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The Speaker of the House of Commons has been challenged by MPs to stand down in unprecedented1 scenes in the chamber2. 英国下议院发言人在议会中遭到MPs空前的辞退挑战。 Michael Martin did not mention his future in a statement on the expenses furore(轰动) - instead he set out proposed action to reform the system. He said he was "profoundly sorry" for his role and said all MPs must accept blame for the "terrible damage" done. But a succession of MPs challenged him openly, saying they wanted a debate and a vote of no confidence in him. It follows a week of damaging media revelations(启示录) about MPs' expenses and criticism of the way Mr Martin has handled the row. Claims stopped In a statement to a packed Commons on Monday, Mr Martin apologised for the expenses scandal and outlined steps he would be taking ahead of the findings of an independent inquiry3 into the allowances system, expected in the autumn. This included asking party leaders to meet him and members of the House of Commons Commission within 48 hours to look at what proposals for reform for second homes expenses could be agreed upon and put to MPs for approval. In the meantime the Glasgow North East MP urged members not to submit expenses claims for approval. "We all bear a heavy responsibility for the terrible damage to the reputation of this House. We must do everything we possibly can to regain4 the trust and confidence of the people," he said. Labour's Gordon Prentice was the first to stand up to ask about the no confidence motion(示意,移动), only to be told it was not a "point of order" - to shouts of "oh yes it is". Douglas Carswell, the Conservative backbencher who is putting forward the motion, got up to ask when it would be debated and when MPs would be able to choose a new Speaker with "moral authority to clean up Westminster and the legitimacy5 to lead this House out of the mire(泥沼,泥泞)". Norway debate But he was told it was not a "substantive6 motion(实质性动议), it's an early day motion", which led to MPs shouting and Mr Martin having to seek clarification from a clerk. Veteran Labour MP David Winnick asked him "with some reluctance7" to give "some indication" as to when he would retire, saying "your early retirement8 sir, would help the reputation of the House". Mr Martin replied that was "not a subject for today". Veteran Conservative MP Sir Patrick Cormack likened the mood in the Commons to the mood in the nation for the Norway debate in 1940 - said to be the moment Conservative MPs realised that Neville Chamberlain had to be replaced as prime minister. And another Conservative MP, Richard Shepherd, said the public would not believe MPs were serious about reform as long as Mr Martin remained as Speaker. Senior Labour MP Sir Stuart Bell was one of the few to stick up for Mr Martin, saying there had "never been in the history of our land such an attack on the Speaker". He added: "This House should calm itself down, should have a period of reflection." The former Tory, now independent, MP Bob Spink also spoke9 in favour of the Speaker, saying he did not want to see him "become a scapegoat10(背黑锅) for the action of these members". Senior Lib Dem MP David Heath said the statement would have been welcomed a few weeks ago but he now had "very grave doubts" as to whether they would restore trust. 'Political death warrant' Others sought advice on how a debate on the Speaker's future could be tabled. Former shadow home secretary David Davis asked: "Is it within the power of a backbencher to put down a substantive motion and if so, how?" There were shouts when Mr Martin said that was a matter for the government. Mr Martin also had to tell the Conservative MP Mark Field to watch his words when he suggested that some MPs had made fraudulent(欺诈的,不正的) expenses claims. Later Liberal Democrat11 MP Norman Baker12, who was attacked by the Speaker last week for giving interviews about greater transparency on MPs' expenses, said Mr Martin "blew it". "The effect of the statement is for the Speaker to have signed his own political death warrant... I give him less than a week," he told BBC News. BBC political editor Nick Robinson said that while Mr Martin's statement may have bought him some breathing space, his fate still hung in the balance. And, at a later meeting of Labour MPs, Mr Robinson said former Cabinet minister Peter Hain urged the prime minister not to try to prevent a debate on the Speaker's future. The Speaker's critics blame him for various attempts to block requests in recent years to have expenses details released under Freedom of Information laws. And he angered many by attacking MPs who had pressed for more transparency or criticised his decision to ask the police to investigate the leaking of expenses details to the Daily Telegraph. Under parliamentary rules, the Speaker can either ignore the motion or ask for it to be debated in government time. 点击收听单词发音
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