So we have the first Speaker to be forced out of his job in 300 years – a convention-breaking act – and now, with the excuse of “convention”, he is going to be elevated to the House of Lords.

Michael Martin does not deserve a seat in the upper House. His tenure has Speaker was a disaster and has brought the House of Commons into disrepute. He encouraged the expenses abuses by MPs – and made plenty of his inappropriate expense claims. And neither was he ever impartial whilst in the Chair.

No-one considers it appropriate for Martin to become a Lord. Not the Lords Appointment Commission, current Lords, former Speakers, or the general public. No-one but Gordon Brown and Labour MPs, that is.

Michael Martin was a terrible speaker, and as a member of the House of Lords, he will damage the reputation of the upper House as well.