It is the first time in the history of Britain since 1695 that the speaker of the House of Commons, Michael Martin, has been forced to resign for failing to check exaggerated expense claims of Members of Parliament.

 

For the first time in Britain's parliamentary history, all three of the country's main political parties are tarnished in a single stroke.

 

British parliamentarians have joined the long list of greedy CEOs, bankers, financial advisers, security traders and others, around the world, who have been in the front row for causing the worst financial meltdown since the Great Depression.

 

Michael Martin had fought for years to prevent publication of the expenses. As a prominent member of the Labour Party, his conduct during the scandal was widely seen as a major embarrassment for Gordon Brown's already faltering government.

 

Brown himself is reported to have claimed more than £28,000 in second home allowances after moving into a grace and favour apartment in Downing Street in 2006.

 

The widening scandal began after the Daily Telegraph obtained a disk detailing expense reports by parliamentarians including tennis court repairs, second homes, and jacuzzis. Around 80 of the 646 House of Commons lawmakers had been named by mid-May. The paper has been publishing new revelations daily for more than a week since last month as it ploughs through the rest of the documents.

 

The leaked data was due to have been made public in July after Britain's High Court quashed a legal attempt by the House of Commons to keep the details secret.

 

While many ordinary Britons have lost jobs and homes during Britain's deepening recession, the extravagancy of the lawmakers' expenses for chandeliers, pornography, moat upkeep on country estates and other claims have enraged voters.

 

"It's not just one or two rotten apples, it's the whole lot," said Randy Wallace, 41, an unemployed London electrician. "Our Parliament used to be the envy of the world. Now, it's a laughing stock."

 

Expense rules are laid out in the 66-page Green Book, a guide sent to every legislator, sets limits on expense claims, such as a £25 ($38) cap on eating out when away from home and how much can be claimed toward a second home, usually a residence in London.

 

Though the guidelines do not ban any specific items, the rules say expenses should relate to parliamentary work and shouldn't damage the Parliament's reputation.

 

British ministers, including Shahid Malik, stepped down as justice minister after data showed that he claimed more than £65,000 ($98,000) in housing costs over three years despite having discounted rent.

 

Some other examples:

 

Elliot Morley, Brown's aide on climate change, billed taxpayers' £16,000 ($24,000) for mortgage interest payments on a loan that had already been paid off.

 

David Chaytor, Labour lawmaker who claimed thousands of pounds sterling of taxpayer money for interest on a non-existent mortgage, said he would pay back £13,000 ($18,000) after continuing to submit bills on his paid mortgage.

 

Conservatives lawmaker, Andrew Mackay, an aide to party leader David Cameron said he had been guilty of errors over his expenses claims.

 

Dozens of lawmakers have apologized and pledged to return more than £125,000 ($190,000).

 

The Daily Mail and TaxPayers' Alliance started a fundraising campaign to fund and possibly pursue private prosecutions of lawmakers who they say have abused the expense system. No one has been charged with breaking a law.

 

"As our concern about what's been claimed has grown, our horror of how (lawmakers) are trying to slip out of this sticky situation has grown," said Mark Wallace, spokesman for the Taxpayers' Alliance.

 

Steven Fielding of the Center for British Politics at Nottingham University said: "There has also been this traditional historical myth that we have the mother of all Parliaments ... few have stepped up to say that our political system is flawed because one party or the other has benefited from it over the years."

 

Other scandals have rocked Britain's political system in recent history. British Cabinet minister John Profumo's liaison with a prostitute almost brought down the government after it was revealed the woman was also linked to a Soviet spy, but few have shaken all main political parties.

 

No political party has come out of the scandal unscathed.

 

The conservative opposition wants elections this summer or autumn to capitalise on Brown's weakness, but probably will have to wait.

 

There have been calls for the resignation of Prime Minister Gordon Brown. Hoping that signs of economic recovery next spring will bring a tide of votes that -- against all odds -- could keep it in office when the electorate goes to the polls, Brown would like to delay the elections until the latest possible moment in June 2010.

 

The London Times notes: "Most sensible MPs know that his departure will not bring the current political crisis to a close but many hope it marks the beginning of its end."

 

Ministers and MPs are demanding an overhaul of the political system. Now leading public figures have entered the debate through the columns of the Observer, with a call for a referendum on a new method for electing the House of Commons

 

"We need our own Barack Obama," said Francis O'Hara, 24, a student. "This country needs a change."