Martin Salter, Dianne Abbott and Stephen Pound speaking to him briefly and exchanging pats on the back and hand shakes.

With his announcement it was back to business in the Commons. With all the understandable furore of MPs expenses over the past fortnight it was gratifying to see some proper debate and discussion. Denis MacShane former European Mission talked of his recent visit to Georgia informing the house that he had seen Russian flags of Russian outposts inside Georgia not far from Gori well within Georgia’s sovereignty. The government reiterated its support for Georgia’s sovereignty as Sir Nicholas Winterton on the Tory benches who asked whether the government would work to improve relations with Russia and be careful not to back one side after the Caucasus was put on the map of international problems during last summer’s war. Refreshing to hear this view from the Tory benches especially after Sir Nick was one of the numerous backbenchers heckling and shaking their heads vehemently against the Lisbon treaty. The Tories are still ardently calling for a referendum, Cameron’s PPS Desmond Swayne yesterday called on the government to have one especially as it was in both main parties manifestos to have one over the Constitution. Caroline Flint reiterated as she has said before that the Lisbon Treaty is different and told the house of Commons that the cost of a referendum would be the same as the general election costing in the region of seventy to eighty million pounds.