Learn from Martin, Mr Bercow

MICHAEL MARTIN, who died last Sunday, was a flawed Commons Speaker but will rightly be remembered with affection. He was a brave man, who fought against the far Left in his constituency of Glasgow Springburn in the early Eighties. And when he quit after losing a vote of no confidence in his handling of the MPs’ expenses scandal, he did so with honour.

His beleaguered successor, John Bercow, should learn a lesson from Michael Martin.

Before being elected to his post, he promised MPs that he would step down by July this year. The growing row over allegations that he has bullied staff offers him the chance to see through with that promise. Not only in a bid to salvage his own collapsing reputation but for the sake of British democracy.