So how do you sack the speaker?

The speaker of the Commons,Michael Martin has come under a fair amount of pressure recently including a newsnight report that hinted that a number of MP's were concerned about his recent performances and rulings.

Ian Martin writing in this morning's Telegraph adds weight to the argument saying

The time has come for MPs to remove Speaker Michael Martin and replace him with one of their number who stands a better chance of restoring the reputation of the House of Commons. The situation has become so serious that only unprecedented action will do. He cannot go on.

Whilst he accepts that the speakers record on handling PMQ's,and his political bias are causing problems,Martin feels that his namesake is simply not the man to be in charge of the Palace of Westminster at such a precarious time.

Martin, symbolising an outmoded approach, cannot take charge as the holder of his office should. A character is required who will be strong enough to bend the party leaders to his will, persuade MPs to clean up their act and be the public face, on radio and television, of this new movement for parliamentary reform.

Quite how is to be carried out is unclear and is unprecidented for as Martin points out

Tradition dictates that only Michael Martin or God Almighty can remove him from his grand office, for a perfectly sensible reason: to avoid, wherever possible, the office becoming a football kicked around by the various party leaderships