Martin under fire

Ex speaker Michael Martin has been rapped on the knuckles over hsi failure to "take control" and prevent police from searching the Commons office of Tory MP Damian Green.

According to the BBC,

The Commons privilege committee found communication among parliamentary officials ahead of the November 2008 search had been "seriously inadequate".

But it's not just Marti who comes under fire.Metropolitan Police are also critized for their "failure" to "expressly advise" a Commons official, Serjeant-at-Arms Jill Pay, that she could refuse them access without a warrant.

There was it adds

"seriously inadequate communication" between Mr Martin, Ms Pay and Mr Jack thathad resulted in "complete misunderstanding about the proper process for allowing a search of a Member's office".adding that

"While the House and its Speaker could and should no doubt have been better served by their officials, the Speaker himself should have been asking the right questions and he should have taken more responsibility for exercising the authority of his high office."