The beleaguered House of Commons Speaker Michael Martin is is to stand down next month.

It has been announced that Michael Martin will stand down on June 21.

Mr Martin announced his decision this afternoon, after days of intense pressure on him to vacate his post.

Daily Echo: Click below to see a video of today's headlines in sixty seconds

The Speaker was due to hold emergency talks on the reform of MPs' expenses at 4pm, however these have been surpassed by this announcement.

Mr Martin has been under unprecedented pressure to resign over his handling of the scandal.

Normally it is a widely held convention that members of parliament will not criticise the speaker of the house.

However such is the depth of feeling surrounding the expenses scandal, for the first time in 300 years, MPs from all sides of the house have come out and criticised Mr Martin.