The reward for failure

is apparently a peerage - for Michael Martin, the first Speaker to be dragged from office for 300 years.

I think that he is a good and kindly man, - many people testify how his approach was almost paternal towards new MPs as they tried to find their way about parliament and its traditions. Both my grandfathers were kindly and good men, but I wouldn't have recommended them for a peerage.

The fact is that as a Speaker he was a flop, - biased in favour of his former colleagues on the Labour benches and even seeking to protect the PM from embarrassment. He led the attempt to cover up expenses, he gave no leadership in reform and he certainly did not stand firm for parliament against the executive. He failed in his duty in the Damien Green affair.

Ah, but don't all Speakers receive a peerage on resignation. Yes, but he was pushed out.

The truth is that he is another crony given a meal ticket and an unelected place in parliament. It is becoming something of a disgrace, and a reflection of the sad state of our democracy, that there are so many ex-party hacks, of all colours, there because of prime ministerial patronage.

Some used to complain about hereditary peers. Is the present system really any better?

It is time to elect the upper house.