The former Speaker of the House of Commons Michael Martin, Lord Martin of Springburn, who has died aged 72 after a short illness, was the first blue-collar worker to occupy one of the most senior posts in British public life. Michael left school at 15 without qualifications and was apprenticed at a train engine manufacturers in Springburn, which would become his future constituency. In the house, Martin became known as a committee man and backroom fixer – he was not an accomplished parliamentary orator – working on procedural matters, the Speakers’ panel and the ways and means committee. Martin is survived by his wife, Mary (nee McLay), whom he married in 1966, and by his son, Paul, an MSP, and daughter, Mary Ann. • Michael John Martin, Lord Martin of Springburn, politician and trade unionist, born 3 July 1945; died 29 April 2018

Source: The Guardian April 29, 2018 17:15 UTC