Lib Dem parliamentary hopefuls call on Speaker to consider his position

12.00.23pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 18th May 2009

Lib Dem candidate for Oxford East Steve Goddard has joined over fifty other Lib Dem parliamentary hopefuls in calling on House of Commons speaker Michael Martin to work to make parliament more accountable or consider his position. The parliamentary hopefuls' move, in an open letter to Michael Martin, comes amid increasing calls for the Speaker to step down.

Steve explained: "In the current local and European election campaign, I'm finding huge anger on the doorstep at the scandal over parliamentary expenses.

"Unfortunately, Speaker Martin has been more of a hindrance than a help in trying to rebuild public trust. My colleagues and I all want to be elected to a parliament which has the trust of the people we wish to represent.

"That's why we're calling on the Speaker to do everything he can to force the full publication of all expenses immediately and to accept the independent review of MPs' expenses and salaries chaired by Sir Christopher Kelly. If he isn't willing to do this, he should consider his position. Time is running out for politicians of all parties to repair the damage to our democracy; the Speaker needs to be able to play a full part in doing so."

Notes

Dr Steve Goddard is both the current Liberal Democrat PPC and was the Liberal Democrat candidate at the 2005 general election where he reduced Andrew Smith's majority to 963 from over 10,000. Recent boundary changes now make this one of Labour's most vulnerable Westminster seats at the next election. On current opinion polling Dr Goddard would be the Oxford East MP with a sizable majority.

Full text of the open letter to the Speaker and list of candidates who have signed it:

Dear Mr Speaker,

As Parliament continues to be dragged down by the allowance system, and its rules, the role of those in public service across the country is being undermined.

We are Liberal Democrat candidates seeking to be elected to Parliament and yet we find ourselves disappointed, and frustrated, at the way in which this matter is being handled. Every day our residents are telling us loudly that this must stop and this must stop now.

Three things stand out:

• The resistance to the releasing of these documents and the attempt to

exclude Parliament from the Freedom of Information requirements

• The way in which Norman Baker and Kate Hoey were treated when they sought

to raise legitimate concerns

• The fact that, through you, parliament could now release the information

into the public domain and cut short this parade of drip-fed news and empower MPs and citizens through a new transparent relationship.

It is vital that Parliament must become transparent and accountable now. We call on you, as Speaker of the House, to do everything within your power to force the full publication of all expenses immediately. We also call on you to accept the independent review of MPs expenses and salaries chaired by Sir Christopher Kelly.

If you are unable to do this we then ask you to consider your position. Time is running out for politicians of all parties to repair the damage to our democracy.

Yours sincerely

56 Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidates

Ed Fordham, Hampstead and Kilburn

Sal Brinton, Watford

Andrew Simpson, Northampton North

Bridget Fox, Islington South & Finsbury

Duncan Borrowman, Old Bexley and Sidcup

Steve Goddard, Oxford East

Adrian Collett, Aldershot

Adam Carew, East Hampshire

Gareth Epps, Reading East

Sally Morgan, Central Devon

Sue Doughty, Guildford

Rebecca Hunt. Chatham & Aylesford

Sarah Carr, Hereford and South Herefordshire

Guy Voizey Canterbury and Whitstable

Jo Shaw, Holborn and St Pancras Liz Leffman, Meon Vallley

Merlene Emerson, Hammersmith

Sandy Walkington, St Albans

Richard Burt, West Worcestershire

Caroline Pigeon, Vauxhall

Kevin Lang, Edinburgh North & Leith

Andrew Dakers, Brentford and Isleworth

Andrew Duffield,Hexham

David Kendall, Brentwood and Ongar

Ann Haigh, Epping Forest

Simon Wright, Norwich South

Liz Simpson, Tonbridge and Malling

Sam Webber, Bromley and Chislehurst

Rabi Martins, Luton North

Greg Stone, Newcastle East

Theo Butt-Philip, Bridgwater and West Somerset

Dave Radcliffe, Birmingham Selly Oak

Richard Clein, Sefton Central

Mike Cox, Uxbridge and South Ruislip

Andy Stamp, Gillingham & Rainham

Stephen Lloyd, Eastbourne & Willingdon

Mark Blackburn, Westminster North

Denis Healy, Hull North

Robin Lawrence, Wolverhampton South West

Alex Feakes, Lewisham and West Penge

Andrew Falconer, Brighton Pavilion

Dave McBride, Orpington

Nigel Quinton, Hitchin & Harpenden

Alan Beddow, Warwick and Leamington

David Goodall, Southampton Itchen

Ryk Downes, Leeds Central

Chris Took, Ashford

Peter Wilcock, Saffron Walden

Karen Hamilton, Birmingham Perry Barr

Qurban Hussain, Luton South

Keith Angus, Hackney North and Stoke Newington

Stephen Robinson, Chelmsford

Mike Bell, Weston-super-Mare

Dave Raval, Hackney South and Shoreditch

Fred Mackintosh, Edinburgh South

Munira Wilson, Feltham and Heston

Paul Zukowskyj, Welwyn Hatfield