Goodbye, Mr Speaker
The Speaker of the House of Commons, Michael Martin.
Who is Mr Speaker? Mr Speaker is the chairman of our House of Commons, in Parliament. He is called the Speaker of the House of Commons because, several hundred years ago, it was his job to speak to the King, to tell the King what Parliament wanted, and to bring the King’s reply back to Parliament. Generally, the King’s reply was “no”, so the Speaker did not have an easy job. In the 15th century, several Speakers made the King so angry that he had them arrested and executed. Politics was fun in those days.
Since then, life for the Speaker has been more peaceful. Yes, there was a Speaker at the end of the 17th century who was sacked because he had accepted a bribe from businessmen in the city of London. But generally, the Speaker’s life has few problems. He, or she, chairs debates in the House of Commons, and makes sure that the House of Commons obeys its rules. The only real disadvantage is having to wear old-fashioned black clothes with gold embroidery, and having to listen to so many boring debates.
But things have changed. To understand what has happened to Mr Speaker, you need to know that Members of Parliament (MPs) in Britain receive a salary, and are also able to get other money, or “allowances”, to pay for things like an office, a secretary, travel and the cost of having a second home in London, if they do not live in London already. MPs make a list of their expenses – we say that they make a claim – in order get this extra money. They give their claim to the finance office in Parliament. If the finance office is happy with the claim, the MP gets the money he or she has claimed.
Until very recently, information about MPs allowances was a state secret. But now, the newspapers have found information about the allowances, and published it. It is clear that some MPs have behaved dishonestly. One MP claimed money to pay interest on a loan to buy a flat in London – which was fine, except that he had already repaid the loan and there were no interest payments. Other MPs claimed for the cost of repairing houses, which they then sold at a profit. One MP, who lives in a castle, claimed for the cost of cleaning the moat – that is, the water around the castle. Another MP, who has a country estate, keeps ducks on the lake on his estate. But foxes kept killing the ducks, so he claimed for the cost of building a little island for his ducks in the middle of the lake, so that the foxes could not catch them
All this has made people very angry. There are demands for big changes in the way that Parliament is run – for changes in our election system, changes in the way MPs do their jobs and the way they are paid.
And Mr Speaker? Well, the present speaker – Michael Martin is his real name – has opposed changes and many MPs think that he is not the right person to lead the House of Commons. So they have forced him to resign. He has become the first speaker for over 300 years to be forced out of office. Next month, Members of Parliament will elect a new Speaker to wear silly clothes and listen to their boring debates.
I will be on holiday next week, so there will be no podcast. I am going to be a captain of a ship, and will sail far away to new and interesting places. I shall tell you about it when I get back.
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This file has been downloaded 54861 times
Aug 8, 2009
I'm vietnamese.thanks everything.
Aug 3, 2009
Thank you for the podcast,
I am improving english and also knowing better english life.
Congratulations again.
Jul 28, 2009
Good evening Mr Peter ,
You made a lot of efforts to realise those all podasts , I wish you good luck , thanks for all ….
Noureddine from Algeria .
Jun 28, 2009
It is the first time I visit your podcast site and I'm very interested in. I hope that you can help me to improve my listening skill.
Best regards.
Jun 18, 2009
Hi Mr. Peter!
I'm Brazillian and I understand everything did you wrote! Dishonestes politics I hate them!
Have a nice trip! I hope so!
Jun 17, 2009
hi peter im youssef from MOROCCO ,thanks a lot for all your podcast, i like the way how you pronounce the words, thanks for your help and for all subjects, i woulk like that you tell us about cultures in the words so people can find out others cultures and means of life
have nice times
cheers
youssef
Jun 1, 2009
Great as usual, I'd define your stories as cultural regional taughts and language course. Thank you very much…
Jun 1, 2009
Mr Peter,
where are you?
We are waiting for you!
Your podcast children all over the world :)
Cheers,
Kris
May 29, 2009
Have a good time Peter!
I'm looking forward to new podcast.
May 28, 2009
Oh well Tutush,
You pick on :)
regards from Poland
Kris
May 28, 2009
I think, that your podcast doesn't corresponding at present time, because I know MPs doesn't wear old-fashioned black clothes with gold embroidery, they are wearing suits
May 28, 2009
Hi Peter!I really very like your podcasts, because there are many interesting stories.Properly speaking I haven't knew about MR Speaker.I think they are terribly persons.
P.S I don't know know English well, I just learning, so apologize to you for ,mistakes.
With love SIRANUSH from Armenia
May 27, 2009
Hello Mr Peter,
I'm from Poland and I would like to tell you "very good job" about this page. I love your site, and I will be waiting impatiently for the next podcast. I'm still poor in English, so I'm sorry for my mistakes. For the end, I want to tell you thank you for your superb job for us.
Have a good time!
... and goodbye
Kris
May 26, 2009
Hi¡.
Mr. Peter.
I think it's very boring.
xo ByE
May 26, 2009
dear Peter,
I wish you nice holydays — good wind and weather, good friends, enough time to do fhings you really want to do.
Enjoy yourself!
May 26, 2009
Hope you have a good trip! Mr.Peter.
I really expect you bring us a lot of adventure stories when you get back :)
May 25, 2009
What? Dishonest politicians? I am shocked! :P :-D
Seriously though, a lot of these politicians should be prosecuted for stealing from taxpayers/government revenue. They should be in JAIL, and should be made to pay back the money they have stolen.
They are really no different from common thieves, except that they were in a position to steal a LOT MORE MONEY than common thieves.
May 25, 2009
Hi Peter,
I watched a lot of parliamental debates. The job for Mr. Speaker looked very cool， but Mr. Speaker must stand the tedious arguments from three parties. I was wondering whether he could have a nap during a parliamental session. If he could, I wish I could be the next Mr. speaker.
Cheers.
May 25, 2009
Thank you very much for your podcast.
For anyone who has begun practicing listening,there is no doubt that the website is the treasure.
This is my first time to visit here.
I really enjoy the website.,
May 24, 2009
Cool, have a good time.
May 24, 2009
Hello, Mr Peter:
Have a good vacation on the sea, Mr Peter.This podcast is clear enough to follow general ideas you want to share with us. I sometimes misunderstand or feel embarrassed to discriminate some simmilar sounds like foxes and force, but i can guess. I agree with the idea that there should have announcements about how much an official spends because citizens have to pay taxes. If this is implemented, bribery will decrease. I'm waiting for the podcast about your sailing in two weeks.
May 24, 2009
captain: be careful with the sea, it has a lot of water. I'm joking. I hope you has a good time. Marian
May 23, 2009
hello sir, your English is very good to learn. i point out some mistake in your page "Goodbye, Mr Speaker " , (In the 15th century, several Speakers made ) but podcast said 17th century.
please avoid like this mistakes . because i am a new person to learn English .
May 23, 2009
Hi Peter,Thank you for your job. Your podcasts help me very much and I am very happy when I see your e-mails.Have a nice trip on a ship.Please You should show us some photosof your ship when you return, shouldn't you?
Bye
May 23, 2009
Thank you Mr Peter, your good humor is always like fresh air among so many silly news.
I know you spend some time in Spain, are you coming soon?
Sorry, I want to ask you a question that is as an enigma to me.
What is your profit doing this podcast job?
Thank you again for your good work.
emiliano
May 23, 2009
hi mr peter
it is very interset podcast and we wait new podcast afeter your returne
you good speaker
May 23, 2009
Hi Peter, thank you for your next podcast. I wish you pleasant journey on board a ship. Maybe you should show us some photos of that ship. I suffer from seasicknesses, well I fear to travel on a ship.
Take care, Jan.