DUMPED MARTIN MADE A LORD

Mr Martin, 63, who was branded one of the worst Speakers in Parliamentary history, will be given a seat in the Lords for his “distinguished ability and ­dignity”, it emerged yesterday.

The honour, proposed by Gordon Brown, despite severe misgivings from the Lords’ appointment commission, was nodded through by MPs without a vote and approved by the Queen.

Former Tory Chancellor Lord ­Lawson said of the decision: “It’s a great ­mistake, it’s unfortunate.”

Liberal Democrat peer Lord Oakeshott ­described the move as “a reward for failure”.

He added: “What planet is Gordon Brown on?

“On Monday, he told MPs he wanted to clean up and rebuild trust in politics and reform the House of Lords into a smaller, democratic second chamber.”

Tory MP Douglas Carswell, who led the drive to oust Mr Martin, said: “This is yet more evidence Westminster is self-serving.”

Susie Squire, of the TaxPayers’ ­Alliance, said: “It’s an absolute ­disgrace. He was the worst Speaker we have seen in living memory.”