Commons Speaker failed to speak out in favour of FoI

Commons Speaker failed to speak out in favour of FoI

Labour MP Sir Stuart Bell says the Commons Speaker was pressured into launching doomed high court challenge against requests to release details of MPs' allowances.

He said the Speaker was put under "severe pressure" to launch a doomed high court challenge against freedom of information requests to release details of MPs' allowance claims.

Harriet Harman, the leader of the House of Commons, said it was important to have an "authoritative" legal ruling but denied Martin was "leant on".

Martin became the first Speaker to be forced out of office in more than 300 years earlier this month, partly because he was seen as a roadblock to reform as a result of the expensive and futile high court challenge.

Michael Martin was put under 'severe pressure' to fight expenses case (The Guardian, 28 May 2009)