Michael Martin’s by-election chaos

You might think this impossible, but there is more chaos from the Michael Martin’s office. They said yesterday that he was resigning as an MP as well as a Speaker – ergo by-election in the summer. I spoke to the SNP and to ministers about it: everyone was geared up. But now it transpires that Martin himself hasn’t said anything. In fact, word is that he intends to canvass opinion from his constituency at the weekend – with the expectation that they will say “No, Mick, stay. You were wronged. Scapegoated. Don’t put us on the political map, let us languish here as a rotten borough”. I ask you.