Commons Speaker under attack

A senior Tory MP has launched an unprecedented attack on Michael Martin, the beleaguered Commons Speaker.

Andrew Tyrie has called for an immediate inquiry into Mr Martin's conduct in allowing police to search the office of Damian Green, the Tory immigration spokesman, without a warrant. Writing in the IoS today, Mr Tyrie complains that the Speaker has failed to show leadership – and that his role in the affair has left him looking like a "pawn" of the Government.

This damning critique of Mr Martin's behaviour effectively breaks the traditional code of silence maintained by MPs over a Speaker's performance.