The Speaker may well be breathing a sigh of relief ahead of PMQs today.

The Standards Commissioner has decided to dismiss a complaint about the taxpayer-funded taxi journeys taken by Michael Martin's wife.

The Standards Commissioner John Lyon thinks the £4,139.17 Mrs Martin spent was "reasonable" and within the rules.

"The journeys taken met the necessary requirements of Mr Speaker to assist him in carrying out his official duties," he said.

"Taking account of the requirements and the cost of alternative provision, the costs were not excessive."

Mr Johnson must agree with Lord Snape who asked if the Speaker's wife should be expected to "queue for the No 12 bus when she does her shopping?"

But what will taxpayers think?

UPDATE

Here's one group of taxpayers who certainly aren't happy...The TaxPayers' Alliance, who submitted the complaint, said today's decision proved that the rules needed an overhaul.

"The Speaker earns over £130,000, enjoys two taxpayer-funded residences and has the Parliamentary Refreshment Department at his disposal.

"Taxpayers are already very generous to him without paying for taxis. I am glad the Parliamentary officials treated the complaint with the seriousness it deserves - the question of how our money is spent is extremely important.

"I hope Mr and Mrs Martin will be more careful with our money in future."

Comments

[Elizabeth Davies Cape Town 16 May 2008 12:17:47]

Gorbals Mick has failed to "gag" the standards commisioner....the truth will out now, even if it hurts.

[Liz, Suffolk 16 May 2008 12:11:44]

So am I, Vctor.

It's a shame it's taken us this long to get justice.

[Victor, NW Kent 16 May 2008 11:58:18]

I am pleased to see that Speaker Martin lost his case to maintain secrecy about MPs expenses. It cost the taxpayer over £100,000 for this effort to justify deceit.

[David Bruce, Newquay, cornwall 15 May 2008 14:16:29]

DID ANYONE THINK THE STANDARDS COMMITTEE WOULD FIND THE SPEAKER GUILTY OF ANYTHING????
AFTER ALL ARNT ALL OF 'OUR' MP'S GOT THERE STICKY FINGERS IN THE COMMONS TILL...

[Liz, Suffolk 15 May 2008 13:41:09]

I think we should give them free public transport. They would not get a car allowance, so this would be a good replacement. Their wives/spouses could travel for half-fare. Any other transport should be paid for by them and they should not be able to claim it back.

[Steve, London 15 May 2008 13:14:02]

Given the "safe and efficient" public transport system that government are so fond of telling us that we must use, would it not be better for MP's significant others to be given a "public transport allowance"? - surely with this government's anti-car, environmental thinking attitude paying for an MP's wife to take taxi's "to the local shops" or to "deliver papers" sends out the wrong message on both subjects. Typical case of do as we say, not as we do.

[Liz, Suffolk 15 May 2008 11:18:08]

Patricia.

I totally agree with you. Champagne Socialists, the lot of 'em!

[Patricia 15 May 2008 10:57:43]

Does anyone really believe that Mrs. Martin would turn up for an official function in anything other than a chauffeur driven limousine?.

If, when I was working, my car had broken down and in order to report for duty on time I felt obliged to hire a taxi would the NHS have paid for it?.No chance!. Mr. Speaker Martin is well paid and I begrudge my taxes being used to fund his wifes'indulgence.

[John Delaney 15 May 2008 09:27:48]

Bruce Hulmes 14 May 2008 19:34:01

Bruce when you pop your head out of your litte bubble you will find that there is a lot more british people on benifits but the people like you don't want to think about that because its to much hard work for you and its easier to attack africans and others.

[Liz, Suffolk 15 May 2008 09:15:29]

I'm wondering whether The Standards Commission is a Government-run organisation. It wouldn't surprise me in the least.

[John delaney 14 May 2008 22:21:22]

John Delaney
I have told your partners in crime...Effie, Carol Ann, Peter the Piper, Mike Simpson etc, and now I can add you to my list of people wanting to know everything personal about me. Please stick to the facts here, Labour are "over the hill", finished, washed up and one general election away from defeat. Go get yourself a life!

Posted by: Elizabeth Davies Cape Town 14 May 2008 17:03:24 Maybe you should get the life as you seem a bit wayward if you are that interested in the british Tax system and its MPs then you should live in the country instead of making up useless information that you come out with and have not one fact

[Anne 14 May 2008 20:01:35]

How much did it cost to investigate this complaint?

[Bruce Hulmes 14 May 2008 19:34:01]

John Delaney.
What is the difference between a British person living living in South Africa and not contributing to this country and a South African living here and not contributing.
I would hazard a guess and say that the British person in South Africa is not living on benefits and free medical care subsidised by working South Africans unlike so many Africans now walking our streets.
Why do Labourites never seem to have harsh words for the later?.

[Liz, Suffolk 14 May 2008 17:04:07]

Do MP's actually pay tax then?

[Elizabeth Davies Cape Town 14 May 2008 17:03:24]

John Delaney
I have told your partners in crime...Effie, Carol Ann, Peter the Piper, Mike Simpson etc, and now I can add you to my list of people wanting to know everything personal about me. Please stick to the facts here, Labour are "over the hill", finished, washed up and one general election away from defeat. Go get yourself a life!

[lee brum 14 May 2008 16:53:03]

if your employer gives you perks you get taxed on it.if mrs.martins shopping taxi fare gets paid by her employer (ie the long suffering british taxpayer) why does she not get taxed on it? whats the speakers shopping got to do with his job??

[mr happy up north 14 May 2008 16:29:42]

i expect the speakers spouse is not a spring chicken and we do not know if she is in the best of health, so that is one thing to take into consideration. another is, given the very busy lives that parliamentatrians lead, it is reasonable that their spouse should fulfil their duties efficiently and speedily.
i suggest we should not get too troubled with issues of 'snobbery', if she arrived late and soaked to the skin for an important function, what kind of image would that give to the dignitaries they may be entertaining or for a function they must attend.

I suggest that given the expenses that some journalists, public relations, finance and other businesses, claim for expensive lunches and dinners not to mention transport, this is a drop in the ocean.
ah, but that is not taxpayers money you may say, but we all pay one way or another for 'entertaining' in the price we pay for services and goods.
imagine the outcry if the speaker's wife had been travelling around in a Robin Reliant like Delboy? If we are a modern country with pride then we should look like one.
these things should always be kept under strict scrutiny so that people like the conway family do not have the opportunity take advantage. i have considered it plain stupid to allow members of parliament, alone, to keep an eye on this. that is not the fault of the current government as this has been going on for sometime.
members of parliament are professional people and they should look professional.

[Liz, Suffolk 14 May 2008 16:13:55]

Michael and Mrs Martin are on to a winner then.

I suppose the better question would be to ask what MP's actually do pay for out of their own pocket. Not much, it would seem.

[John Delaney 14 May 2008 15:33:48]

Elizabeth Davies Cape Town 14 May 2008 14:49:39

As a none british taxpayer that you are,you need to get your facts right the tories are not any better than labour when it comes to milking the system so get your facts right.

[Elizabeth Davies Cape Town 14 May 2008 14:49:39]

Miranda
It matters not what the taxpayers think because Labour couldn't care less. They will milk everything up to the next general election for all it's worth.
If they could have got away with the 10p tax band "hoodwink" they would have.

[Khalid 14 May 2008 14:36:43]

Oh well, [No Surprises] there then [Radiohead]

[Liz, Suffolk 14 May 2008 13:40:37]

John Delaney

I did mean all of them. I'm so sick of hearing about them all living like lords when the rest of us are tightening our belts.

[John Delaney 14 May 2008 13:33:37]

We need to stop these parasites from lining their own pockets further - and soon!

Posted by: Liz, Suffolk 14 May 2008 13:16:56

Is that tory parasites aswell because they aint any better

[Rog, Bristol 14 May 2008 13:31:27]

Taxis for personal stuff should come from their own money, not the taxpayer.

Snouts firmly in trough. As usual.

[Liz, Suffolk 14 May 2008 13:16:56]

Mrs Martin obviously has never had to worry about money. If she had, perhaps she would have put her spare time to better use and learnt to drive, instead of fleecing us all for her cab fares.

My mother is 81 and has to rely on public transport to get her into town to get her shopping, 4 miles away. She would love to be able to afford to get a cab!

We need to stop these parasites from lining their own pockets further - and soon!

[Carlos Cortiglia, London, UK 14 May 2008 13:00:00]

When you read things like that, you ask yourself: what else? What else are they going to add to the list of abuses committed by Members of Parliament? While this is happening, unemployment went up by 140,000, reaching 1.67 million. (Dr. Panglos, character of Voltaire's masterpiece Candide) Everything is the best it could be and nothing could be better.

[Steve, London 14 May 2008 12:59:20]

"what will taxpayers think?" - I'm a taxpayer, and I'm unimpressed to say the least.

Over 4 grand on taxis, wow; you'd really have to go some to rack up a bill that high.

What I don't understand is why this comes down to "expenses".

Even if it's for legitimate reasons (which is doubtful) it still shouldn't be seen as an expense; it's more like a personal choice that would normally be paid out of your own pocket.

If I drive to work everyday, can I get the taxpayer (or employer) to pay for all my petrol ? No, of course not, it's part of the cost of living and comes out of your own pocket, why should she get it paid?

It's obscene.

[Bruce Hulmes 14 May 2008 12:18:59]

So it is beneath the wives of Labour MPs to catch a bus!!.
So much for that world beating integrated transport system a certain Mr Prescott was going to deliver 10 years ago.
Perhaps Mrs Martin does not relish travelling on our multicultural public transport.
You are less likely to get mugged,raped or murdered riding in the back of an Hackney carriage, so much more civilized one could say.