Extraordinary intervention sees commission warn PM that ex-Speaker could damage the Lords

Michael Martin, the former Speaker of the Commons, is set to receive a peerage despite a warning from the vetting panel for the House of Lords that his presence could damage the reputation of the upper chamber.

In an extraordinary intervention, the House of Lords Appointments Commission wrote to Gordon Brown to warn him that the elevation of Martin could “diminish” the workings of the Lords.

It is traditional for former Speakers to become peers upon retirement and this is the first time in recent history that questions have been raised over what is normally a formality.

Martin became the first Speaker to be ousted in 300 years after fierce criticism from MPs over his handling of the expenses scandal and over the police raid on the office of the Conservative frontbencher Damian Green.

In its letter to the prime minister, the commission, chaired by Lord Jay, former permanent secretary at the Foreign Office, said: “Propriety means ... the individual should be a credible nominee. The commission's main criterion in assessing this is whether the appointment would enhance rather than diminish the workings and the reputation of the House of Lords itself and the appointments system generally.”

The commission is required to warn the prime minister of any concerns about the suitability of a nominee but has no power of veto.

The Commons was informed yesterday that the Queen wished to confer on Martin “some signal mark of her royal favour”-assumed to be a peerage.

MPs had previously written to the Queen urging her to honour Martin “for his eminent services during the period in which he has, with such distinguished ability and dignity, presided in the chair of this house.”

Downing Street said last night that Martin had been nominated on the basis of a Commons motion passed last week.

Martin retains support from a number of Labour MPs who feel that he was unfairly made a scapegoat for the expenses scandal and that the working-class Martin was the victim of class snobbery.

One senior Labour MP said yesterday: “They could not abide the fact he was Scottish, working class and Catholic”.

But Lord Oakeshott, a Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesman, warned that Martin’s appointment “looks like automatic reward for failure”.

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