Bercow joins the mourners at family funeral for Lord Martin
LORD Martin’s legacy will be one of inspiration, his son told mourners gathered for the former Speaker’s funeral yesterday.
Paul Martin praised his late father’s rise to prominence – from sheet metal worker to the House of Commons.
The former MSP told friends and family: ‘From such humble beginnings, he achieved so much. I hope he can be an inspiration to all who feel the odds can be so stacked against them.’
Glasgow-born Lord Martin died on April 29, aged 72, after a short illness. His funeral was held at the city’s St Aloysius Church.
Mourners included his successor as Speaker, John Bercow, Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard and Lord Keen, representing Theresa May. The mass was led by Archbishop Mario Conti, who quoted Lord Foulkes: ‘Speaker Martin was of humble origins who rose to hold one of the highest offices – but most of all he should be remembered for his kindness.’
Lord Martin was praised as a family man with ‘natural grace’ who was loved by constituents.
Mr Bercow described him as a ‘decent, public-spirited man’.
Former prime minister Gordon Brown said: ‘He never forgot the debt he owed to his upbringing and the people he’d been elected to serve.’ Lord Martin – son of a merchant seaman and a cleaner – represented Glasgow Springburn for Labour from 1979 to 2005, and was Speaker from 2000 to 2009.
He was the first Speaker to resign in 300 years amid an MPs’ expenses scandal in 2009.