Martin: Held post since 2000

Michael Martin has been re-elected as Speaker, pledging to uphold the rights of the Commons, backbenchers and the smaller parties.

As parliament met for the first time following the general election, he was unanimously backed to continue where he left off at the end of the last Parliament, chairing proceedings and keeping order in the frequently rowdy lower chamber.

"I submit myself to the will of the house," Martin said has he addressed MPs ahead of his re-election.

He paid tribute to the new father of the house, Alan Williams, and wished the former father, Tam Dalyell, well in his retirement.

Martin also thanked his wife Mary for ensuring he has a family life in Westminster, before turning to the way in which he will conduct business in the new Parliament.

"I congratulate the members who have been re-elected. I have enjoyed working with them over the past four and a half years. I hope I have not been to hard on them," he told a packed chamber.

"I also pay tribute to all those members from every party who have left the house. Their contribution will always be appreciated and well remembered.

"To the new members, I wish you well and I am sure you will enjoy the house as much as I have since I was elected in 1979."

Approachable

Martin pledged to be a Speaker "who will be approachable and will help and advise you".

"I have said in the past, and I will say so today, that a Speaker has a clear duty to every section of the house, especially backbenchers," he added.

"It is the Speaker's duty to serve the house, not the executive.

"The re-elected members will know that I think it is right and fitting that a Cabinet minister, indeed any minister, who has some new statement to make should make that statement here on the floor of the house.

"Her Majesty's official Opposition has built-in rights and privileges which this house has rightly given them, but I say to those from the minority parties that are represented here today, your voices must be heard."

He also offered his assurance that he will "strive to be fair".

Following unanimous backing for the motion to re-appoint him as Speaker, Martin thanked the house for "the honour which it has bestowed on me".

"I am aware that this is the greatest honour that the house can give to any of its members," he added.

"I pray that I shall justify its continuing confidence and I propose to do all within my power to preserve and cherish its traditions."

Shaky start

Martin has held the role of Speaker since October 2000, when he stepped into the shoes previously filled by Betty, now Baroness, Boothroyd.

She had been a high profile speaker who was popular on all sides of the House.

Taking over her role was always likely to be a difficult challenge for Martin.

There was a shaky start when, after a month in the job, he had to ask for "the indulgence" of MPs following remarks that appeared to welcome a government policy change.

The comments, which came after a move to abandon a voucher scheme for asylum seekers, breached rules that require the speaker to take no position on policy issues.

Early woes were compounded by sniping among the media and some MPs who thought his working class background less than suitable for the public face of the Commons.

But he was re-elected to the post for the first time following the 2001 general election.

And since then Martin has been widely recognised as growing into the role.

In the last Parliament he took a more prominent role in rebuking frontbenchers for taking up too much time with long statements and answers, and slamming leaks to the media.

Rights

He has also sought to uphold the rights of backbenchers, while chairing proceedings with firmness and good humour.

Martin has also presided over some notable moments of recent parliamentary history.

These included the dramatic suspension of proceedings during a session of prime minister's question time when protestors hurled 'bombs' containing purple powder at Tony Blair, and an invasion by pro-hunt protestors.

There has been some speculation that Martin will step down as speaker later in this Parliament, allowing his successor time to learn the role before the build up to the next general election.

The move would also prevent the election being conducted by new MPs who did not know the candidates.